Royal Navy Bravo Squadron has won the military’s highest humanitarian award, the Firmin Sword of Peace, for its 2024 work: safely disposing of a 500kg World War Two bomb in Plymouth, removing a 1,000kg bomb in Southsea and clearing demolition charges from Pitcairn.
The award recognises units that make a valuable contribution to good relations with communities at home or abroad. Earlier this week, the squadron moved an unexploded World War Two bomb from Falmouth out to sea; it is due to be detonated next week.
During the February 2024 Plymouth operation, thousands of people were evacuated, roads were closed and trains stopped as the 500kg bomb was moved for disposal at sea. In Pitcairn, the squadron removed demolition charges left from construction of the island’s harbour over two days.
