Praise for ‘resilience’ of submariners
THE Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the “continued resilience” of the Royal Navy’s submariners and their families as he unveiled a new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
William gave a short speech on the Submarine Service during the unveiling ceremony at the Staffordshire site yesterday. The duke spoke of how the new monument “harnesses in physical form the struggles this life of service can lead to”.
During his visit, William met with submariners, veterans, and some of their families, including that of Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, who was murdered on HMS Astute after it docked in Southampton in April 2011.
Lieutenant Commander Molyneux’s widow, Gillian Molyneux, told the duke the unveiling of the new memorial had been “emotional”.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, William said: “The Submarine Service has, for over 120 years, been at the forefront of our nation’s defence. However, to many it is an invisible force which is so often out of sight and out of mind.
“The risks and the sacrifices associated with such service are clear, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more challenging environment to serve in.”