LORD DANNATT’S ROUND BRITAIN CHALLENGE

As part of the remembrance activities to mark the close of the First World War, 48 injured soldiers and 96 cadets embarked on a voyage of remembrance, adventure and personal development as part of the Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge.

The cadets and veterans on-board worked together to sail around Great Britain on the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s specially adapted tall ship, Lord Nelson. Crews changed every 10 days in each capital city (London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff) and in each change-over port there was a celebration of remembrance, inclusivity and diversity.

Each 10-day voyage saw 12 injured service personnel working alongside 24 cadets and instructors to sail the ship to the next capital city which included climbing the mast, helming the ship, setting the sails and much more.

Six cadets from Northern Ireland took part in the Belfast to Cardiff leg of the Voyage: Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major Charlie Griffith from Ballygowan Detachment Army Cadet Force (ACF), Cadet Corporal Laura Martin from Ballykinler Detachment ACF, Cadet Sergeant Jeni Larmour from the Royal School Armagh Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Cadet Sergeant Megan McGaughey from Ballymena Detachment ACF, Cadet Sergeant Matthew Crichton from Killyleagh Detachment ACF and Cadet Lance Corporal Lucy Hughes from Banbridge Academy ACF. (Pictured below from top left)

In each capital city a quarter of a wooden shield was presented to the crew and, at the end of the challenge, the final piece of the shield was presented in London; the cadets marched it to the Tower of London, where the shield will become a WW1 Memorial.

The video below, produced by Forces News, gives an excellent account of the voyage and the experiences of those involved: