The flight deck party wait as the helicopter lands on the flight deck

Casualties being brought off the helicopter to the flight deck lift

Casualties on the flight deck lift being taken down for treatment

PT on the flight deck

It seems like it's been a long week, time has dragged its massive great heels to disrupt any momentum we might have built up. It started ages ago on Monday, with my first operation! Musn Ritchie Burton and I took our 'Stryker' trolley and went to fetch a patient from the High Dependency Unit (HDU) upstairs. Once he was safely on the operating theatre table our job was almost done, apart from making sure he didn't flip off. We were then to observe the operation, taking special note of what the 'Circulator' does, which is a job we might be called upon to do. This involves handing swabs, sutures and dressings to the sterile 'Scrub Nurse', making sure the sterile dressing is not touched, only the packaging.

FRENCH TICKLER

Bonjour Mon Amis! Ca Va? We've been invaded by the French Army who have moved in around the corner from us. Some 'Bootnecks' have also decided to drop in for a couple of days, which has the accommodation bursting at the seams. The nine men messes (which are about two thirds the size of a normal living room), that were holding the members of the Band, are now at their full compliment including the 'Booties' and Army Commandos. As you can imagine space is of a premium and there are some fruity man-smells emanating from the very cosy cabins, some even rival the depravity of the Ritchie Burton foot-stench!!

Over the next few days I learned the geography of the Operating theatre so I'd be able to 'circulate' if the chance arose, as the start of the exercise grew ever nearer. The Band Service does behave like a chameleon in situations like these and this Band adapted well to the various jobs and expectations placed on it. We are picking up the medical knowledge, a new vocabulary and trying to fit in with the nursing staff and doctors who are extremely helpful. BdSgt Rich Tilley has been heard waxing lyrical on the subject of basal chest draining and as for Musn Mark 'the intubator' Upton, he's become the resident expert on what his nickname suggests!

I must interject at that point with the sad news that we have lost a member of LCpl Gary 'Gadget' Turner's utility belt. Yes I am afraid that Gary's Gerber multi-tool met its match in what seemed like a routine job. We've all benefited in one way or another from Gary's tool over the years so emotions will be running high during the burial at sea next week.

Over Thursday and Friday there was a forty-eight hour period of 'Action Stations' putting us into Defence Watches. This meant sleeping in the PCRF overnight, when it was hinted that there might be a late night exercise involving a pretend casualty evacuation and/or gas attack. We waited and waited but the gas and/or casualties never came. It was at times like this my new Norwegian friends, Lizbet and Rune said things like, 'Kjedlig' and ' Jeger for gammel for dette her….' Meaning 'boring' and 'I'm too old for this'. They're Norwegian Officers observing how things are done with a view to taking their findings on to the first Norwegian Medical ship. I guess their exercises won't be so tedious!!!

There are preparations afoot for a band music video to be shot on the Argus to the song 'Perfect Day'. It was Drum Major Stuart Mason's brainchild and he and CSgt Bug Lee Cullen have come up with some scenarios they want the members of the Band to act out. No one's refused but there is some pretty dodgy stuff in the offing. Hopefully you won't have to bear witness to this underground film but illegal copies will no doubt find their unscrupulous way back to Dartmouth homes.

Practises over and the exercise was about to start. Another job for the Band, 'Stick Guides'. Let me tell you about this in the very words of BdSgt Rich Tilley.

Have you ever wondered, who actually starts a war? Who fires the first round, or flies the first sortie? Well this mystery has at last been solved. On Monday 14th June, Port Watch Section 3 (BdSgt Rich Tilley, Cpl Bug Jessie James & Musns John Beckley and Mark Upton) were dragged away from their advanced medical training in the Intensive Care Unit to act as 'Stick Guides' for Brigade Recce Force. This involved organising a darkened hanger full of heroes into their five man groups, confirming that each Section Commander was "happy" with his LZ (Landing Zone) grid reference. The Stick Guides then ensured that each group was organised onto the forward lift so that they could be loaded onto the correct aircraft in the right order.

All of this was achieved in short order with the sketchiest of briefs. Once the Assault Forces had been marshalled onto the forward lift, BdSgt Tilley gave the order,

"Follow Me!"

The invasion had begun.

Breaking News!!

This report has ended up covering almost two weeks and it has all started now. This morning (16 June) we had a mass casualty exercise, with some 20 US Marines coming on as the pretend casualties. We coped well; the 'SAFEGUARD' Casualties (real ones) started descending on us. The exercise was put on the back burner while the genuine casualties were dealt with. The real twist came this afternoon when we received a young girl suffering from mumps. It looks like we won't be receiving any more exercise casualties and with over half of the Band 'stood down' for the next few days due to them not already having had mumps or the MMR vaccination and would be at risk of infection. This leaves only 10 members of the Band eligible to receive genuine casualties. I leave you with this unexpected news with the future of our part in the exercise uncertain, but spirits are still as strong as ever.

'High fives' to all of our families, under a month to go!!

John Beckley