“It’s Like Picking Up Where You Left Off”: HMS Hermes Veterans Reunite

Each year, veterans connected to HMS Hermes gather for a reunion. Organised by the HMS Hermes Association, the event brings together former Royal Navy personnel and their families. For many, it is one of the few points in the year where those shared experiences don’t need explaining.

Founded in 1986 by survivors of the sinking of HMS Hermes in 1942. Today, it is maintained by those who served on HMS Hermes during the 1980s, including her time as flagship during the Falklands War.

Carol Marshall, Chair HMS HERMES ASSOCIATION said: “To hear veterans chat/tell stories/reminisce you hear accounts of moments in these people’s lives, that will maybe make them smile or fill a room with laughter or shed a tear all of these are what make everything that combined charities, associations do worth every moment and penny we spend making them happen.”

And for one attendee, being there really mattered. After recently losing his wife, who had served as a Wren, and experiencing a blood clot just weeks before the reunion, attending was not straightforward. Even so, he was determined to make the journey.

What followed reflected the spirit of the group. Fellow veterans made sure he was supported from the moment he arrived. One member helped with transport, others stepped in to assist with mobility, and small gestures made the weekend manageable. 

When Sunday lunch was served, he sat with other veterans in similar circumstances. The conversation, the setting, and the company turned what might otherwise have been an isolated day into something shared.

If you are part of a Royal Navy or Royal Marines community group planning a reunion or remembrance activity, you may be eligible for support through the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital’s Remembrance and Comradeship grants: Remembrance and Comradeship Grant | The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity