Britain's Atlantic Outpost

it's one of the most remote islands in the world hundreds of miles away from any other landmass isolated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean Ascension Island might be four thousand miles away from the UK but here the Union Flag is flying this is British overseas territory home to 800 people and a military base providing Britain's air bridge to the South Atlantic the island has been under British governance for 200 years after the Royal Navy claimed the land for King George transforming this volcanic outcrop into a permanent settlement from this vantage point over George Town or you can see the roaring waves of the Atlantic this island is 1,000 miles away from Africa it's part of the most remotely populated archipelago in the world and yet it fires the flag for Britain this is British sovereign territory an important military hub a central link for South Atlantic in the long history of service ever since its discovery hundreds of years ago covering just 34 square miles Ascension Island is made up of more than 40 extinct volcanoes it's red desolate earth looks like a scene from Mars so it's not surprising that when the Portuguese first discovered it on Ascension Day in 1501 they didn't see the value in staying but 300 years later Britain saw it as a strategic location Napoleon had been exiled and imprisoned on st. Helena 800 miles south and the military wanted to make sure they could prevent any attempts on his release on the 22nd of October 1815 the wall may be garrison the island raising the flag and naming it HMS ascension the Navy's only stone frigate to mark that moment 200 years on the flag was raised again in tribute it's a moment to reflect about what this island has achieved in those 200 years from our military beginnings the search for water the search for food but then when we became a communication centre again a military base in the Second World War and more recently we've formed a government introduced democracy and it's today's opportunity for all elements of the island the military and the same convening community to get together to enjoy it and celebrate the bicentenary of Ascension Island in 2015 brought visitors from far and wide to share in its unique history Royal Navy commander Commodore Daren bone led proceedings opening a new park in Georgetown and unveiling a new piece of artwork to mark the anniversary the huge privilege of course to be invited here as the guest of honor at the ascension island government my predecessor at the time of course was Apple Sir George Coburn he was charged with taking Napoleon and securing him on santolina some 700 miles to the southeast still in the Atlantic Ocean and its fate perhaps that brings another naval officer in command of the South Atlantic at this time 200 years ago ascension would have been a very different place the red volcanic earth covering the whole island despite centenary is a chance to pay tribute to those who served here and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in making this island what it is today making life here possible the first garrison was set up by the Royal Marines in 1836 Charles Darwin visited on the Beagle followed later by botanist Joseph Hooker who recommended planting trees inland to improve the water supply at the Ascension Island Museum these early beginnings are well documented showing the moment underwater communication gave links to the wider world right through to the second world war when the island was used to supply anti-submarine patrols the United States built an airbase during that time called wide-awake after the city turns that nested nearby but even after the war the island didn't stay quiet for long in the 60s Ascension Island joined the space race the runway was widened as a landing strip and NASA established a tracking station on site the island was set up as a communications hub and relay station for the BBC World Service and during the 1980s it became operational again used by the RAF to launch its Vulcan bombers in the Falklands campaign the absolutely hot off the geyser hero didn't initially or the Marines because they basically had to meet the island to build the islands from nothing and you've seen yourself it's very violent in area and at that time it was completely Ireland as you walk by the museum you start off basically with the Natural History how do you islands itself was formed how the material itself is from we were conveying to the area's inhabitants working all the way through to the relatively modern coming through Society of the 1970s and beyond today its role is logistical one as the airbridge to the South Atlantic and it's a role that looks set to continue for many years to come I think ascension has an important future in strategic terms we're committed to the long term to the Falkland Islands for example and clearly ascension has a very important role in that in terms of it being a long way away that's true but actually when we switched on the radio this morning radio four came out loud and clip it's very much part of the world community most passengers just pass through reception the air tank of jets operates a regular service through here from RAF Brize Norton using the island to refuel and for a change of crew to turn the plane around for the next leg of its long journey it's a long provides detention island during the night but good fun we get down here sun shining normally you get from VIPs all ranks of military we got children and their families so yeah and also your tourists who we've got a mixed bag so it's good visitors wishing to stay on Ascension meets special permission from the islands government most never get to stay long but for 20 personnel this is actually home and it's their task to keep the RAF operations running all year round we get the Russians in every week sometimes we get problems coming in with their issues going down to the Falklands things ice to deal with but it's important so we deal with whatever we have to I'm at home as much as anyone was there's always things to do and they being such a small debt someone's always around that you know the team here is small and far away from home there are many challenges delays and difficulties living here and as a result they all have to muck in and take on more than just one role to keep things running sorting through the post and the passengers that transit through I don't feel isolated at all no I think it's just such a good community so everyone's together so it's just like a family really a prize you just kind of be on one section and I adjust your job right here if I'm walking to everything so it's not better because then you just get experience everywhere you're just more confident as you trade everyone has to get used to a different pace of life here and for those in charge it isn't always straightforward Logistics is clearly a challenge just your vegetables and your your mail which of course those small things that make you er make you smile challenges the to many but from certainly the political level you become a very very quick learner let's put it that way you are a long way from where things are produced we don't really produce food on the island we do produce our own water so you know just the basics of life can be can be challenging here you know most people now used to ordering something on the internet getting it the next day we have to wait three months and that that patience is it's something that not everyone can can deal with but you make up to it with the sort of old-fashioned pursuits people read books play card games talk to each other and there are still no mobile phones about to introduce them so people still talk to each other which is lovely most personnel based in Ascension live here at the travellers Hill when it comes to downtime as little by way of bars or restaurants on Island instead most people head outdoors hitting the beach or heading up into the mountains for a totally different landscape the cloud forest that was once part of an experiment by Darwin and hooker is now fully grown and maintained by a warden that welcomes visitors for a look around pleased that they actually planted all those years ago are still higher on the mountain today doing what they wanted to do and bring trapping the mist and bringing the rain down residents of ascension a keen conservationist having witnessed the impact of settlement on the environment firsthand over generations they're currently working to nurture native species like the fern and protect the crabs turtles and birds that flock here in abundance community life is very strong in two boats village no one locks their doors or cars and the only unwelcome visitors are the wild donkeys and the Sheep that's strained to the garden the majority of residents are called saints having arrived here from st. Elena and never left I arrive at a station here in February 1963 my ambition was student to come here to work and to live a better life of myself in such a interested all and I I just fell in love with it and then I later years I got married and my wife came here and my son was four here and I mean we made a hoe Mila I love it here as peaceful it's quiet the people are friendly and it's just so different from the UK where you're just busy all the time add some Mary's Church the history of the island and the names of its first settlers line the walls the pioneers who first came here praised and marked with memorial plaques commemorating those who died during duty those who sacrifice their lives for the island marking the islands 200 year anniversary the Royal Marines band were invited back in honor of the first Marines to set up camp here their music filling the main square once more as they beat the retreat for the crowd obviously with it being the bicentenary and the Royal Marines have had such a major part in the history of the island I think it's only right that there's a real Marine Band here to help celebrate that [Music] as ascension looks to the future changes are in store bringing the island its first mobile phone network cinema and direct flight to st. Elena services taken for granted elsewhere offered here at last ascension might be a long way from home but it's unique and proud of its past and British sovereignty of what it's achieved against the odds of how this rocky volcanic island were tamed and transformed into the military hub and home we see today [Applause]

Channel: Carla Prater

Views: 285,266

Rating: 4.8596768 out of 5

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Id: HJQOEnV8okk

Length: 12min 47sec (767 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 27 2017