In 1963, I completed the one-year Naval staff course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. An interesting part of the course was a trip to the Netherlands and Germany to study the NATO structure. In a 300-year-old German fortified farmyard I saw a text carved over the gateway. I could not read the German, but the text was Deuteronomy 28:1-2,6-7,15,20. I looked it up later and thought how appropriate it would be for a squadron commissioning ceremony.
The following year I was appointed to the command of 800 Squadron, which was to be equipped with Buccaneer S-Mk1s and went to Lossiemouth. The Squadron was formed in March and was commissioned with a big ceremony and service in its hangar. I decided I would read the Bible passage I had seen on the German farmyard gate. ‘If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God … You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you… However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands …You will be frustrated in all you attempt.’
I felt it was a serious business to ask God’s blessing as it came with conditions, and it was important to read the small print. I discussed this with the Chaplain who said he was not happy with this passage as it was Old Testament theology and not appropriate today. I felt that God had laid this passage on my heart and disagreed. When we were all lined up with our swords and medals for the parade, the chaplain approached me and asked if I was going to read this passage.
I said ‘yes’ and he said he would complain to the Captain.
I said, ‘Well there he is go and see him’ – of course he didn’t!
After the ceremony the Captain asked me where I got that reading, I told him. He said it was just what the sailors need to be told! There is the promise in Psalm 91:14 – ‘Because he loves me says the Lord… I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.’
In prayer, I claimed this promise that I would lose no aircrew or men during my time in 800 Squadron. For the whole of my tour with 800 Squadron we lost no aircrew or men.
*Photo Credit:https://www.pexels.com/@rdne