Returning from the China station in Far east, My Aircraft Carrier had rounded the South African cape and was heading northwards towards the UK… The long commission would be over and in a matter of 4 days I would be home for the first time in nearly 2 years. On awakening this morning the sun was on the wrong side of the ship. During the night the ship had changed course and was heading west towards the Caribbean. A visit to the navigators chart room soon confirmed this.

During the night had arrived great horror stories of a major revolt taking place on the British Island of Anguilla. (Cannot Spell That) . The resident Governor had lost control and was seeking military action to restore law and order. The Military command is always very sceptical of reports from diplomats as after all these people are just minor politicians. We were to give the governor his much needed assistance but not in the way he was asking for it. This is a very small mainly agricultural Island and we saw no reason at this stage to storm the beaches and to start killing people.

Once the ship was in aircraft range of the Island, we fitted out 12 Buccaneer Aircraft (Nuclear Bombers) with photographic packs within the bomb bays. The idea being to get photographs of any civil unrest that was taking place. We also wanted people on the ground to realise who we were, so in large "Dayglow Red" letters we put the words "FLY NAVY" on each phot pack. The aircraft were launched from 1,000 miles out and approached the Island at yacht mast level well below the radar screen. The first anyone on the ground would have known was the intense noise of very low flying fast jets. The rotation on the bomb bays would have really frightened all on the ground. But in place of bombs the cameras simple whirled. On return to the ship the photos were quickly developed and it could be seen that many buildings and cars were on fire. A few hours later as the ship got closer to the Island, we repeated the reconnaissance operation. This time when the film was developed it could be seen that our previous threatening behaviour had had the desired effect. All the population had returned to their lawful business in the fields and the fires no longer burned.

Not a shot was fired, no serviceman set foot on the island and no blood was spilt. The governor was lifted from the Island and returned to the UK. It transpired that certain political decrees made by this man over a long period had upset the population to the point of revolt. The governor was replaced with a more sensible Diplomat and 12 London Policemen were put on the island to maintain law & order for the next two years. Gunboat diplomacy works & saves unnecessary loss of life…. I could never understand why President Regan felt it necessary to put armed troops into Granada when a similar event occurred, especially when you consider that the number of troops he deployed was greater than the total population on the island. Was this just another example of a politician feeding his own ego???

On another occasion I was serving on a cruiser. The Portuguese Island of Madeira was in a state of civil unrest with bombs going off in the street. As we were the nearest NATO warship we were asked to intervene. The people of Madeira are usually very gentle folk and something must be very wrong for them to rebel. Here we simple sailed into their harbour and secured the ship to the wall. The ships company were allowed leave but restricted to wearing uniform. No man was to go ashore in civilian clothes. The moment the British Sailor stepped ashore in search of a drink, female company and generally a good social occasion, the unrest stopped. The locals would not risk injuring a British Sailor so immediately peace prevailed. This enabled a delegation to fly from Lisbon to talk with the population and to hear there grievances. What ever the problems were they were obviously satisfied as this place has been peaceful ever since. The sport of English football (Soccer) was introduced on to the island and ever since has provided the population with a team to be supported and enabled them to vent their anger as they shout from the terraces

I have subsequently been back to that Island many times. It is the most beautiful romantic place in the world with the most gentlest of people. I fell in love with the place.

So from this you can see that often the threat of Military force will stop events getting out of hand and allow a breathing space for the politicians to incorporate the long term solution. And of course from the serviceman's point of view, this game can be fun & is most certainly rewarding.

Simply Steve

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