HMS Monmouth crew send Mother's Day wishes
Despite being on operations in the Gulf, the crew of HMS Monmouth has ensured that Mother's Day isn't forgotten.
![The crew of HMS Monmouth ensure that Mother's Day isn't forgotten [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Will Haigh, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/7019/s300_HMS_Monmouth_Mother_s_Dayg.jpg)
The crew of HMS Monmouth ensure that Mother's Day isn't forgotten*
Although busy conducting a 7-month maritime security patrol, sailors on board the ‘Black Duke’ have found time in their busy programme to send a card or make a call on Mother’s Day.
Access to the internet is a big help, with sailors now able to order flowers or email recent pictures home to make their messages more personal.
Having received a recent photo of her son, Engineering Technician Osian Amos’s mother Llinos said:
It was so nice to receive the picture, it made me cry. He’s been away since October and will not be back until May.
There are many mothers in the Services who also have to spend time away from their children when serving in the Armed Forces.
On board HMS Monmouth, Deputy Weapon Engineer Officer and mother Lieutenant Charli Thomas fights potential piracy as a boarding officer.
She said:
It is hard being away and missing the children’s first days at school, parents’ evenings, sports days, school plays, birthdays, Christmas, or just tucking your little ones up in bed safely and giving them a cuddle and a kiss each night.
Mother’s Day brings this home for me and it’s missing the things that we can’t do that makes all of us appreciate them, and the people that do them for us, that much more.
There are many mothers and carers back home that are in our thoughts on Mother’s Day, be it our own or those of all the children we have left behind; they have our love and our thanks for a job that is endless and so important.
Deputy Weapon Engineer Officer (and mum) Lieutenant Charli Thomas RN [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Will Haigh, Crown copyright]
Also ensuring that Mother’s Day is catered for are the fathers on board, whose job it is to ensure that their wives or girlfriends receive the gifts and praise that they are due from children who might be too small to show it themselves.
Across the ship, the message is resoundingly one of thanks and love for the efforts of all the mums back home keeping everything running smoothly whilst the sailors and Royal Marines are overseas doing their duty.
Sending his own special Mother’s Day card home was Leading Physical Trainer Danny Card who said:
This is a selfish job; we recognise it’s those at home who worry more than we do about what we’re doing. This is just a small token of the massive amount of appreciation we have for those we leave behind.
Currently in its 20th year of service, the Plymouth-based warship is helping to maintain stability and security in the Gulf as part of the Royal Navy’s continued presence in that area over the past 30 years.
*From left: Lieutenant (Pilot) Rob Dixon, Leading Air Engineering Technician Olly Horst, Chief Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) Dom Ord, Air Engineering Technician Si Pellow, Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) Jay Morris, Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) Scotty Booth, Leading Air Engineering Technician Peter ‘Ducky’ Duckworth, Air Engineering Technician Dave ‘Hank’ Gorst and Lieutenant (Flight Commander) Ed Barham