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Plymouth Warrant Officer awarded Meritorious Service Medal
21 March 2016
A Royal Naval Warrant Officer from Plymouth has been presented with the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) at a special service by the Second Sea Lord – Britain’s third most senior sailor.
To be awarded the MSM, an individual must have "good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service with conduct judged to be irreproachable throughout.”
Other key qualifications are at least 20 years’ service and involvement with charities or social organisations outside of the military.
Richard “Taff” Dorey joined the Royal Navy in August 1980 aged 16.
It was a great honour to receive this level of recognition for my 35 years of service and for my contribution to the Royal Navy.
He was recognised with the MSM for his long and exemplary service and for his contribution to submarine safety, particularly submarine escape, abandonment and survivability.
The 52-year-old grew up in Newport, South Wales and attended St Julian’s High School. He still has family connections in the area with his elder sister and brother living locally.
Richard was nominated for the MSM in his current role as the Deputy Marine Engineering Officer on HMS Echo.
He directs the Marine Engineering Department in the repair and maintenance of a wide range of equipment on board.
This includes the engine propulsion systems, controls, steering and all domestic systems so that the ship achieves full operational capability.
He said: “It was a great honour to receive this level of recognition for my 35 years of service and for my contribution to the Royal Navy.
“I was extremely pleased and humbled that the people I work with took the time and effort to recommend me for this medal.
“I am so proud of this achievement and it has been a privilege to receive it.”
During his long career, Richard has been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and a NATO medal (Kosovo).
Richard’s most memorable and enjoyable drafting was whilst serving on HMS Monmouth as a Petty Officer, Marine Engineer. He recalls a very special moment soon after the ship came into service in 1993 when the ship’s company received the Freedom of the Town of Monmouth.
Richard is married to Gail and has a son, Scott, aged 29. In his spare time he enjoys rugby, road and cross country running.
Richard received his MSM from Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock – who oversees all personnel issues in the Royal Navy – at a ceremony in the Nelson Gallery of the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.
Admiral Woodcock said: “The Meritorious Service Medal is an outstanding award for distinguished service and it is a huge honour and privilege to present these medals today to such exceptional individuals.
“Receiving the medal is a most excellent achievement for truly extraordinary service and commitment combined with irreproachable conduct throughout an individual’s whole career. I am immensely proud of these exemplary members of the Naval Service.”