Leading Medic Kim Mordecai at the HMS Victory in Portsmouth.
By Sarah Chandler
In April this year, 28 New Zealand Defence Force personnel, including six naval ratings, boarded an RAF Tri-Star aircraft bound for Brize Norton, UK, where they began their four month 'Long Look' exchanges at various military camps and bases.
While visiting the UK in June I had the opportunity to catch up with Leading Medic Kim Mordecai, one of the Navy exchange personnel, at the HMS Nelson in Portsmouth.
Kim, 23, who usually works alongside at Philomel Navy Hospital in Devonport, says she was inspired to apply to the Long Look exchange programme after a six month skiing holiday in Canada (on leave without pay) and a great experience in South East Asia on HMNZS Te Mana.
Kim describes the HMS Nelson Medical Centre as being similar to the Philomel Navy Hospital, with its treatment room, sick parades, and doctors on call for advice if medics are unsure of best treatment. While at the HMS Nelson's medical centre Kim gained experience working both in the treatment room and at the open sick room.
She says she was impressed with the food, the accommodation, and the people at HMS Nelson.
“The medics and nurses were all really friendly, helpful and generous – though they frequently mistook me for a Sea Cadet because the RNZN uniform I wore was similar to their cadet’s one. They showed me around and offered me what I needed to make my cabin feel more like home. The base Executive Officer was also very friendly and sought me out in the first week to tell me all I needed to know about the Navy base and make sure I was being looked after.”
In Portsmouth Kim visited the nearby historic dockyards, home to Lord Nelson’s flagship the HMS Victory, the HMS Warrior and Henry the VIII’s ship, the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545 but is currently being preserved. She was also able to take advantage of travel opportunities abroad.
“I travelled most weekends and got to see places I’d only read about in books. I went to London several times, and to Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Paris, Prague, Berlin, Bruges, and Amsterdam. I also spent weekends in the country with other medics who generously invited me to their homes.”
Kim says she thoroughly enjoyed her time on Long Look and is grateful to the RNZN for giving her this opportunity. “I’ve gained a lot of knowledge from working at HMS Nelson and will bring home many ideas for improving the service provided by the Navy Hospital at Philomel.”
Two other Navy personnel, LMUS Saskia Purllant (a musician in the Navy Band) and LMP(T) Matt Melton (attached to HMS Ironduke which sailed to the Caribbean during his Long Look term) were also posted to HMS Nelson as exchange personnel this year.
About the Long Look Exchange
The Long Look exchange programme is an annual, reciprocal exchange of junior and non commissioned officers from the three services of the UK Armed Forces, the Australian Defence Force, and the NZDF. Its purpose is to broaden the experience and knowledge of the individual exchange personnel through exposure to another military culture. Long Look also helps build relationships and links between the three militaries and to foster good will between them. Often exchange personnel are able to obtain additional military skills and expertise while away, however they may not participate in any military operations other than normal peacetime training. Similarly, personnel require specific approval to travel to a third country or operational deployment. Long Look exchanges usually run for four months from late April each year, meaning exchange personnel participate in Anzac Day commemorations in a new environment at the outset. The Long Look exchange is now in its 32nd year.
About HMS Nelson Base
HMS Nelson, Her Majesty’s Naval Base at Portsmouth, is one of three British Royal Navy operating bases. HMS Nelson is located on Portsmouth Harbour and is base port for 66% of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. The naval base employs more than 17,000 people and is also home to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which allows visitor’s access to the ships Mary Rose, MS Warrior, and HMS Victory.
HMS Victory
Led by Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, the HMS Victory is famous for its role in defeating Spanish and French ships in the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. Of the 820-strong crew, 57 men were killed and 102 wounded. Lord Nelson was hit by a musket ball and died of his wounds in the afternoon of 21 October 1805. The ship is located at the historic dockyard at Portsmouth and is open daily to the public for a fee of about 12 pounds. It is estimated to receive approx 600 visitors each day and features re-creations of the original layout and a plaque to mark the spot where Nelson died of his wounds. The restoration of the ship is ongoing and the ship is thought to be only about 17% original. The HMS Victory last sailed in 1922. Built around 1765, she is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, and her current Commanding Officer is Lt. Cdr John Scivier.