- 3 hours ago
Ready to dive into the intense world of modern naval operations? Season 2 of **Warship Life in the Royal Navy** brings you Episode 3, and it's packed with high-stakes action and behind-the-scenes drama.
This episode takes you closer than ever to the daily grind and the crucial decisions made on board a Royal Navy vessel. Experience the challenges of maintaining peak operational readiness and the camaraderie that binds the crew together through demanding exercises and unexpected situations.
Discover the cutting-edge technology and specialized training that keep these sailors at the forefront of global maritime security. You'll get an unfiltered look at the dedication and skill required to operate some of the world's most advanced warships.
Don't miss this gripping installment of **Warship Life** as we explore the realities of life at sea for the brave men and women of the Royal Navy. Get ready for an immersive journey into the heart of naval power.
#RoyalNavy #WarshipLife #NavalOperations
This episode takes you closer than ever to the daily grind and the crucial decisions made on board a Royal Navy vessel. Experience the challenges of maintaining peak operational readiness and the camaraderie that binds the crew together through demanding exercises and unexpected situations.
Discover the cutting-edge technology and specialized training that keep these sailors at the forefront of global maritime security. You'll get an unfiltered look at the dedication and skill required to operate some of the world's most advanced warships.
Don't miss this gripping installment of **Warship Life** as we explore the realities of life at sea for the brave men and women of the Royal Navy. Get ready for an immersive journey into the heart of naval power.
#RoyalNavy #WarshipLife #NavalOperations
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Short filmTranscript
00:06Hello and welcome to His Majesty's Naval Base Devonport here in Plymouth.
00:11For hundreds of years this place has been a home to the Royal Navy and around half the nation's fleet
00:16is based here.
00:19This is a remarkable place. Thousands of service men and women pass through here every week.
00:26There are billions of pounds worth of warships and weapons and enough food to feed a Navy.
00:33And then there's the staff and crew who live in and around the base.
00:41We're here at a time of serious international tension when the Royal Navy has never been busier.
00:47And they've given us access across the fleet.
00:55You feel it reverberating through your whole body.
01:00You feel that you can reach out and touch that. That is wild.
01:04Just off our bow is a Russian submarine.
01:09Throughout these special programmes we're lifting the lid.
01:12What are you doing?
01:14On what life is really like in Britain's Navy today.
01:18I'm sure you tied that tie correctly before being dragged through a hedge.
01:21You sound like my mum.
01:22Get out of yourself. That moves. Come on.
01:24These boys are fit. This is a different league within a different league.
01:28I do feel in very safe hands. Thank you very much.
01:34This is warship. Life in the Royal Navy.
01:39In this episode, putting the Royal in Royal Navy.
01:43King Charles' astonishing journey from recruit to commanding officer.
01:47He got the special privilege of driving his own car here.
01:50His famous Aston Martin.
01:52No guts, no glory.
01:55JJ takes to the stage.
01:57What am I doing?
01:59Oh, my Lord.
02:00To perform with the world-famous Royal Marines Band.
02:06And Kate is on board a £1 billion warship.
02:10Clear to fire.
02:12To witness the full might of its firepower.
02:19Wow.
02:20I feel like I've just been at war.
02:38Hello and welcome to warship.
02:40Yes, and our home throughout the series is going to be the magnificent HMS St Albans.
02:44She's classed as one of the Royal Navy's big ships
02:47and she's predominantly designed to hunt for submarines.
02:50But recently, I was invited on board a very different kind of warship
02:54as she prepared for major NATO operations.
02:58And it was quite an experience, I can tell you.
03:05The port of Stavanger in Norway is a major NATO base.
03:11Just 700 miles from Russia.
03:17I've been told to report here by the Navy, so obviously I have.
03:22And I'm going to be put, apparently, on one of their most advanced warships.
03:29It's all very James Bond.
03:30And I've got no idea what to expect.
03:37HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer.
03:40And it's soon going to be joining a crucial NATO mission.
03:46But before it can deploy on operations, there's still a lot of work to do.
03:52On the far side, we've got a fuel barge at the minute, fueling us up.
03:55So it's all happening this morning.
03:58Captain Ian Giffin has just a few weeks to get the ship completely ready.
04:05It's a great hulking thing, isn't it?
04:08It's just fast.
04:10It also does look very streamlined.
04:14It looks like it's built for speed.
04:16Yes.
04:17Our job is air defence.
04:18Right.
04:18So we need sort of up to 30 knots for that.
04:21So, yeah, sorry, 35, 40 miles an hour.
04:24Right.
04:25And absolutely the streamlined nature makes it more efficient.
04:27And my engines can absolutely get me up to that speed, which is great.
04:34I've been invited to join HMS Dragon's crew of over 200 people for a critical part of their preparations.
04:43Testing its advanced weapons, which are capable of shooting down enemy missiles and aircraft.
04:51A mission to come on the bridge?
04:52Yes, please, Kate.
04:53So, welcome to the bridge.
04:54Captain is about to take charge of the ship from the Ostwatch.
04:58Right.
04:58And he'll drive us off the wall.
04:59OK.
05:00But first, HMS Dragon needs to get out to sea.
05:05Fexel Bridge, let go for a tug.
05:12Where are we heading?
05:15So today we'll head up the fjord into the North Sea.
05:18Yeah.
05:19The ship is making its way towards a NATO weapons testing area,
05:24where the crew must prove Dragon's guns and missiles are working properly.
05:28Only then will they be signed off as ready for frontline duty.
05:33Wow.
05:34It is enormous.
05:36Yeah.
05:36No, fairly big.
05:37As I'm shown to my cabin, the decks are a hive of activity, as the crew prepare for the days
05:44that lie ahead.
05:45You're just down the end in a single cabin.
05:48You're just down the end in a single cabin.
05:48Yeah.
05:48Wow.
05:49OK.
05:49Wasn't expecting that.
05:52That's properly grand.
05:55Amazing.
05:55Thank you very much indeed.
05:57But there's no time to relax.
05:59In the Royal Navy, there's no time off when a ship is at sea.
06:04The ship's company is reminded that the whole of the upper deck remains out of bounds
06:07to all those not involved in the smallish gunnery.
06:10That is all.
06:11Although we're still a few hours away from the NATO firing range,
06:15the ship's smaller guns can be tested en route.
06:18So you're queen of guns?
06:21I mean, kind of.
06:23A live firing exercise like this one doesn't happen very often.
06:27So this is the first time 25-year-old weapons engineer Zoe Leslie has been able to fire them.
06:35Now, Zoe, I know it's a really, really big day for you and your team today,
06:40but can you explain why?
06:42So we've got a few different systems on board,
06:45especially the 30mms which we're testing today,
06:47and both of them have trials that we need to do
06:49so that when we operate it, it's more accurate.
06:52To be allowed near Zoe as she checks that the 30mm gun is working properly...
06:57Oh, I should have a regulation haircut.
07:00..I need to be wearing full body armour.
07:03Yeah, all good, yeah.
07:05Good, thank you.
07:08Roger, check safety, bearing 150.
07:14This is a really, really big moment for Zoe and all the gunnery team.
07:21What I'm learning is the extraordinary protocols and systems that are in place
07:27to make sure that if and when a gun needs to be fired in anger,
07:32everyone knows what they're doing and every part of that lethal machine is working properly.
07:39Start listening, right? Relative and true bearing.
07:45I've been told it is extremely loud.
07:49I've got two sets of all defenders on, as has everyone else.
07:54This is the oldest and most temperamental gun on the ship.
07:5930mm, about to function.
08:02So, to begin with, the gun is set to fire manually, one round at a time.
08:11Oh, that was awesome!
08:16Oh, that was awesome!
08:18It's so loud.
08:20And so terrifying.
08:25You don't just feel that, you feel it reverberating through your whole body.
08:36All seems to be working well.
08:39And now, Zoe must prepare the ammunition for the real test,
08:44setting the gun to fire automatically.
08:49Woo!
09:02Are you happy with that?
09:05Zoe's happy.
09:07The gun is working properly and ready for the upcoming mission.
09:13But HMS Dragon's biggest weapons are yet to be put to the test.
09:23Well, that was amazing.
09:25Like, it's not every day that you get orders to report to a £1 billion destroyer
09:29that's gearing up to join our friends at NATO.
09:32I know. I know how lucky I was.
09:34I know how many people are jealous of me.
09:36Well, well done for getting stuck in.
09:38And you guys, make sure you stick around, because this is what's coming up.
09:461-6-0! Missile! 1-6-0!
09:49Find out what happens when HMS Dragon unleashes fire.
09:53Clear to fire.
09:57And I join the Royal Marines Band.
10:04Where I've only got two weeks to practice for a major UK performance.
10:09It makes me nervous, especially when I think about doing that on stage with them.
10:14And I don't want to let them down.
10:30Welcome back to the programme.
10:32Now, many of you will be familiar with the rousing sound of a military band
10:37when they play at state events and royal receptions, services of remembrance, that sort of thing.
10:43But what you may not know is that the Royal Marines Band is considered one of the finest in the
10:50world.
10:51JJ went to find out more.
10:53Let's hope no one gave him a tambourine.
11:03They're one of the most celebrated military bands.
11:07And several times a week, Portsmouth Dockyard echoes with the sound of the rehearsals.
11:12The Royal Marines Band service with a rich history that dates all the way back to 1903.
11:21Portsmouth Naval Base is home to the Royal Marines School of Music,
11:25where the band practiced the tricky art of playing and marching at the same time.
11:31Listen to that.
11:34Making sure they're marching to the beat of his drum is bandmaster Jules Cook.
11:42That is hoofing.
11:44JJ.
11:45Welcome to the Royal Marines School of Music.
11:47Oh mate, they're so crisp.
11:49I love it. What do you think?
11:49It's just very rosen, isn't it?
11:52Yeah, absolutely.
11:52It fills me with a huge amount of pride.
11:54How about we go and have a look around?
11:56I would love to.
11:57Okay.
11:58The School of Music is inside Portsmouth Naval Base and dates back to the days of Admiral Nelson,
12:04when it was used for a very different purpose.
12:09And as you come through, you'll see...
12:11It's a prison!
12:12It's a prison. It looks like a prison still as well.
12:15It's like a scene out of porridge.
12:16Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
12:17And we've actually got...
12:18There's your sort of notice that you would have seen when you very first came in to the Royal Navy
12:22detention quarters.
12:26From 1843 to 1996, this Royal Navy prison was home to offenders locked inside over a hundred cells, serving time
12:35at His Majesty's pleasure.
12:37The netting's still there. I mean, obviously there has been some tweaks.
12:42With the doors, they're still the original doors, they've been sort of stripped back.
12:45Yeah, a lot of the old features are here.
12:49But the cells have a very different purpose these days.
12:59So, a prison makes a good sort of blueprint for a music school, does it?
13:04Yeah, you absolutely... I mean, you can imagine how thick these walls were.
13:07And the doors and everything, so you can kind of hear now, there's not a huge amount of noise going
13:11on,
13:11but there's plenty of musicians around and they're practising in their cell...
13:15We still call them their rooms, but we still call them the cells.
13:18We obviously don't lock them in at night and things like that anymore.
13:22I've always wanted to try the bugle, but this is the first time I've been let loose on one.
13:27Do you just blow into it?
13:29Try and buzz your lips, put your lips together.
13:32Yeah, that's it.
13:33And blow through.
13:39I promise, these are all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order.
13:50Wow.
13:50Wow.
13:51That's all I can say, JJ.
13:52Wow.
13:54Pretty good.
13:55Am I going places?
13:57Yeah, I'm not sure where we're going, but we're going places.
13:59I'm not sure the bugle's suited to you, but how would you like to come and perform with us?
14:03What?
14:04Yeah, yeah.
14:05What do you think?
14:05All right.
14:06Okay, well, I'll hang up my bugle and put my hands up.
14:09Fair enough.
14:10I would love to.
14:11Let's go.
14:11Let's see what we can find you.
14:20Remarkably, after that performance, Jules has invited me to join up with the Royal Marines band,
14:26who are rehearsing for their upcoming UK tour.
14:30Their next performance is in Manchester in two weeks' time,
14:34and he wants me to play alongside these professionals in front of a sellout crowd.
14:42The only problem is I don't have a musical bone in my body,
14:46so let's hope he's picked something easy for me to play.
14:49Well, that was beautiful.
14:52I'm not quite sure how I'm going to add anything of value to it.
15:01My orders are to report to the percussion section.
15:04For the record, I barely read English, let alone music.
15:07No, we'll keep it, we'll keep it all right.
15:09Okay.
15:11Lance Corporal Harry Page is teaching me to use the tam-tam,
15:14which is essentially a gong to you and me,
15:16and I'm told anyone should be able to master it.
15:20We're going to do a start-up with a crescendo.
15:22All right.
15:23So, grab the mallet.
15:24Even me.
15:30Easy.
15:31Yeah, slightly, yeah.
15:32Exactly all right.
15:33How do I know when to do it, though?
15:35Well, you'll match me, essentially.
15:37Okay.
15:37So, it'll be three, four, quietly, two, three.
15:46And then... Is that too much?
15:47No, no, no, great.
15:48You've just got to really go for it.
15:49And then just let it ring.
15:51This thing makes so much noise.
15:52If you get it wrong, people are going to notice.
15:56With only a few ripples of the gong under my belt,
15:59I'm being thrown in at the deep end as the band rehearsal begins.
16:15Whilst the rest of the band is following the conductor,
16:19I'm following Harry to try and keep up.
16:29The tam-tam is easily one of the loudest instruments in the room.
16:38So, if I get it wrong, it could throw off the timing of the entire band.
16:55Yeah, smashed it.
16:56Could have worn me out of that.
16:59Man!
17:00Cool, huh?
17:00That was unbelievable.
17:01That went along in such pace.
17:03Yeah.
17:03It's pretty relentless, isn't it?
17:04Really punchy.
17:05Well, that was quite an introduction to performing with this world-famous band.
17:10I've now only got two weeks to practise until the big night in Manchester.
17:14The sound of that music, it instantly lifts my spirits.
17:18It makes me proud to be part of the service.
17:21It's powerful, but I'm not going to lie,
17:24I am pretty nervous about joining them on stage,
17:27so I think I best get in there and practise
17:30and do my best not to mess it all up.
17:37Are you kidding me?
17:38Are you actually going to play in a real-life concert with that lot?
17:44How dare you be so surprised?
17:46No, I mean, it's pretty silly and I like a challenge.
17:50I like to get outside my comfort zone and, you know, I will.
17:53Do they like a challenge, more importantly?
17:55Well, they've got one.
17:57Now it is time to return to HMS Dragon
18:00as they prepare for NATO operations.
18:03And things are about to heat up.
18:14HMS Dragon is currently off the coast of Norway,
18:17approaching a remote weapons range in the North Sea.
18:20And I've been invited on board to watch the crew get ready for a special NATO mission.
18:38I've been granted access inside HMS Dragon's operations room, the nerve centre of the warship.
18:46Oh, my goodness.
18:50I had literally no idea of the scale.
18:56What is everybody doing in here?
18:58So, at the moment, we've got everyone closed up for an air defence exercise.
19:03Executive Officer Hugh Gaskell-Taylor is Dragon's second in command.
19:09This is HMS Dragon's absolute core role.
19:12If we were to go to war, we would be an air defence asset.
19:16So, imagine an aircraft carrier in the middle, we would be providing air defence for that.
19:21We would be controlling fighter jets, all in support of that mission to provide air defence.
19:27Before HMS Dragon is allowed to go on operations, it has to prove its weapons are working perfectly.
19:34Assume CBRD state, one condition Zulu, close all red openings.
19:39Am I pushing my luck to ask if there's any other way I can experience what this, being part of
19:45this exercise is like?
19:47We'll get you sat down here.
19:52So, through this headset, I will be able to hear what everybody is contributing.
19:59Absolutely.
20:03160! Fire control radar! 160!
20:07Today's exercise begins with HMS Dragon's radar spotting an incoming missile.
20:14Our electronic warfare specialists have detected a threat.
20:17So, everyone is now taking the necessary reactions to defend the ship.
20:23Hostile 027.
20:26That's the missile coming in towards the ship there.
20:29OK, yeah.
20:39The next thing that we should be hearing is the missiles are being launched and we're going to shoot it
20:44down.
20:46HMS Dragon is equipped with cutting-edge Sea Viper missiles, worth over a million pounds each, and designed to shoot
20:54down any incoming threat, wherever or whoever that may come from.
21:01Warning red, warning red, imminent threat.
21:03Correct. Request command approval.
21:05Clear to fire.
21:07Most of the crew will never fire one of these weapons in battle.
21:11Approved. Sea Viper.
21:13But exercises like this are essential to prove the missile's work.
21:17Three, two, one.
21:28Three, two, one.
21:33AVO, hostile ID delegation rescinded.
21:36Stand two, stand two.
21:38Stand two, stand two.
21:38Raid assessors grant slammed.
21:39That's the air warfare officer who's determined that we're OK, so everyone's relaxing.
21:46The ship wasn't in any danger today, but these tests are designed to prove the crew are ready for frontline
21:53operations.
21:56And in just a few weeks' time, HMS Dragon will begin her NATO mission.
22:02There is so much going on. There's so much information coming into those headphones.
22:07Presumably, if you're in a real life scenario, there's not just one missile that you're worrying about, but could be
22:13tens of them.
22:14Exactly. We can come under attack from multiple directions, multiple missiles, and we'll be able to defeat them all.
22:19That's what we're trained to do, and that's our mission.
22:27Wow.
22:29I feel like I've just been at war.
22:31That was an extraordinary insight into everybody knowing exactly what they needed to do.
22:39And you start to understand that the training that everybody on this ship has gone through and continues to go
22:46through makes all the difference.
22:52I've been on board HMS Dragon for a few days.
22:57Sorry, what are you?
22:58And I'm just starting to get my bearings.
23:01But this bit I've never been to because this is the CO, the commanding officer, the captain's lair.
23:09And I've been given the huge honour to have lunch with him.
23:15Hello?
23:16Hello. Can I come in?
23:17Hello, Kit. Yes, please.
23:19Hi, how are you doing? You all right?
23:20I'm all right, thank you very much.
23:21Welcome, how are you doing?
23:21Look at this.
23:22It's all right, isn't it?
23:25Well, I suppose you've earned it.
23:27And you've got a porthole.
23:28Not just one.
23:29I've got three, technically.
23:30But that's the thing, because there's no other portholes on the ship.
23:33So why do you get them and no one else does?
23:35Clearly driving the ship.
23:36I can't be on the bridge all the time.
23:37Right.
23:37So whenever the bridge team shout down to me, it allows me a quick glance to see if we're going
23:43to hit anything.
23:46Captain Ian Giffin is one of the busiest people on the ship, overseeing everything that happens and all 200 members
23:54of his crew.
23:55Right.
23:56It's delicious.
23:57I've seen people carrying food up to you.
24:00I get the same menu that everybody else has.
24:03The captain of a warship dines alone, remaining separate from the crew.
24:08Making friends could jar with a commanding officer's need to hand out difficult orders.
24:15And this is your first ship, then, that you commanded?
24:18It's the first one, yeah.
24:19Must be quite a daunting prospect to be the person for whom the buck stops on a ship that has
24:27the capabilities that it has.
24:28When we're doing this high-end kinetic activity, clearly a lot of stuff goes round your head of, let's just
24:34be sure, I'm not sure, are we doing this for the right reasons?
24:37All we can do is be good at what we're supposed to be good at.
24:41Where Dragon's off to next is to lead a NATO task group of around nine ships for the best part
24:48of six months
24:48and then to make sure that my ship's ready for whatever tasking I get.
24:55The people I have met during my time at sea have been highly impressive.
25:00Crew members as young as 17 stepping up to get this warship ready for important NATO operations.
25:09Each and every one of them deserves our gratitude and our respect.
25:21Pretty cool, hey?
25:22Yeah, that is cool.
25:23I mean, it's a privilege to get access to a room like this.
25:27This is the ops room on board St Albans.
25:30But unlike that, all the screens are turned off here because we're in port.
25:33But this room is full of cutting-edge equipment and probably a few secrets.
25:37You know, you can tell me a thing or two about this place, right?
25:39Well, I could, but then obviously I'd have to kill you.
25:42Cool.
25:42But the one thing I can tell you is what's coming up next.
25:48I'm exploring the King's connection to the Navy from an officer in training to commander of his own warship.
25:55That was his first day ever before.
25:57Okay. And that's you there?
25:58Yes, that's me.
25:59He was a brilliant captain.
26:01And I get stage fright in Manchester.
26:04As I, like, expect from, like, a school gym hall or something.
26:08What am I doing?
26:10As I join the Royal Marines Band for one final rehearsal.
26:28Hello, I'm on the bridge of HMS St Albans.
26:31This place is the beating heart of any warship.
26:34And I'm actually sitting in the captain's chair and I'm pretty lucky to get to do that.
26:39But back in the 1970s, there was a young man named Charles who dreamt of sitting in one of these
26:45chairs.
26:45And he was a man who was destined for big things.
26:53Since 1905, the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth has been the training ground for all officers joining the Royal
27:01Navy.
27:02Eyes put.
27:03And the heir to the throne was no exception.
27:06In 1971, at the age of just 22, Prince Charles, as he was known then, began his Royal Navy officer
27:14training in these very rooms.
27:16And it's become a specialist subject for Dartmouth's in-house historian, Dr. Jane Harrold.
27:22So, Jane, we all know that members of the Royal Family are expected to spend some time in the armed
27:31forces.
27:32But do we know why Prince Charles, as he was then, chose the Navy?
27:36So, he'd actually started out in the RAF.
27:39Oh, did he?
27:39But then he came here to Dartmouth following the footsteps of his father, his grandfather.
27:46And did he stay in the same quarters as everybody else, eat with everybody?
27:50Or did he have his sort of butler and his own sort of special royal bit?
27:54No, he was treated exactly the same as all the other cadets or students in his class.
27:59There was just one bit of special treatment that he did get.
28:02The norm would be for all the cadets joining to come down by train and then be coached him to
28:08Dartmouth.
28:09But he got the special privilege of driving his own car.
28:13His famous, infamous Aston Martin.
28:18Even if you're the future King of England, everyone who joins Dartmouth gets put through their paces,
28:25learning core military skills like leadership, navigation and warfare.
28:31To learn more about how King Charles would have felt when he first came here,
28:35I've been invited to take part in a sword drill.
28:39Divisions, eyes, front, up, Miss Carrie.
28:43A long-held tradition of the Royal Navy dating back hundreds of years.
28:48Divisions, on your shoulder, help.
28:51Every rookie officer coming to Dartmouth still has to learn these skills.
28:57Ceremonial training instructor Dean Jordan will be putting me through my paces.
29:01I don't know why you've got a smile on your face, O.C. Humble.
29:03Look at the state of you.
29:05I thought I...
29:06You thought what? What do you think?
29:08Please enlighten me.
29:09Do you think you can come here without putting any polish on those shoes?
29:12Have you even tried to iron your trousers?
29:15Stand up straight.
29:16OK?
29:17Mm-hm.
29:18I'm sure you tied that tie correctly before being dragged through a hedge.
29:22You sound like my mum.
29:23Oh, do I?
29:24Yes.
29:25Right.
29:26Shall I go and stand with the rest of them then?
29:29Well, if you're ready.
29:30I mean, we could just wait for you if you want.
29:32I'm ready.
29:33I'm ready, sir.
29:33Let's go.
29:36These basic drills are designed to instill discipline and camaraderie into the trainee officers.
29:42O.C. Humble.
29:43Listen in there.
29:46Divisions, shoulder.
29:47On your shoulder.
29:49Hope, off your shoulder.
29:51Suit, up, Miss Carrie.
29:53Sword drills are used in special ceremonies and parades, and only officers and warrant officers
29:59are allowed to carry them.
30:01Eyes, front, up, Miss Carrie.
30:05Some of you need to switch on with your timings.
30:07You're not keeping in time.
30:09Although blunt, they weigh over a kilogram, making them very difficult to control.
30:14It's really hard.
30:16Every whistle is tensed, and he's very scary.
30:20Some of you are waving the sword around like Harry Potter's wand.
30:24There are dozens of commands, but I'm struggling even with the most basic.
30:30Divisions.
30:31Stand.
30:32Easy.
30:33Five, four, three, two, one.
30:38Steady.
30:40Okay.
30:40Take off your head gear.
30:41Relax there.
30:45According to legend, King Charles wasn't a fan of these drills.
30:50Dismissed.
30:50But I bet the drill instructor back then relished shouting at the future monarch.
30:57I don't think I'm a natural.
30:59I don't either.
31:02It's fine, then.
31:03It's fine.
31:04It's fine.
31:04But that's why it happens.
31:05That's why we do it over and over again.
31:07And if you were to stay here and do this over and over again, 100%, it's become second nature.
31:12Well, thank you.
31:12I'm glad you enjoyed it.
31:16After leaving Dartmouth, King Charles rose through the ranks as a naval officer.
31:22In 1976, he became captain of the minesweeper HMS Bronnington and its 32-strong crew.
31:29So was this when he literally had just arrived?
31:32That was his first day ever.
31:34Okay.
31:35And that's you there?
31:36Yes, that's me.
31:38Cox and Peter Still served alongside him.
31:43Now, Peter, could you have a sort of, I don't know, a normal relationship with your captain?
31:50Or did you always have to be very formal, not just because he was a captain, but also he was
31:55the Prince of Wales?
31:56Over my 35 years in the Navy, I've served with an awful lot of lovely captains.
32:03He was up at the very top.
32:05He was very knowledgeable and very aware of what he had to do and how he did it.
32:11He cared about you, he was interested in all of you.
32:14He was one of the boys.
32:15He was one of the boys and he was just a regular captain.
32:17I know he was a brilliant captain.
32:19Did he know you all by name?
32:21Every one of us.
32:23And I was with him in Buckingham Palace last June and he knew us all and our wives' names.
32:31He came in the room and he said, coxswain, coxswain.
32:35I said, captain, you good-looking young man.
32:43And that is the two of you having such a laugh.
32:46I hope that's a double gin and tonic in there, is it?
32:48It probably is.
32:51Thank you for sharing your stories because it's given me a completely different insight into the man who is the
32:59king of our country.
33:00So thank you.
33:01Pleasure.
33:03Pleasure.
33:06Pleasure.
33:07Pleasure.
33:08Pleasure.
33:09Ah, that was great.
33:10Like so nice to hear from one of King Charles' shipmates.
33:13Like it looked like they had a lot of fun at sea.
33:17And, a little earlier in the programme you will have seen that the Royal Marines Band challenged me to take
33:22part in one of their concerts.
33:25And because I'm a complete novice, I've been rehearsing hard, mostly out of fear of letting them down or embarrassing
33:33myself in front of thousands of people.
33:35But the time has come to join them on their UK tour.
33:40Here's how I got on.
33:44Manchester City Centre.
33:46Home to creativity, culture and tonight at the Bridgewater Hall, the Royal Marines Band.
33:55Featuring me.
33:58So the performance starts in a couple of hours. It is a sellout crowd of 2,000 people and I'm
34:04here.
34:05Now these guys are pretty well the best in the world at what they do and their performances raise money
34:09for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines charity.
34:13So I really don't want to mess this up.
34:18With final rehearsals nearly complete, the countdown to the show is on.
34:24Look at this.
34:31This place is incredible.
34:35A bit intimidating actually.
34:38Oh no.
34:40I don't know, was I like expecting like a school gym hall or something?
34:44What am I doing?
34:49In charge of the performance tonight is the band's principal director of music, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Williams.
34:57So how's the tour going?
34:59Yeah, good. Great venue tonight. Bridgewater Hall in Manchester completely sold out.
35:03Every seat is sold.
35:04We've had an incredible run. Really good. The band's sounding amazing.
35:08Audience have loved it. I don't want to put any extra pressure on you.
35:11I mean you are.
35:12We have not started you at Topshin Village Hall.
35:15Yeah.
35:16This is not a gym hall.
35:18No, it's a big concert hall.
35:20You're just going to have to concentrate, try not to think about the size of the, you know, the hall,
35:25the size of the audience.
35:26Focus on the team and the direction they're giving you.
35:29Right.
35:30Yeah. Have you been practising?
35:31Yeah, got the hubcaps off my car.
35:34Give them a good bang throughout the week.
35:36Yeah, good.
35:36Yeah, yeah.
35:39In all seriousness, I really have been putting in the hours.
35:43And we're messing around.
35:45Can I do some work?
35:45Get in, Bob.
35:46Now it comes down to one final rehearsal with the band.
35:50Coming.
35:51Oh, my Lord.
35:52My last chance to get it right.
35:56You got me wet.
35:57How's it going?
35:58I'm good.
36:00Right.
36:02My only safety net is percussionist Lance Corporal Harry Page.
36:09Who will be guiding me through tonight's performance.
36:29I'm no expert, but I think I'm just about keeping up.
36:32The problem is that banging a drum loudly is pretty easy.
36:37Doing it with skill, timing and talent is what matters here.
36:44Oh, I'm not going to lie.
36:45Like, I am a little conscious of how loud I am being when I'm banging on the drums and stuff.
36:50Because if it's out of time, you're going to tell.
36:54Certainly I'm going to be told, I feel.
36:59Coming up.
37:00Right.
37:02This is it.
37:03He'll go out some glory.
37:06JJ is given a grand introduction to a sellout Manchester crowd.
37:11We have a very special guest to join us.
37:14Lance Corporal Charles J.
37:17But will he be a smash hit?
37:31welcome back to warship life in the royal navy i'm in manchester at the bridgewater hall where
37:39the most famous military band in the world are about to perform and for one night only
37:45i've been invited to take part hi jj middle of time for the show there's your uniform mega have a
37:53great
37:53time yeah in a minute my musical prowess might be in question but at least i can try and look
38:00the part wearing the uniform of the royal marines right it's too late to go awol absent without
38:10leave this is happening performance time steady the nerves let's get us done
38:17the crowd are taking their seats can you hear that
38:23there's people out here man oh my god with the entire place full it's time to cue the music
38:37look at that boss
38:55to be this close to the royal marines band as they perform is spine tingling
39:05every note is sheer perfection
39:13just a few weeks ago in the middle of their uk tour this group performed at windsor castle
39:18for the state visit of president trump
39:31now though it's my turn
39:35right this is it no guts no glory
39:40now we have a very special guest to join us in this section of the program lance corporal charmers j
39:50probably known better to you as jj chalmers
39:57what an introduction but the moment of truth as they say is upon me
40:09the moment of truth as they say is upon me
40:19wearing the uniform and performing with the band is both a huge honor and a serious responsibility
40:26tonight i'm representing the royal marines in a very public setting and i can't let them down
40:37it's been over 10 years since i left the royal marines an unforgettable chapter of my life
40:45like myself many people in this crowd are veterans but also these performances inspire future generations
40:58i can't help but enjoy my moment in the musical spotlight even if i'm only banging on a gong
41:29so that was something um i am pretty speechless actually um that was a lot of fun it's just
41:38good being part of a band like this is why you join the core to be part of something bigger
41:42than
41:42yourself and it doesn't get much bigger than that
41:52as the manchester performance comes to an end i get another special moment i'm invited back onto
41:59the stage to take a bow with the rest of the band
42:09with my musical debut made it's time for the standard military debrief
42:17right how'd i do boss jj i thought it was fantastic it was so good you know you really
42:23played the part you actually played a meaningful part in the band i must admit the first one was a
42:28bit loud bit of a face melter but but you controlled it you kept the tempo it was you were
42:34together
42:34that's the most important thing and that's not that is not easy to do so with the amount of preparation
42:38you've had seriously well done i think it was great and to see all the veterans standing up at the
42:42end royal navy royal marines you know it means a lot to a lot of people this kind of thing
42:47so yeah
42:47you've been a part of that well done yeah it was great i honestly never in my wildest dream
42:52but i think i'd do that i might i might i might hang on my mallet at this point quite
42:56a while in my head
42:56well you've got the uniform now so you know okay it's uh maybe there's a future uh you know we'll
43:01be on tour again you can draft me back in
43:12well i smashed it didn't i you got a standing ovation i certainly certainly did yeah listen
43:19i that was pretty terrifying like that was a big old venue yeah and a lot of people counting on
43:24me
43:25and i just didn't want to sort of ruin it for everybody it was actually very impressive thank
43:30you well this is what you guys can enjoy next
43:35what are you doing jj's on dartmoor to take on an elite royal marines challenge and it's brutal
43:49is that the terminology it is dwayne heads back in time mind your head oh my goodness to discover the
43:57reality of life on board the first british ship to circumnavigate the globe a lot of salty sea
44:03water gets onto this deck it would eventually mix with animal poo so if you ever did find yourself
44:08sleeping on here don't sleep with your mouth open that's about 15 minutes now and i haven't seen a
44:14single soul on board and what happens when a fully armed royal navy warship intercepts a suspicious
44:20vessel in the english channel if you're in uk waters and you're up to no good you should expect the
44:25or navy to be looking at you goodbye bye
44:55the
44:55or
44:55the
44:56or
44:56or
44:56or
44:56or
44:56or
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