Had my fair share of being in front of the commander and Tom Wilkinson, he was a fair man and treated you with respect.. the best years of my life serving on HMS Ark Royal 1975 to 1977 , now aged 65 and I still think about my days in the Navy
I served 88-98 and like yourself I look back to those days with pride, the people the places..just great.This documentary is a delight to watch. When he sees the Ark being dismantled I feel for him. Do you imagine what it's like on today's carriers? The equivalent of the Type 42s seem quite spacious and rating friendly.
I never served in the military but served as a police officer. This man’s style of enforcing discipline (a little thing called common sense) was what used to be expected of a police officer and indeed still was when I joined in 1981. Knowing when to give a verbal warning, knowing when it was necessary to report or arrest were the day to day skills of a copper. I saw and worked with lots like him and aspired to be like that. It’s not easy and only the school of hard knocks and learning from your mistakes makes you that way. Now it’s all policies, ticking boxes and woe betide any copper that dares to use common sense. Modern day police officers are more like automatons following an algorithm. We desperately need a return to these old fashioned common sense values, I’m sure the world would be a better place for it.
Couldn't agree more. A lot of coppers get crap for what they are doing, but all they can do is what their senior officers tell them to do. Most officers are great people.
@freebeerfordworkersI was in the BTP (railway police), after 20 years transferred to Essex Police, didn’t get on with it at all, exactly the same thing, it was all domestics and neighbour disputes and chasing around after latchkey kids. I stuck it out for 5 years then went back to BTP, I dealt with far more interesting work with BTP, some decent meaty stuff. The county forces get involved with crap that they shouldn’t be dealing with and get used by the public as tools in their personal vendettas with each other.
That and some firm but fair discipline.....Our World would be a better place. Also 2 to 3 years National Service for school leavers that had no further education or an apprenticeship lasting 18 months or more. Our youth would do a 180°.
Watching the Sailor series in 76 drove me to join the RN. Watched one episode and went to the recuiting office the next day. Joined 6 weeks later and had the time of my life. I never met Tom Wilkinson but what a top man.
I was lucky enough to be on board when Sailor was filmed, made friends with Patrick Turley the cameraman. Tom was there too. I am fortunate to have his wife on facebook as a friend.
I joined a few years later, and watching this brings back such fantastic memories, Tom is so likeable, sad he has passed now. I wonder where Twinks is these days.
I’m 64, and a US Navy veteran. I have a great deal of respect for the Royal Navy. Fleet MAA was the kind of man that set the example for others to follow.
@B1900pilot I remember a run ashore in Gib back in the late 80's where my Minesweeper was docked. A Yank Destroyer was just down the basin from us. We were drinking in the "Captains Cabin" pub...you guys came in and started taking the piss out of our tiny ship. We weren't going to take it and a fight ensued. We kicked the crap out of you guys but we ALL ended up getting locked up for the night....lol. Back on board we all got trooped...but it was worth it. Three weeks later (ish) we were out and about in Rotterdam and met up again! This time we had a fantastic time with the same lads from the Destroyer. Aren't sailors weird!?
Leadership like respect, is earned, never shown. Huge difference between authority and Leadership. Using authority is like Leading from behind. Respect is leading from the front.
I crossed uncle Toms path on many occasion,good and bad,and found him to be a fair and honest man.He was well liked and respected by most on his "war canoe".I had the privelage to attend his funeral service and pay my respects.
13:30 my favourite part when he tells off that Lieutenant for being late. The lieutenant may outrank a warrant officer and he still calls him sir but everyone knows who has the real authority. You can see the PO grinning in the background gotta love it.
Tom Wilkinson is legendary to those who knew him in both the Royal Navy and US Navy. The old Ark was always a welcome friend into Mayport and Norfolk back in the 70s.
What a decent chap. I watched the whole of the series a couple of years back and it makes me sad that our armed forces have been treated so badly by bean counting tossers in Whitehall. I was born in 1977 and worked as a civil servant for the Navy up near the Isle of Skye. When I was 17 I was an admin assistant and met some really lovely RN officers. They were like Mr Wilkinson, they cared deeply about the men/women they were responsible for. Mr Wilkinson was a truly nice guy - he didn’t punish for the sake of it, he wasn’t mean and he wasn’t a bully. I wish todays bosses were half as kind and led by example like he did. Thank you to everyone who served in the RN, the Army and RAF. The Royal Marines too. Thank you for keeping our waters and our country safe.
Tom Wilkinson Legend, a lager than life character who we are still watching almost 50 years later, to see him get so emotional when he see the Ark Royal at the breakers yard "Its People that make ships" and War-Canoe a line and half..
It was a sad day for me when after two commission's onboard the ark, the day I left to go on draft from her, went to Toms funeral and met his wife Sheila, a lovely lady she is . Only went to the Captains table once and that was to get promoted.
I was with 892 from 76 to the end. A sad day for all of us. I am in touch with Sheila in FB which is nice. I only saw the table up at RAF Leuchars while home with 892. 3 days adrift back off of leave...
A real sailor’s sailor, and always put the crew and ship before himself. He often had to administer discipline, but with an eye toward getting a man on the right track.
i left the Ark just after the last deployment in 78. I remember the Fleet MAA very well. Especially on pay day. But he did give me a kit muster once for wearing my red football socks at action stations. Lesson learned. This man had the utmust respect of all onboard. They broke the mould with Tom.
As a teenager I worked for Colin Renwick (RIP) at his Kite shop in Wandsworth, and after building kites in another of his ventures. Great bloke. Strict, but fair. I understand he was the jaunty on the final sailing. He must have learned a lot from this guy. He actually gave me his peaked cap. I wore a similar one for school, and his was so much better than mine. Change of band/badge, and I was styling!
had a few run-ins with Uncle Tom when he was MAA on HMS Eagle but he was always fair and did,nt hold a grudge,I can look back now and smile though I did,nt when I was awarded No 9 punishment
I am ex army officer and I met senior ranks like Mr Wilkinson and they are the glue that holds the service together I still go to my reunions and still call them Mr Smith Mr Jones out of the respect i hold for them Long service Senior NCO or rating are in general gems that will always sparkle even after service I salute you Sir
I could imagine Tom saying to you " ....now now, you got the Commission from her gracious majesty, Sir. You can address by my rating or by my formal salutation "Mr Wilkinson", Sir".
@@walboyfredo6025 Its an odd thing I still get to regimental reunions and i still call my old Sgt Majors Mr They call me now by my first name which is great I lost one of my old WO2 ,s a year ago and it took some getting over Senior NCOs make the services what they are god bless them
The last scenes with the remains of ARK are so poignant. Unless youve served youll never understand how much the men and women of the armed forces give to the nation. Its not just a job. It's literally blood, tears, sweat. It's anger, frustration, love and joy. It is a wholly unique feeling to be part of it and to feel at one with your Ship, aircraft or team. There is no feeling like it in the world.
My Father served on Ark in the 60s he was upset when we watched that back in 76, None of the old carriers survived which I know money is made in scrap, but there could have been one museum ship to those glory day, nothing remains but a few planes in buildings of a museum but no full carrier saved is sad to me. Not even the Harrier jet ships. Yet they have saved a handful in the states of theirs.
Tom was Master at Arms at HMS Heron (Yeovilton) When I was there from 1969 until 1971. (No WO's or Fleet Chiefs then) I gained a big grin out of him one day! The Master being the only non comissioned officer on a ship or establishment to carry a sword! I enquired as to whether his was a "Wikinson Sword"! :-) He Had been posted (as FMAA) to Ark Royal when I joined it with 892Sqdn in 1973 :-)
I was ground radio 766 767 892 at Heron joined ark trafalger day 1972 and left a year later at Leuchars we might have met .... I can confirm Tom was a truly fair man and a gentleman..... he should have been knighted if he wasn’t..
@@Super8Rescue do you remember when the ground crew swapped the plaster/poly filler for white chalk powder when bricks and works department were painting aircrew kitchen.
In memory of Alan (Sam ) Barnett who served in Ark Royal during the making of "Sailor" in 1976. He was my best man's Dad, and a lovely bloke. I remember seeing Tom Wilkinson on the programme at the time and he was a decent, decent man. A quick look around the internet seems to show that Tom passed away in April 2015 with his funeral having been on the 21st of that month. Fair winds good sir !
Tom comes across as real father figure to the lads. Strict but his primary goal is their well-being and safety. The very epitome of a Senior NCO. RIP It must be a comfort to his family that he is here in the prime of his career.
@@Super8Rescue Please - if you feel it is right and proper - convey my condolences to this man's widow. As I stated above, I never served - (something I truly regret!) - but my late father did and; like this gentleman, his heart truly was of BRITISH Oak!
@@georgebuller1914 hi George if you are in touch with sheila could you please pass on my regards and condolences to her i knew them in Singapore when tom was on hms forth regards mike locking
Men like this gentleman - and those that he mentored - are what made this island of ours the finest in the world! Look at your history you 3 ney-sayers and be humbled by what people such as these did in days gone by, so that you have the freedom to say what you say today!
I clearly remember Sailor when it was first broadcast in 1976, and what seems a lifetime ago. The FMAA, Tom Wilkinson, was the stand-out character from the series, old school firm but fair, forming the backbone of the Royal Navy. I would love to have met him during his lifetime and bought him a pint. I am though aware that he died back in 2015 but he, and all the very best traditions that he represented, will live on with this compilation from the series.
cheers Mark. I have his wife Sheila, on my FB. She loves my cat videos and says hello often. A very dear friend indeed. Tom is a legend without doubt. He was the only chap to ever address me by my first name. I knew him 1976/8
@@Super8Rescue Thank you for your reply to my post. My late father served in the Fleet Air Arm between 1950 and 1963, so it is possible that he and Tom Wilkinson crossed paths at some point; one never knows! Obviously I have never met Sheila and know of her only through the television series where Tom played a starring role. I am though pleased to learn that she is still with us and I would be happy for you to pass on the best wishes of a complete stranger like me, and to say that even after 45 years her late husband's decentness still shines through in spades. Best wishes to you and yours. Kind regards Mark Rowley
What a great watch. Been up Pen Y Fan today and chilling in my YHA bunk. My late brother served on HMS Andromeda in the 70’s. I still remember going to see him, think we did a tour of his ship. How the world has changed since and not all for the better. Simon.
Love this and also how he could smoke in front of a senior Officer. Nowadays, you'd be arrested. Looks like the 90's and previous decades were the best to be serving the RN.
I had several meetings with the commander at Portland. One of them was the MOD Police tried to charge me to speeding through the dockyard at 60 mph in a VW beetle and they collared me on the hill going up to the accommodation area. I was at the table and pleaded guilty to speeding but no way near 60 mph. I expressed to the commander that I would have been astonished if my car would have done that speed. The commander agreed and I was admonished. Happy dayz. 😁😁😁😁😁
I am well aware of the feeling made by this gentleman whom i served with on the ship. Like him i think that despite her size, this ship should have been kept as a bit of history, having served the U.K. for many many years.. I was still on this ship when shen ended her service, and had the job of dismantling the wardroom and captains quaters, it should at least be remebered for being the ship of which the documentry was made that captivated for many peoples hearts with the song "We are Sailing" Sadly my job was as a member of the S.M.A. and as such helped to create the fate of this vessel, and many others, usually conducted by these ships last trip, such as the Diamond class destroyers plus many others which really ment that i did a lot of sea time, plus a lot of special visits to some unusual ports, there are many things i remember of these trips.
Dear god...I know this was many years before my time in the Andrew, but the Defaulters scenes put the chills of the damned into me. Only had defaulters in HMS Ark Royal once myself, for absence from place of duty (due to assisting the flight deck crew to offboard the equipment of an RAF squadron beyond the end of my watch, which was recognised as a 'fine example of teamwork' by the Captain) so I missed morning muster, with charges dismissed with 'admonishment only'... ...and as for not deserving the scrapman's axe. Agreed. TOTALLY agreed. If the crabs can keep their old stuff flying, we should have kept one or two of our old carriers around as museums.
I was on Ark V R07 for just under 2years, The joss was WOMAA Legs Diamond, he was firm but fair. The reggies were mostly ok and they got me out of the rattle a couple of times with a warning. Much appreciated.
I joined the Royal Navy because my Mum said it would be a good idea, I was good at baking cakes, "why don't you join the Navy" I am pleased she did push me, it was a good thing. it certainly made me the man I am today.
The final scenes were filmed at Cairnryan breakers yard at Loch Ryan. In all four carriers were dismantled there, the first was HMS Centaur in 1972. I grew up in Stranraer (opposite side of the loch) and remember HMS Eagle being broken up, then came Ark Royal, she was gone by the end of '83 (as seen here) eventually to make way for HMS Bulwark. Cruiser HMS Blake can be seen at 26:20 top left which arrived in-between the two carriers. The breakers yard lasted into the 1990s, contracted to dispose of old Soviet diesel-electric submarines.
@@catcherintheair It might be Chris Parry, mentioned in despatches for his actions in the Falklands conflict and subsequently promoted to Rear Admiral.
@@docdr7199 It is indeed Chris Parry. He mentions the experience on Ark Royal and the associated documentary filming in his book "Down South" (which is well worth a read).
At least my three war canoes are at the bottom of the sea, where they should be. A true man of the Royal Navy, Remember my Fleet Chief (Tas) gave me a bollocking once, he never got another chance, to much respect for him.
my late dad David Edmund george LAMO, served on the Albion, Eagle, Victorious,Ark Royal,between 1957until 1974 when he took voluntary redudanicy as the fixed wigs were phased out, thank you so much for this video, he would have definately have encountered this legend Master at Arms
You're very welcome. Tom was very well known and loved by just about everyone. His wife is still with us and often makes comments in a facebook group where he is remembered with great affection.
Very moving at 23:08 just that glance back from the previously jovial ship breaker. The sudden realisation that his day job of scrap metal can bring a hard-as-nails fighting man to tears.
I seem to remember my father being his messman on the Albion 1964. My brother and I went exploring where we shouldn't have during the commision service after lunch in a ward room. Brown for Archie!
14-54: I've never served myself (my late father was 21 years Royal Navy - including 6 years during WWII!) but in my lifetime, I have known managers like this gentleman. Hard but fair! By the book - but able to flex! Man management is a skill! Some can learn it; some are born with it - ALL the best are blessed with it!
If you go to Fleet Air Arm Museum they have a mock-up of this ship. I was 12 or 13 and lucky enough to go to sea on her for a family day. Still feel this was one of the best days i ever had. She was moored off Torpoint/Millbrook for a while before being towed away for scrap. I watched her go. So sad.
Aaahhh what a blast from the past......I knew the young steward in trouble,he was a lot tougher than he looks.He got the chance of the job of his dreams but couldn't get out of the navy to take it.His only option was to apply for the royal marines and had to pass the training course ( the hardest in the world) so that he could resign in time to get the job.......... One of my personal experiences with the JOS master at arms was coming down a ladder from the heads and bathroom, just as I got to the bottom he was there and didn't move an inch.....I backed up to the top and he followed me step by step... At the top he looked directly in my face and said " am I hurting you son"? " No sir" I said " I should be I'm stood on your bloody hair.....GET IT CUT"...... he was as tough as they come and would make sure you get a fair punishment for any offence you had committed. I'm proud to have been part of the same navy he was a principal player in....... the days before the love boats we have today,..... like the old saying " when ships were made of wood and the men made of iron" hahaha 🤣 The best years of my life,
Got trooped by him in 1971 on HMS Eagle for retaining a can of beer in my locker overnight. Punishment 14 days 9’s. Just having a wet before dinner, having afternoon watch.
Punishments. They came in different shapes and sizes 9's 10's 14's From the jackspeak site: No 9 punishment was basically stoppage of leave and 2 hours extra work. Normally awarded as either 7 or 14 days. If ashore to prove you were on board you had to muster at the various times of the day. Normally first muster would be 0600. Last muster 2200 plus lots in between. The two hours extra work was normally carried out in the dogs. Worse bit was you were also banned from using the NAAFI so couldn't get a beer. If you missed a muster more days 9s could be added.
Sad to see a beautiful ship who served her country for so long and who looked after her crew and always brought them back home being cut up for scrap. My father worked on her when she was being built and we were always so proud of her. 🥺 Very sad . They could have done as the Americans do . Turn her into a museum.
@@Super8Rescue I was only in fleet air arm from 68 to 76 Tom was an inspiration too us all .... I was a REM(A) but for getting married I would still be in the Andrew
@super 8 hi, I used to know Tom and Sheila when I was the Prudential rep for their area near Evesham.... please say hello to Sheila for me, I hope she remembers me from the mid 90s. I Used to pop in and see them any chance I could, love listening to Tom and all the stories.... I was in my 20s then , my name is Neal
The Quartermaster used to have total control of the Gangway's stateboard then once we sailed the ship went to leaving ship stations to have another muster to prove the station bill. Most ships have a bunch of young cocker's ; )
Discipline and courtesy will bring you far in life. That is what the boss was teaching. The men may not have realised it, but given an education when speaking to the man. Song at the end is an Irish drinking song
Im ex raf but its the same . The level headed caring snco.s keep everything working . And all the youngsters need to know theyve been there and done it . Much respect to a very decent man . Id salute you sir but that would be wrong and id get shouted at .
It makes you realize what went on behind the scene and that generally they did look after you. I got away with a lot more than some of these guys did because I had personal problems for a while and after a gigantic bollocking from the joss that I was in deep shit...nothing more was said.
On R09 late 1960 to early 62. 4K1 mess. Great times. Capt Peter Hill-Norton & Cmdr “Sam” Brooks in charge. We even run aground in guz so got a bit more leave before going to far east.
Basically he's what the USN would call the Command Master Chief or Chief of the Boat in the case of a Submarine. Liason between the enlisted sailors and officers, guides junior officers and answers only to the Captain and/or 2IC, first officer, first mate, first lieutenant, XO, which title applies for the appropriate navy for the appropriate nation.
It's a totally unique job where everyone above and below you has to call you _'Master,'_ and one or two did indeed let it go their heads. That said, you were more likely to come across an a-hole Regulator. If you were in the yard at Devonport and a flag officer was visiting, they'd provide an escort for him in one of their RN LR Defenders and look for sailors who didn't stop, come to attention and salute the flag on the car. Me and my mate were nabbed coming back from the CISCO one day, but to be fair we walked out from between two containers as the entourage passed, and we both had multiple coffees and bags of stickies in each hand. Back came the Defender, and out popped one of the Regulators. Then he flipped open his little notebook - *_"Neither one of you saluted. I want your names and your ship."_* Frowning deeply, we tentatively raised our filled hands in protest, but he repeated his demand. *_"Name and ship...?"_* So, I quickly took the initiative and gave him a false name and the name of the ship in the next dock to ours, and my mate followed suit. Ship-borne Regulators tended to be a bit more genial, but they knew it wasn't best practice to get too chummy with anyone,. It was rare to have one refuse you an extra crate of beer if you asked for one because there was a birthday in the mess. Not an easy job aboard ship, the naval Regulator, but they're not there to turn a blind eye and make friends.
"returning onboard drunk" 🤣 most of us entire 925 ratings of HMS Tiger C20 1972 to 1975 we're highly skilled in the arts of coming back drunk !! In fact father rutter came back one night in Pompeii walked up the gangway collected his station card went across the deck and straight into the oggin on the other side and the lifeboat crews were actually scrambled to save him tied up alongside and that is a fact. Father Rutter was a Stoker who had been in the mob forever in the 70s and was part of the ship itself. There's a racy 9-minute tribute on my channel but hey regardless of anything else I wouldn't change those years for all the money in the world !
