Naval Reserve Leaves HMS Caroline

Just days after it was revealed that the only military hospital in Northern Ireland is to close and be replaced by a civilian contractor, the Royal Navy has said it wants the training vessel HMS Caroline to stay in Belfast once she is decommissioned.

It transpires that the 95-year-old warship is likely to remain 'in commission' until at least 2011 even though the Royal Naval Reserve Unit that has called her home since the 1920s has now moved to Thiepval in Lisburn.

However, following a ceremony on the ship, 'decommissioning' the Royal Naval Reserve Unit HMS Caroline - it immediately reformed as HMS Hibernia for its move to the shore in Co Antrim.

Rear Admiral Martin Alabaster, plus the Royal Marines Band Scotland and a guard of honour formed by some of the 400 unit members saw the Caroline pass into naval history this week, but it seems the light cruiser HMS Caroline, that fought in the Battle of Jutland, will stay in commission until the Royal Navy is satisfied her future has been secured.

The news that the Royal Navy's preference would be to leave her in Belfast is good news for thousands of former and serving part-time sailors.

They too hope that the naval ship will become part of a maritime heritage trail - and stay berthed as it is at the moment beside the RMS Titanic dry dock where the vast, but doomed passenger liner was built almost 100 years ago.

However, there was sadness as the reservists of the Royal Naval Reserve Unit HMS Caroline left the ship's decks for the final time before they disappeared as a unit and reformed as HMS Hibernia as part of their move to Thiepval.

See: Belfast Military Wards To Close

(BMcC/KMcA)