Anger at navy sailors’ breach of lockdown at base ‘graduation’ party

Probe into ‘crazy’ celebration event

FURIOUS navy chiefs have launched an investigation after a group of sailors staged a ‘graduation’ party at a military base over the weekend, The News can reveal.

More than a dozen sailors threw the boozy bash at Fareham’s HMS Collingwood, the navy’s largest training establishment.

Among those attending the rebellious revelry allegedly included a number of sailors on a promotion course, as well as those taking on their phase two professional training, sources said.

The party was in breach of the navy’s social distancing rules and now ringleaders could be facing their marching orders for their antics, which enraged naval top brass.

A defence source told The News: ‘Collingwood’s captain is taking it quite seriously. People could be getting discharged for breaking the rules. It was a crazy thing to do.’

Another insider on the naval base claimed some sailors were facing demotion for their actions.

‘It was a graduation party in the Killick’s Mess and was meant to be a celebration… it was attended by at least one person who should have been in isolation,’ the source added.

‘There is a lot of anger on the base about it. People have had family members who have passed away with Covid19.’ Currently, sailors are allowed outside to exercise or buy essential supplies. They must wear masks indoors and are under strict social distancing rules, which prevents them from mixing outside training bubbles.

Speaking of the breach of rules over the weekend, a Royal Navy spokeswoman said: ‘We are aware of an incident in HMS Collingwood and will not hesitate to take action against any personnel who fail to meet the high standards we set ourselves.

‘An investigation is now underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further.’

The news came as Collingwood this month welcomes hundreds of raw recruits, who will begin their basic training, transforming them from civilians into sailors.

Some 500 men and women are beginning their tenweek initial training at the Fareham base.

It followed a massive surge in people seeking to join the Senior Service, with applications to join either the Royal Marines, Royal Navy or Royal Fleet Auxiliary up by almost a third.

Trainee ratings normally attend a course at HMS Raleigh, in Torpoint, Devon. But to meet growing demand, the navy started training sailors alongside officer cadets at Britannia Royal Naval College, in Dartmouth.

Collingwood was announced as the third base to begin turning civilians into sailors, last month.

It was attended by at least one person who should have been in isolation. Naval base insider