Long serving sailor receives bar to LS&GC medal
A Royal Naval Petty Officer with a distinguished career in the Fleet Air Arm has been presented with a clasp to his Long Service and Good Conduct medal by Captain Mark Garratt Commanding Officer RNAS Culdrose.
Petty Officer (PO) Jan “Taff” Davies who has served over 31 years in the Royal Navy joined HMS Raleigh near Plymouth in 1983 as an Air Engineer Mechanic (AEM). Passing initial training he moved onto HMS Daedalus nearPortsmouth which at the time was the main air engineering training establishment for the Fleet Air Arm. His first Squadron was 706 Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Squadron Culdrose where he learnt the essentials of working with the Sea King, on the advanced Sea King training squadron.
Jan served on 824, 820 and 810 Sea King squadrons around the world onboard all of the Invincible class Aircraft Carriers and several Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships on exercises and operations during the Cold War. Whilst on 820 NAS in 1991 onboard HMS Ark Royal he took part in Operation Granby, also known as Gulf war 1. Jan was promoted to Leading AEM (Radio) in 1992 and counts himself as one of the few purely Radio ratings left in the FAA. He has served shore time as well at Culdrose in the Avionics workshop and was fortunate enough to get a foreign assignment toGibraltarfor two years between 1998 – 2000; with promotion to Petty Officer AEM (Radio) in 1999.
Moving across to Merlin Helicopters in 2001 Jan joined 824 NAS once again at RNAS Culdrose and served four tours of duty on 820 and a brief spell on 829 HQ Flight, before taking up his current job as the Merlin Force Junior rate career manager at Culdrose his experience and service knowledge have made him a natural choice to provide guidance and direction for the employment of air engineers across the Air Station. With an ability to focus on the Front Line ensuring that Squadrons and Flights are manned with the right people at the right time.
“I had a fantastic time in the Royal Navy”, said Jan reflecting back on his career so far. “Joining up was the best thing I’ve done. I’ve been really fortunate to have met some great people and shared some absolutely brilliant experiences. Working on Sea Kings and Merlin helicopters squadrons has taught me many skills, which in my current position I’m pleased to pass on to the next generation of Fleet Air Arm Engineers.”
The Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct medal is awarded on the recommendation of a Commanding Officer. The rating must also have completed 15 years reckonable service and be the holder of three good conduct badges. The rarely awarded Clasp to the medal is granted after a further fifteen years service.
"PO Davies is a true guardian of service ethos and receives my strongest congratulations on the award of a clasp to his Long Service and Good conduct medal recognition of his contribution to the Senior Service," said Warrant Officer 1 Chris Boucher.