Well we did it… 118 miles from Devizes to Barn Elms Boat House near Putney bridge – and raised a total of £876 for Combat Stress. Thanks so much to all who contributed – there’s still time to pop a few quid in!

After a couple of years of the weather scuppering the plan, I’m paddling the Devizes to Westminster canoe race in aid of Combat Stress this Easter weekend.

Historically, the Ministry of Defence support given to those affected by their service experiences has been poor to say the least, so charities like Combat Stress are incredibly important.

So, due to a combination of drinking and saying ‘Yes’ when the idea of canoeing for 4 straight days from one side of the country to the other was suggested, and in memory of the crew of HMS Coventry D118, I’m paddling 118 miles in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race, with my friend Marion shouting at me from behind, to raise money for Combat Stress.

Devizes to Westminster is the UK’s longest canoe race, usually covering 125 miles from the quay at Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster Bridge in London. This year the class I’m entered in will be finishing a little short, at Putney, but as this makes it 118 miles I’m viewing it as a fortuitous coincidence with HMS Coventry’s pennant number of D118!

Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. For over a century, they’ve helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.

Thank you so much for your support.

https://events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/damienburke/damien–s-d118-devizes-to-westminster

If you’d like to follow me online, we are in boat 601, and you can track the boat here:

https://live.opentracking.co.uk/dwstages25/

Thanks to the immense efforts of his shipmate Gavin Scott, Frank Armes is now remembered at the site of his former high school in Norwich (Heartsease, now the Open Academy). The school has dedicated a room for the support and protection of students as the ‘Open Ark’, with Frank’s name on the door, and will, each year, award a Frank Armes Unsung Hero Shield to the student most befitting of the unsung hero description. A dedication service for the Open Ark room was held on the 40th anniversary of the loss of HMS Coventry.

There is also a magnificent new memorial bench located in Longwater Park Lane in Costessey, Norwich, bearing Frank’s name. It sits near a new memorial stone to WW1, WW2 and other conflict casualties, including Frank.

Dear shipmates, families and friends of D118

I sincerely believe it goes without saying for all of us, but I just wanted to say on behalf of all my HMS Coventry D118 shipmates, that we feel a deep sadness at the sudden loss of the nation’s dearest and longest serving Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

May she rest in peace after what has been a lifetime of dedicated service to our nation and the Commonwealth. Thank you Ma’am most sincerely for all you have done and the personal sacrifices you have no doubt made over the 7 decades of your wondrous rule.

Finally, Long live the King!

Chairman D118 Association – Chris Howe MBE