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It was a historic day for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service (RFA) today, Friday 18 July 2008, as His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex presented the Service with The Queen's Colour on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.  A Royal Marine band at the presentation of the Queen's Colour to the RFA on board RFA Largs Bay
[Picture: LA(Phot) Caroline Davies] During the ceremony, which took place onboard RFA Largs Bay and which was attended by some 600 RFA officers, ratings and family members, The Earl of Wessex paid tribute to the work of the 2,300 members of the Service as well as acknowledging the contribution of the 17 Port and Maritime Royal Logistic Corps who provide embarked Army support on board a number of RFA ships. Army and Royal Navy personnel joined their RFA colleagues at the ceremony, symbolising the close relationship between the Services. The Prince described the presentation of the colour as: "a token of Her Majesty's admiration and trust in each and every one of you and the Fleet in which you serve." This is the first time that a Queen's Colour has been given to what is essentially a non-combatant maritime Service. Among those attending the ceremony were the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan, and Commodore Bob Thornton, the head of the RFA: "It seems barely adequate to describe the significance of today as an historic occasion for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary," said Commodore Thornton. "I am privileged to be at the head of the Service and immensely proud to have been a part of it. "As we celebrate a proud and historic day in the life of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, let us remember that it is these extraordinary people that have made the Service what it is. Every one of them, and their families, deserve recognition and our thanks for their unstinting efforts over the past 103 years whether in peace or war. There can be no better symbol of our proud history, of our achievements, of our future, or of our people, than that of a Queen's Colour." The Queen's Colour flag is an important symbol of respect to a military Service to acknowledge heroic deeds and battle honours. The RFA version consists of the Service's own ensign upon which a crown and Royal Cypher have been embroidered. "It seems barely adequate to describe the significance of today as an historic occasion for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary." Cdre Bob Thornton RFA In her letter to the RFA to commemorate the award of the Colour, Her Majesty The Queen wrote: "The RFA may not be well-known to the wider public, yet you have given a very great contribution to the nation since your formation in 1905. Many of your number have given their lives working alongside the Royal Navy and other Armed Forces and it is entirely fitting that this consecration and presentation should be taking place in Portsmouth, the traditional home of the Royal Navy." "There can be no better symbol of your many achievements and proud history than these Colours: as well as giving focus to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's identity, loyalty and pride, they also manifest the deep respect in which you and your vital work are held by the nation." RFA Largs Bay has just returned to the UK following a highly successful 7 month deployment to the Caribbean. On her first North Atlantic patrol she was tasked to provide support to British Overseas Territories and to assist in the joint international effort in the disruption of the flow of narcotics from South America to Europe and the USA.
A significant highlight of the deployment was the seizure of 575kg of cocaine, worth more than £20m at street value. In her multi-functional role, Largs Bay was also involved in training exercises with other navies and armed forces of the countries surrounding the Caribbean theatre. 
His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex presents The Queen's Colour on behalf of Her Majesty
[Picture: LA(Phot) Caroline Davies] The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service (RFA) is a civilian-manned fleet, owned by the Ministry of Defence. The Commodore RFA is directly responsible to the Commander-in- Chief Fleet for the administration and operation of the RFA Flotilla.
Its main task is to supply warships of the Royal Navy at sea with fuel, food, stores and ammunition which the Royal Navy needs to remain operational while away from base. It also provides aviation support for the RN, together with amphibious support and secure sea transport for the Army and its equipment. The RFA Service was constituted in 1905. It began by carrying coal bunkers and other stores, acquiring a tanker fleet as British warships became oil burning during World War I. The RFA saw service in every naval theatre of operations (from the Arctic to the Pacific) in the Second World War, including the Maltese, Russian and other convoys. Since then it has supported the Royal Navy and the Army in Korea, Suez, Cyprus, Beira, Kuwait, Borneo, Belize, Aden and in the Cod Wars. During the Falklands War in 1982, the RFA spearheaded logistic support for the Task Force, losing RFA Sir Galahad to heavy air attack at Fitzroy. More recently the Service was in support of allied forces in the Gulf War in 1991, Sierra Leone in 2000 and the Iraq War in 2003. News Source: http://www.mod.uk |
