Faye Mia Turney | |
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File:Alalam-british-soldiers.jpg Turney (centre) with other captives. This image was released by the Al-Alam News Network on March 30 2007. | |
Nickname(s) | Topsy[1] |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Rank | Leading Seaman |
Faye Turney (née Boswell) (born Shrewsbury, England 1980/81[2]) is a Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy, serving in HMS Cornwall.
Period in Iranian captivity
Turney was the only woman amongst the group of 15 British sailors and marines seized by Iran on March 23 2007, accused of violating Iranian territorial waters while inspecting a freighter suspected of smuggling.[3]
Turney was coxswain of one of the two British boats in the incident.[4]
In a letter written whilst in captivity, released on 28 March 2007, she writes they "apparently trespassed" in Iranian waters[3]. In a video interview broadcast in Iran with the letter she says, "Obviously, we trespassed into their waters".[5]
It was reported that Iranian officials had indicated that Turney would be released by Iran by the end of March 29 2007. However, on 29 March it was reported that Iran suspended the release because of "wrong behaviour of those who live in London."[6]
On 4 April, the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that all the captives (including Turney) were to be released. Speaking about Turney in particular, Ahmadinejad said:[7]
You will know that among the detainees there is one lady who is a mother of a child. Why is it that the most difficult work like patrolling at sea should be given to a woman? Why is there no respect for motherhood? Why does the West not value its women?
It was later reported that Turney, along with the other captives, was still in Iranian hands. The expectation was that the whole group would be released soon.[8]
The group including Turney arrived back in the United Kingdom on a British Airways flight which landed at Heathrow Airport at at 1200 BST. They were transferred to two waiting Sea King helicopters and flown to Royal Marines Base Chivenor in Devon to receive a debriefing and to be reunited with their families.[9]
Background
Faye Turney was born Faye Boswell in 1980/81 in Shrewsbury, England. She is daughter of former Shrewsbury Town F.C. player Alan Boswell.[2]
After her enlistment, Turney underwent initial training at HMS Raleigh near Plymouth in the south west of England. She was later posted to a land-based job at HMNB Portsmouth. She has specialised in sea survival techniques and maintaining survival and safety equipment.[4]
In 2000, Turney was deployed to Sierra Leone as part of a British Armed Forces operation.[10]
Turney was married in 2002[2] at Christ Church in Bicton Heath, near Shrewsbury.[11] She has one daughter, and lives with her husband in Plymouth, England.[4]
Notes
- ^ "'I Love Molly And My Job'". Sky News. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
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(help) - ^ a b c "Faye's devotion to daughter". Shropshire Star. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
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(help) - ^ a b "Captured sailor's family speak of their distress". telegraph.co.uk. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
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(help) Cite error: The named reference "telegraph1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ a b c "Mother set her heart on life in the Royal Navy". telegraph.co.uk. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
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(help) - ^ "Lone female among UK hostages filmed apologizing for 'trespass'". New York Daily News. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
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(help) - ^ "Iran suspends sailor's release". Guardian Unlimited. 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
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(help) - ^ "Extraordinary scenes as Iran frees sailors". telegraph.co.uk. 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
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(help) - ^ "Free - But One Last Wait". Sky News. 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
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(help) - ^ "Released navy crew return to UK". BBC News. 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
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(help) - ^ "Iran's border muddles captivity issue". The Boston Globe. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
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(help) - ^ "Prayers for Navy captives in Iran". bbc.co.uk. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
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