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Royal Navy recipients revealed in New Year Honours List 2018
29 December 2017
Men and women of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have been recognised for their public service in the New Year Honours List 2018.
A total of 25 sailors and Royal Marines representing a cross section of the service have been named in this year's honours list.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST OF RECIPIENTS IN FULL
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock becomes a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, while Rear Admiral Keith Blount has been named as a companion of the same order.
A further 23 personnel, from Royal Marine Corporals to Royal Navy Captains, have been recognised for their efforts in protecting the nation and its interests by being awarded MBEs, OBEs, and CBEs.
I am over the moon to have been given this honour and it came as a total surprise. Being the EWO of HMS Defender was probably the best job in my Royal Navy career.
Warrant Officer 1st Class Bob Ratcliffe has been awarded an MBE for his hard work as the Executive Warrant Officer on board HMS Defender on the ship’s recent deployment to the Gulf.
The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer spent nine months at sea working with American and French carrier strike groups as part of operations against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
HMS Defender also patrolled the waters of the Middle East, keeping them free from piracy and on one occasion seizing more than a tonne of drugs being trafficked across the Indian Ocean.
WO1 Ratcliffe, aged 43 from Hartlepool, said: “I am over the moon to have been given this honour and it came as a total surprise. Being the EWO of HMS Defender was probably the best job I have had in my entire Royal Navy career.
“It was a highly rewarding deployment on operations which really made a difference. One of the highlights for me was our successful drugs bust in the Indian Ocean, it was a great feeling for everyone on board to have put in so much work and have it finally pay off.
“I’m nervous about the big day ahead when I get to go and pick up my MBE, but I’m really looking forward to it and it will be a very proud day for me to do that with my family.”
THE LIST OF RECIPIENTS IN FULL
PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH
As Knight Commander (KCB)
Vice Admiral Jonathan WOODCOCK, OBE - Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
As Companion (CB)
Rear Admiral Keith BLOUNT, OBE - Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aircraft and Carriers)
APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
As Commanders (CBE)
Commodore Ross ALBON, OBE
Commodore Ian SHIPPERLEY
Rear Admiral Richard STOKES
Commodore Phillip TITTERTON, OBE
As Officers (OBE)
Commander Johanna DEAKIN
Commodore David ELFORD
Captain Clayton FISHER
Lieutenant Colonel Damian HUNTINGFORD
Commander Peter PIPKIN
Commander Philip RICHARDSON
Captain Stephen THOMPSON
As Members (MBE)
Warrant Officer 1 D BAGNALL
Major Kev CARTER, GM
Colour Sergeant D CURTIS
Major Ed HALL
Commander Richard HEWITT
Commander John LEA
Lieutenant Commander Dave MCINERNEY
Warrant Officer 1 Bob RATCLIFFE
Lieutenant Commander Steve SAYWELL-HALL
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Manish TAYAL
Lieutenant Commander David WILCOCKS
Corporal T BYROM