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BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
World War Two veteran Henry Francis celebrates 100th birthday
A decorated World War Two veteran who carried out covert missions behind enemy lines has celebrated his 100th Charles Francis, known affectionately as 'H', served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after joining up aged his birthday party, Mr Francis was presented with a personal letter from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, acknowledging his extraordinary daughter, Teresa Betton, said: "What he gave for this country, all the friends that he lost… I'm so proud of him. He tells the stories, but not all of them. He signed the secrets act and has stuck by it." Mr Francis' family said the day was deeply emotional as they recalled stories of his daring tale involved being dropped into the wrong location in what was then Yugoslavia and spending five days finding his way out before being greeted by General Josip Broz Tito, who later became president of the country. Mr Francis, who lives in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the Yugoslavian military medal, which is one of many honours he earned over the years. In his letter, Gen Jenkins paid tribute to the "truly courageous" covert operations carried out by Mr also referenced an incident in Burma when Mr Francis was injured by a bayonet before returning to the UK for a time to recover. Gen Jenkins said: "You are an incredible individual with an abundance of character, and you and all your generation are an inspiration to today's sailors and Royal Marines. "I am delighted to be able to send you the Royal Navy's best wishes for your 100th birthday."Asked for the secret to a long life, Mr Francis replied: "Before you argue with a man, make sure you can handle him."
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Armed forces and ranks
Navy The Royal Navy is the Navy except in formal contexts. Foreign navies, like foreign armies and air forces, are lower case (A Washington official said the navy would... ). The Royal Marines, the Marines, a marine. The United States Marines but later, American marines. 'Marine Corps' is an Americanism. Special Boat Service, but special forces (l/c) Acceptable abbreviations of naval ranks and ratings: Adml, Vice-Adml, Rear-Adml, Capt, Cdre (Commodore), Cdr, Lt-Cdr, Lt, Sub-Lt, CPO, PO (for Chief Petty Officer and Petty Officer, only in lists and after first mention), Ldg Seaman, AB. Technical ratings in full. Admiral of the Fleet. Do not write RN after the names of admirals. NB: Field Marshals, Admirals of the Fleet and Marshals of the Royal Air Force never retire. Submarines should be adequately described: 'Trident' or 'nuclear deterrent' or 'Vanguard class' submarines (the current British class which is nuclear-powered and armed with nuclear ballistic missiles - the successor class, expected in the 2030s, will be the Dreadnought class - this general kind of submarine of any navy may also be known as an SSBN - submersible ship, ballistic missile, nuclear powered); Fleet submarines aka attack or hunter-killer submarines (nuclear-powered but conventionally armed, current British boats are the Astute class, may be referred to as an SSN). All submarines may be referred to as boats rather than ships, often using the name letter of their class as in V-boat or A-boat (Royal Navy submarines of a given class all have names starting with the same letter). Army The Army is capped at every mention. Foreign armies are not. With names write: Field Marshal, Gen, Lt Gen, Maj Gen, Brig, Col, Lt Col, Major (NB: Major is never abbreviated), Capt, Lieut, 2nd Lieut, WOl, WO2, (warrant officers), RSM (Regimental Sergeant-Major), CSM (Company Sergeant-Major), SSM (Squadron Sergeant Major), BSM (Battery Sergeant Major) - all except the RSM can be termed just Sergeant Major - Sgt, Cpl, L/Cpl, Pte, Gm, Gdmn. Abbreviate Driver, Trooper, Rifleman, Gunner (Dvr, Tpr, Rfn, Gnr) only in lists. Do not abbreviate Drum Major, Pipe Major or any ranks or appointments peculiar to one or a few regiments or corps. Private soldiers remain Ptes unless regimental tradition dictates otherwise. In all cases, use the correct term at first mention in military-specific coverage. Thereafter, surname only is acceptable unless clarity requires repetition. Some regiments use distinctive titles for their privates, which should be respected in formal usage: Guardsman – used in the five regiments of Foot Guards. Rifleman – used in The Rifles and some Gurkha units. Fusilier – used in The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Gunner – used in the Royal Artillery. Sapper – used in the Royal Engineers. Trooper – used in cavalry regiments (e.g. Household Cavalry, Royal Dragoon Guards). Signaller – used in the Royal Corps of Signals. Craftsman – used in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Guardsman – used in Foot Guards units (e.g. Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards). Ranger – used in the Royal Irish Regiment. Bandsman – used in military bands; may be followed by rank. Driver – historically used in the Royal Artillery and Royal Logistic Corps; now rare. Musician – used in Corps of Army Music. Bombardier and Lance Bombardier – junior ranks in the Royal Artillery, equivalent to corporal and lance corporal respectively. Marine – used in the Royal Marines instead of Private. A Major General or Lt General should not be abbreviated to Gen, which is the correct abbreviation only for a four-star general; they should be Maj Gen and Lt Gen respectively. Similarly, differentiate Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) from Colonel (Col). There is no rank of Brigadier General in the British Army but it still exists in certain others, and should be abbreviated Brig Gen. Adjutant. CO (commanding officer) is correct only for battalions or regiments. Lower units have an officer commanding or plural officers commanding but do not use OC. Higher units have a commander (eg the Brigade Commander, the Divisional Commander, the Corps Commander, the Army Commander). Always abbreviate C-in-C, Cs-in-C, GOC. Do not confuse Colonel in Chief, an appointment accepted by a (usually royal) notable as a compliment to the regiment, with a lieutenant colonel (or other officer) commanding a battalion (infantry) or regiment (cavalry and artillery units) of the British Army. The Colonel of the Regiment is usually a retired senior officer of the regiment/battalion responsible for recruiting. His is an honorary position. Some regiments have a Colonel Commandant (eg the Parachute Regiment, the Gurkhas). The Household Cavalry and the Foot Guards make up the Household Division; the Foot Guards alone constitute the Guards Division. The Household Cavalry Regiment is the only regiment of mounted troops and was formed from the amalgamation of the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards, which still exist within it; there is a Service Regiment of the HCR with armoured cars. The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, wear busbies, unlike guardsmen, who wear bearskins. Follow these styles for units and formations: 21st Army Group or Northern Army Group. First Army XI Corps (roman numerals), 3rd Division, S Brigade, 1st Bn Royal Regiment of Wales or 1st Royal Regiment of Wales. Spell out company, battery, squadron, platoon. Do not capitalise the names for foreign regiments. Special Air Service, but special forces (l/c) RAF The Royal Air Force Prefer the RAF except on formal occasions. Air Force is permitted. Lower case for foreign air forces. Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice-Marshal (MRAF, ACM, AM, AVM in lists or when there are repeated references) Air Cdre, Gp Capt, Wg Cdr, Sqd Ldr, Flt Lt, Fg Off, Plt Off, Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant, Chief Technician (WO, FS, Ch Tech only for lists or repeated references), Sgt, Cpl, SAC, LAC, AC. The rank is aircraftman, even if he is a craftsman. Courts martial Their findings and sentences are subject to confirmation and this should always be pointed out. Cashiering is far more serious than mere dismissal; do not confuse. A naval officer may be dismissed his ship (not dismissed from his ship).
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
King Charles speaks out on devastating issue that's 'terrifying' families
King Charles teamed up with actor Idris Elba for a summit at St James' Palace where they met young people and charities to discuss ways to tackle the devastating impact of knife crime King Charles has spoken out about the impact of 'terrifying' violent knife crime as he hosted a special summit on the 'devastating' issue. The monarch teamed up with actor Idris Elba to meet young people and charities at St James's Palace today to discuss finding positive opportunities for young people affected by knife crime. And the King, 76, told one campaigner, Kyle Shaw Tullin, he was' riveted' by his story after he told how he almost died when he was stabbed aged 17, spending two weeks in hospital. But by joining a local boxing gym, he turned his life around because he was "too tired" from working out to go and get into trouble and is now in the Royal Marines and a Team GB boxer. After making notes while listening to stories from young people and charities, Charles, who was also joined by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, gave an off-the-cuff speech saying: "I was riveted to hear what Kyle was saying about his experiences. "Because it does seem to me, what you were saying, about being too exhausted to get into trouble, is quite a good point you're a teenager. And otherwise, you cost so much energy, which could go the wrong way if it's not helped to go in a positively constructive direction. So that was a good point. "There was a wonderful old Irishman I knew years ago who said that two sheep's heads are always better than one. And it's true if you bring more people together who are involved in the same sort of field, then there is a great deal more you can achieve. "So I'm enormously grateful to you all. I look forward very much to seeing the actual progress on the ground, which will make a huge difference to so many parents' lives, otherwise they're devastated by the terrifying result of violent knife crime." Speaking to the panel, Elba also spoke of how "we can't take the foot off the pedal" when it comes to tackling knife crime while the Prime Minister spoke about new laws being enacted including Ronan's Law which bans Ninja Swords. After the event, Starmer told the Mirror that as a parent, the issue of knife crime is something he feels "very personally". He explained: "Some of the most heartbreaking moments in this job have been meeting parents whose children were victims of knife crime. I think of Zoey McGill who showed me a video of her singing to her son as he lay dying in his hospital bed. I think of the times I've met Pooja Kanda whose son Ronan was killed by a ninja sword. "Their courage – and the courage of so many grieving parents like them - is extraordinary. From such devastation, they have found a remarkable strength to fight for change. They are determined to stop other parents from going through what they have endured. "It's something I feel very personally. Not just as a parent, trying to comprehend what they've been through, but because tackling crime and securing justice has been my life's work. That's why, as Prime Minister, I set the goal to halve knife crime in a decade as part of this government's Plan for Change. "In the last year, we have already taken some important steps. I promised Pooja that we would ban the ninja swords that killed her son. And we've kept that promise: 'Ronan's Law' will become the law of the land. Throughout this month, we're running a knife surrender scheme, with mobile vans collecting these knives off our streets. And from next month, it will be illegal to sell or own these vicious blades." It comes as the King and Elba, 52, are teaming up for a Netflix documentary to mark the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust. Charles launched charity, then known as The Prince's Trust, in 1976 to help vulnerable young people get their lives on track. A six-strong Netflix crew was in the palace to film sections of the event for their documentary that is set to be aired next year. Before the round table at St James' Palace, the King also met charity workers and King's Trust supporters and alumni. Trust ambassador Michael Gilroy, 27, of CEO Evol Promotions for Muay Thai events, found help from the then Prince's Trust three years ago, and scored a £5,000 grant. He described learning more about running a business on a three-day course run by the Trust than the whole previous year. The King said: "So it doesn't make a difference? Wonderful. It makes me very proud." Speaking afterwards Michael said: "He really is proud of us and he is committed to bettering young people's lives around the UK. "The Trust has changed my life and when someone like the King tells you is proud of you it doesn't get much better than that."
Spectator
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Starmer's veteran woes are just beginning
As hundreds of veterans marching past the Cenotaph brought Whitehall to a halt yesterday afternoon, inside parliament a debate was held on the government's plan to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy and Reconciliation Act. Passed by Boris Johnson, this aimed to prevent veterans from being prosecuted for all but the most serious crimes committed during the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' from the 1960s to 1998. Labour's bid to scrap the legislation has sparked fury among veterans – and has left Alistair Carns, the Veterans Minister, on resignation watch. The Westminster Hall debate on the subject, which was held after 176,000 voters signed a petition in protest, was quite a spectacle: the gallery was packed with berets; soldiers' medals twinkling in the light. Rows of veterans sat silently in the audience, bound by service to remain apolitical. Sketch writer Quentin Letts, who has sat in parliament for nearly 40 years, suggested it was 'the biggest turnout I have seen for a Westminster Hall debate.' That turnout is reflective of the strength of feeling on this issue. Speaking for the government was Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary. He told attendees that 'only one soldier' had been convicted of a Troubles-related death since 1998. He argued that of the 250,000 living veterans, 'the number being prosecuted for offences has been very, very small.' Benn said he acknowledged concerns but that Labour had no choice but to rewrite the legislation as it had been deemed incompatible with human rights law. At least one minister though, seems to disagree with Benn's views. The Times today reports that Carns could be on the verge of quitting. He surprised colleagues by turning up at a drop-in briefing last week on Labour's plans to repeal Johnson's legislation. Carns, a veteran himself, told Benn that he cannot support the proposals. It puts him on a crash course with both the Northern Ireland Secretary, who wants victims' families to be able to claim compensation, and the Labour manifesto. During the last election, Labour made much of Carns' candidacy. A winner of the Military Cross, he was thought to be a future head of the Royal Marines. Starmer's party hailed Carns as one of 14 veterans standing for parliament. Within days of the result, the Prime Minister appointed him a Defence Minister. To lose Carns on a point of principle so soon after his appointment would be an embarrassing blow to No. 10. It would also be a harbinger of what is to come. Stories about prosecutions for acts committed in the line of service are likely to be a staple feature of British politics over the next 18 months. Robert Jenrick and Dominic Cummings are among those who have raised the issue of the Special Forces. There are fears that historic prosecutions are deterring military recruitment today. Why fight for your country, the argument goes, when you might be prosecuted by a court 30 years later? Then there is the matter of Gwyn Jenkins, the new head of the Royal Navy. His appointment in May raised eyebrows in Whitehall, given his service as head of UK Special Forces in Afghanistan when alleged war crimes were committed. These are now the subject of a public inquiry. Should it find against Jenkins, how will a Starmer government – which features the likes of Lord Hermer – react? The Tories clearly sense an opening here. Led by David Davis, defence spokesman James Cartlidge and his deputy Mark Francois, this is an issue that is both deeply emotive and of immense potential political impact. Carns' threats and the public pressure show that this is an issue which is not going to go away for Starmer.
Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Veterans minister may quit if Troubles-era troops lose immunity
The veterans minister is expected to resign over government plans to repeal the law that granted Troubles-era servicemen immunity from prosecution. Alistair Carns, a former Royal Marines commando, is said to have told ministers that he cannot support any proposal that would leave veterans vulnerable to criminal proceedings. Government sources said that Carns had made his position clear at a drop-in session for Labour MPs hosted by Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, on Monday last week. Benn had invited colleagues to be briefed on the Northern Ireland Office's plans to replace the Legacy and Reconciliation Act, the 2023 law that ended dozens of civil cases and inquests examining killings during the Troubles. At its heart is a conditional amnesty for all suspects in historic cases related to violence during the conflict. Conservative MPs had long pushed for the legislation to protect former soldiers from prosecution but the act's provisions also apply to republican and loyalist paramilitaries, provided they co-operate with a new information recovery body. Labour's election manifesto pledged to repeal the law and Benn said last year that it was 'completely wrong' that it had barred victims' families from pursuing new inquests or civil action in the courts. He has promised to abolish immunity for suspects, including veterans. Carns, who was appointed to the government within days of his election to the Commons last July, is understood to have told Benn that he could not endorse new legislation, due to be published within weeks, that reopened the possibility of veterans being prosecuted. 'There is a huge row brewing,' a government source said, adding: 'Everyone has been left with the impression that this is a resignation matter.' The minister was not present when MPs debated a petition signed by 176,485 people opposed to Benn's proposals in Westminster Hall on Monday evening. Suggestions that he is hostile to any change in policy on Troubles prosecutions risk embarrassing No 10, which made much of the fact that Carns, who won a Military Cross and is among the most decorated soldiers to have sat in the Commons, joined Labour last year. Senior figures in Downing Street are increasingly nervous of the backlash to the legislation. While Carns has yet to clarify his position publicly, the government's veterans commissioners for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales signalled their opposition to any legislative change in a joint statement on Monday night. 'We stand united in our firm support of the motion to be debated in Westminster today. We are deeply concerned by the prospect of retrospective legal action being taken against veterans who were carrying out their lawful duties, often under immense pressure and threat. 'We urge the government to resist any changes to legislation that would reopen legal uncertainty for veterans of Operation Banner,' David Johnstone, James Phillips and Susie Hamilton said. 'Any proposed changes must be measured, fair and informed by the voices of veterans themselves — many of whom have already endured decades of scrutiny and hardship. 'This is not a call for immunity from the law, but for fairness under it. Veterans deserve clarity, finality and respect for their service.' They added: 'There can be no moral equivalence between those who served in uniform to uphold peace and the rule of law, and those who sought to destroy it through acts of terrorism.' During the debate, hundreds of soldiers who served during the Troubles descended on Parliament Square to protest against the plans. They warned that modern soldiers would hesitate to pull the trigger in combat if the government were to remove legal protections for troops who served in Northern Ireland. • Trauma of veteran who faced jail over SAS shooting of IRA members The former servicemen massed on motorbikes and blasted their horns while circling Parliament Square during a 'rolling thunder' demonstration. The riders have been campaigning on the subject since 2019, but said that Labour's reignition of the debate made this their most important event to date. Veterans from all three services said that the move had 'reopened old wounds' and was fuelling a recruitment crisis. They said that the move could also be dangerous for serving soldiers whose fear of being dragged through the courts later in life may prevent them from fighting. 'No one will want to the pull the trigger,' said Geoff York, 71, a former lance corporal in The Blues and Royals cavalry regiment, who served for six years in Northern Ireland. 'If they're doing this to us, they'll be doing it to those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq … In 30 or 40 years' time, when these young soldiers are our age, they'll be getting the same thing. It is already reflecting on recruitment. Recruitment is on the floor across the three services.' York said that during the Troubles, British soldiers carried a 'yellow card' detailing the rules of engagement, which instructed troops to give a person three warnings before opening fire. Any soldier involved in a shooting would be investigated by the Royal Military Police and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. 'They would say 'you were in your rights to open fire' but many years later it's come to bite us on the rear,' he said. Special forces soldiers have also criticised Labour's pledge to reopen investigations. In a joint statement shared with The Times, seven commanders of The 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, who served in the elite unit during the Troubles, said: 'We have already processed our grief within our units and with the families of our fallen comrades. 'There's nothing healthy about perpetually reopening these wounds through endless legal proceedings. The harsh reality is that these new hearings are an exercise in futility. The terrorists responsible for killing our colleagues have already been granted 'letters of comfort' — effectively immunity from prosecution. 'So while these investigations might reopen painful chapters for veterans' families, they cannot deliver any meaningful justice. The terrorists walk free while we debate the merits of investigating decades-old cases. 'Our fallen comrades would not want their deaths to be used as political leverage to keep their families and the families of their comrades who are now being hounded, trapped in an endless cycle of hearings and investigations.' Carns and the Ministry of Defence were contacted for comment.
