Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, the Savior of Dunkirk

Born January 20, 1883, Bertram Home Ramsay was the son of Captain William Ramsay in the British Army. Attending the Royal Colchester Grammar School as a youth, Ramsay elected not to follow his two older brothers into the Army. Instead, he sought a career at sea and joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1898. Posted to the training ship HMS Britannia, he attended what became the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Graduating in 1899, Ramsay was elevated to midshipman and later received a posting to the cruiser HMS Crescent. In 1903, he took part in British operations in Somaliland and earned recognition for his work with British Army forces shore. Returning home, Ramsay received orders to join the revolutionary new battleship HMS Dreadnought. World War I A modernizer at heart, Ramsay thrived in the increasingly technical Royal Navy. After attending the Naval Signal School in 1909-1910, he received admission to the new Royal Naval War College in 1913. A member of the colleges second class, Ramsay graduated a year later with the rank of lieutenant commander. Returning to the Dreadnought, he was aboard when World War I began in August 1914. Early the following year, he was offered the post of flag lieutenant for the Grand Fleets cruiser commander. Though a prestigious posting, Ramsay declined as he was seeking a command  position of his own. This proved fortuitous as it would have seen him assigned to HMS Defense, which was later lost at the Battle of Jutland. Instead, Ramsay served a brief stint in the signals section at the Admiralty before being given command of the monitor HMS M25 on the Dover Patrol. As the war progressed, he was given command of the destroyer leader HMS Broke. On May 9, 1918, Ramsay took part in Vice-Admiral Roger Keyes Second Ostend Raid. This saw the Royal Navy attempt to block the channels into the port of Ostend. Though the mission was only partly successful, Ramsay was mentioned in despatches for his performance during the operation. Remaining in command of Broke, he carried King George V to France to visit the troops of the British Expeditionary Force. With the conclusion of hostilities, Ramsay was transferred to the staff of Admiral of the Fleet John Jellicoe in 1919. Serving as his flag commander, Ramsay accompanied Jellicoe on a year-long tour of the British Dominions to assess naval strength and advise on policy. Interwar Years Arriving back in Britain, Ramsay was promoted to captain in 1923 and attended senior officers’ war and tactical courses. Returning to sea, he commanded the light cruiser HMS Danae between 1925 and 1927. Coming ashore, Ramsay began a two-year assignment as an instructor at the war college. Towards the end of his tenure, he married Helen Menzies with whom he would ultimately have two sons. Given command of the heavy cruiser HMS Kent, Ramsay was also made chief of staff to Admiral Sir Arthur Waistell, commander in chief of the China Squadron. Remaining abroad until 1931, he was given a teaching post at the Imperial Defense College that July. With the end of his term, Ramsay gained command of the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign in 1933. Two years later, Ramsay became chief of staff to the commander of the Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Roger Backhouse. Though the two men were friends, they differed widely on how the fleet should be administered. While Backhouse firmly believed in centralized control, Ramsay advocated for delegation and decentralization to better allow commanders to act at sea. Clashing on several occasions, Ramsay asked to be relieved after just four months. Inactive for the better part of three years, he declined an assignment to China and later began working on plans to reactivate the Dover Patrol. After reaching the top of the rear-admirals’ list in October 1938, the Royal Navy elected to move him to the Retired List. With relations with Germany deteriorating in 1939, he was coaxed from retirement by Winston Churchill in August and promoted to vice admiral commanding Royal Navy forces at Dover. World War II With the beginning of World War II in September 1939, Ramsay worked to expand his command. In May 1940, as German forces began inflicting a series of defeats on the Allies in the Low Countries and France, he was approached by Churchill to begin planning an evacuation. Meeting at Dover Castle, the two men planned Operation Dynamo which called for a large-scale evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk. Initially hoping to evacuate 45,000 men over two days, the evacuation saw Ramsay employ a massive fleet of disparate vessels which ultimately saved 332,226 men over nine days. Employing the flexible system of command and control that he had advocated in 1935, he rescued a large force which could immediately be put to use defending Britain. For his efforts, Ramsay was knighted. North Africa Through the summer and fall, Ramsay worked to develop plans for opposing Operation Sea Lion (the German invasion of Britain) while the Royal Air Force fought the Battle of Britain in the skies above. With the RAFs victory, the invasion threat quieted. Remaining at Dover until 1942, Ramsay was appointed Naval Force Commander for the invasion of Europe on April 29. As it became clear that the Allies would not be in a position to conduct landings on the continent that year, he was shifted to the Mediterranean as Deputy Naval Commander for the invasion of North Africa. Though he served under Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Ramsay was responsible for much of the planning and worked with Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Sicily and Normandy As the campaign in North Africa was coming to a successful conclusion, Ramsay was tasked with planning the invasion of Sicily. Leading the eastern task force during the invasion in July 1943, Ramsay coordinated closely with General Sir Bernard Montgomery and provided support once the campaign ashore began. With operation in Sicily winding down, Ramsay was ordered back to Britain to serve as Allied Naval Commander for the invasion of Normandy. Promoted to admiral in October, he began developing plans for a fleet that would ultimately include over 5,000 ships. Developing detailed plans, he delegated key elements to his subordinates and allowed them to act accordingly. As the date for the invasion neared, Ramsay was forced to defuse a situation between Churchill and King George VI as both desired to watch the landings from the light cruiser HMS Belfast. As the cruiser was needed for bombardment duty, he forbade either leader from embarking, stating that their presence put the ship at risk and that they would be needed ashore should key decisions need to be made. Pushing forward, the D-Day landings commenced on June 6, 1944. As Allied troops stormed ashore, Ramsays ships provided fire support and also began aiding in the rapid build-up of men and supplies. Final Weeks Continuing to support operations in Normandy through the summer, Ramsay began advocating for the rapid capture of Antwerp and its sea approaches as he anticipated that ground forces might outrun their supply lines from Normandy. Unconvinced, Eisenhower failed to quickly secure the Scheldt River, which led to the city, and instead pushed forward with Operation Market-Garden in the Netherlands. As a result, a supply crisis did develop which necessitated a protracted fight for the Scheldt. On January 2, 1945, Ramsay, who was in Paris, departed for a meeting with Montgomery in Brussels. Leaving from Toussus-le-Noble, his Lockheed Hudson crashed during takeoff and Ramsay and four others were killed. Following a funeral attended by Eisenhower and Cunningham, Ramsay was buried near Paris at St.-Germain-en-Laye. In recognition of his accomplishments, a statue of Ramsay was erected at Dover Castle, near where he planned the Dunkirk Evacuation, in 2000.

Alcohol and its Effects Essay - 1133 Words

Alcohol and its Effects Does the brain control all forms of behavior? Is everything we do, say, think and feel a direct output from nothing but the brain? Is it justifiable to think of the brain as interconnected box within box with inputs and outputs? The focus of this paper is on the input alcohol and how the processes generate a certain type of behavior output. This focus of alcohol input and behavior output will demonstrate that indeed brain is and does equal all forms of behavior. When alcohol is inputted into our brain, it induces many forms of typical behavior outputs such as impaired judgement, extreme emotion, and slowed behavior. Long-term effects include damage in cognitive behavior especially associated with the†¦show more content†¦The role of neurotransmitters in the brain is to either stimulate or inhibit the flow of an impulse between neurons. The GABA is an example of a neurotransmitter that is used as an inhibitor, where the 5 HT and dopamine can have either function of stimulating or inhibiting impulse, depending on what area of the brain it is at. All three neurotransmitters are involved in influencing some type of behavior through their inhibition or stimulation. The 5 HT for example, is known to have the most diverse functions in influencing all kinds of behavior. The influence of behavior is caused by the binding of the serotonin to its receptor, which then stimulates small molecules to form within the cell, which then in turn act wi th other proteins to activate various cellular functions. These cellular functions result in either stimuli or inhibition and through these mechanisms, serotinin can influence mood states, thinking patterns, emotion and motivation. (2). The 5 HT also appear to involve control of appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, mood, behavior, cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, endocrine regulation, and depression. (2 ). Although not as diverse as the 5 HT, the GABA and dopamine are also involved in influencing certain behaviors. Many GABA neurons for example, are found in the hippocampalShow MoreRelatedAlcohol And Its Effects On Alcohol1403 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Alcohol has long been a subject of controversy. Long before man understood the indications and contraindications of alcohol there has been laws against this drug. Classifying alcohol as a drug may not be suited for a majority of the population because people like to partake in drinking. Imbibing in alcohol is a tradition in many parts of the country. We use alcohol for celebrations, traditions, socialization and combining food flavors with specific alcohols. Forgetting that too much canRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol Abuse On Alcohol882 Words   |  4 Pagesme is alcohol. I often notice underage adolescents drinking and I also distinguish how they become different people when intoxicated by alcohol. They begin to walk funny and they tend to slur their words, making it hard to comprehend anything they are saying. I have watched family members who were so inebriated that they could not even spell their own name or even pinpoint who they were. The questions I always ask myself when I s ee these drunk college kids is â€Å"Do these kids know the effects of alcoholismRead MoreEffects Of Alcohol On The Consumption Of Alcohol1288 Words   |  6 PagesAlcohol consumption is highly prominent around the world and Australia. Most Australians have consumed alcohol at some point of time in their lives. Most individuals doing so at a level that is acceptable and does not lead to any ill health or injury. There is, however, an issue with the misuse and abuse of alcohol in Australia across all age groups. This paper will discuss the use of alcohol in Australia broadly before focusing on the consumption of alcohol in the 16-29 year old age group. ThisRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On Alcohol Abuse Essay1115 Words   |  5 Pages Dependance on alcohol has been around ever since its creation and records of writing existed. From Biblical commandments clearly restricting the drink due to its destructive and addictive nature to the celebrities on tv screens and music devices glo rifying the substance, alcohol has always been part of various cultures. Being the number one drug problem in the U.S with over 12 million people reportedly being alcoholics and of those 7 million being binge drinkers between the ages 12-20, it comesRead MoreEffects of Alcohol827 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many opinions that have been put across regarding alcohol consumption. Some are biased while others are based on either prejudice or beliefs. However the truth is that alcohol has its own merits and demerits. Every drinker has already at least some of the short term alcohol effects like a hangover or a bad night’s sleep. Long term effects are usually experienced when it is quite late. Heavy drinking results to a staggering walk, indistinct words and memory lapses. Upon drinking, oneRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On Alcohol Abuse941 Words   |  4 PagesEvery day around the world, people fail to realize the effects alcohol abuse can have on themselves as well as their loved ones. Alcohol is highly addictive, and can plague an individual s life. People who suffer from alcohol abuse go through various withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cease from drinking alcohol. There are various methods alcohol abusers to quit using alcohol. For adults who abuse alcohol, achieving abstinence can be an arduous process that can be overcome with the perseveranceRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On Alcohol Abuse942 Words   |  4 PagesEveryday around the world people fail to realize the effects alcohol abuse can have on themselves as well as their loved ones. Alcohol can be highly addictive, and plague an individual s life. Individuals who suffer from alcohol abuse go through various withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cease from drinking alcohol. There are various methods alcohol abusers to quit using alcohol. For adults who abuse alcohol, achieving abstinence can be an arduous process that can be overcome with the perseveranceRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On The Consumption Of Alcohol1950 Words   |  8 PagesThere are a multitude of aspects to consider as to why an individual would be dependent on the consumption of alcohol. One being the living environment of an individual has an effect on alcohol abuse according to the studies found, McCaul et al (2009) talks about this theme and goes on to say that the more licensed alcohol establishment’s in one particular area means it’s more likely for someone to drink on a regular basis as it’s not out of their way. Another reason may be the individual’s emotionalRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On Alcohol Consumption1373 Words   |  6 Pageswhether or not alcohol should be prohibited. In most countries, at a certain age, adults are allowed to purchase alcohol without being limited to certain choices. However, with the rise of alcoholic products, there are concerns for public health and safety. Many people argue that restrictions should be placed on alcohol consumption. To begin with, there are several factors that involve in alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between alcohol consumption andRead MoreAlcohol Consumption : The Effects Of Alcohol On The Body1312 Words   |  6 Pages Alcohol Consumption: The Effects of Alcohol on the Body Thamara Jean-Jacques Professor: Nina Walker Biology 115 October 17, 2015 Lithonia Campus Abstract Drinking alcohol for a period of time or even binge drinking cause harm your heart. Alcohol increases the risk for heart attack, strokes, and hypertension. In 2013, a total of 71,713 people died of liver disease the ages ranged from 12 and older. Alcohol has also been known to affect the pancreas, large amounts of alcohol can confuse

Mental Disorders as an issue of Public Health Concern

Question: Discuss about the Mental Disorders as an issue of Public Health Concern. Answer: Mental disorder is a term used in describing an array of conditions that vary in duration and severity. Mental disorders manifest in different ways the most common being anxiety, depression, and disorders related to substance abuse. Other lesser common but severe disorders are bipolar disorders, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia[1]. The effects from mental disorders can be damaging on families and also the individuals. The effects can also be spread to the larger society. For persons suffering from severe conditions, their emotional, cognitive, as well as social abilities can be significantly interfered with[2] often resulting in reduced productivity, homelessness, under-employment, unemployment, and economic disadvantage[3]. Persons with severe disorders are usually in isolation due to the illness and associated symptoms which lead to discrimination or stigmatization[4]. Statistics on Mental Disorders There are more than 450 million people around the world who live with a form of mental illness[5] Alcohol dependence, dementia, epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, and other substance abuse, neurological, and mental disorders comprise of 13 percent of the world's disease burden which is a figure that is much higher than cancer and cardiovascular disease[6]. By the year 2030, in middle income nations, the second to the top cause of disease burden will be depression and will be third on the list in low income nations [7] Person suffering form mental illnesses in the US succumb and die at an average of 25 years earlier in comparison to the rest of the population[8]. In Denmark, the gap is at 18.7 years for specific disorders with the gap believed to be wider in third world nations.[9] Suicide rates across the globe have increased by 60% over a period of 45 years[10]. Of the persons that commit suicide, 90% are those that have mental disorders that are diagnosable[11]. In some countries, suicide accounts for one of the leading causes of mortality among persons aged 15years and 44 years and the second cause of death in persons aged 10years to 24 years.[12] 70% of persons with mental disorders in the UK are discriminated with the rates even higher in developing countries.[13] Unemployment rates are as high as 90% for persons with psychosocial and mental illnesses[14] Persons with severe mental disorders have a higher likelihood of developing other health risks. For example, over 75% of persons in the US with severe mental disorders are smokers while persons with bipolar disorder or depression are twice as likely to be obese when compared to the general population.[15] Who is at Risk Mental illness has no one singular cause. Mental illness results from a combination of factors: environmental, psychological, and genetic. With regard to genetics, there are persons that are predisposed to becoming ill such as those that have pre-existing thought, developmental, behavioural, or mood disorders. Medical conditions can catalyze development of some mental conditions. An example is depression, which can be triggered by other illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, hormonal disorders, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease[16]. In addition, some people that are susceptible to non-food allergies are more predisposed to depression than persons who do not suffer such allergies. Further, medications can cause or exacerbate depression in people. Such medications include antibiotics, sleeping pills, some blood pressure pills, and birth control pills. Some anti-seizure drugs such as Topamax, Lamictal, and Neurontin are related to high risk of suicide occurrence[17]. The environmental risks can start prior to birth. For example, some infections during pregnancy can increase the chances of schizophrenia. A difficult childhood characterized by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, bullying, poverty, parental loss, watching violent parents, insecure attachment, or emotional neglect are just but a few catalysts. Ethnic representation is also a determinant; minority groups in neighbourhoods where they are few in number predispose such individuals to development of mental illnesses[18]. Mental illness such as bipolar disorder has been associated with stress. For example persons that are bi-sexual, lesbian, or gay, often have increased emotional challenges which are linked to a number of social stressors that affect their coping with society's reactions to their bisexuality or homosexuality[19]. In addition, psychiatric disorders can be as a result of unemployment and increases the possibility of drug dependence by almost quadruple the number of times, and also triples the possibility of psychotic illnesses or phobia. Unemployment increases the possibility of developing obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression[20]. Potential Prevention Measures The public responses to mental health risks need to be within different social group levels. The exact response will be dependent on the target group and the specific purpose. However, broad categorisation of actions can be done as follows: protection and promotion of mental health; and improving or restoring mental health through care and treatment for persons that suffer from mental illness[21]. Three strategic directions can be taken namely: development and protection of individual attributes; support of communities and households; support for persons that are vulnerable within the society[22] Development and protection of individual attributes: Between mothers and their children through enabling early attachment; provision of natal and parental care and training including post-partum depression; development of nurturing, stable, and safe relationships between caregivers, parents, and children. Ensure sufficient stimulation and nutrition for adolescents and children. Develop healthy community activities and ageing policies. Discourage substance abuse, encourage healthy diets and physical activity among all age groups[23]. Support of communities and households: Ensure that adolescents and children live in safe environments; prevention is targeted towards those with parents diagnosed with mental condition; prevent violence between intimate partners. Support increase of more employment opportunities, as well as safer and supportive working environments for employees. Ensure low income households have basic living conditions such as sanitation, water, and shelter; provide financial and social protection. Ensure neighborhoods are safe; restrict availability of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol[24]. Support for persons that are vulnerable within the society: development and implementation of policies in social inclusions. Enforce policies and laws in anti-discrimination. Education should be availed and accessed by all. Implement policies in gender equity; promote freedoms and rights of women. Foster media reporting that is responsible. Conduct campaigns to raise awareness[25] Bibliography DoHA (Department of Health and Ageing) 2013.National Mental Health Report 2013: tracking progress of mental health reform in Australia 19932011. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Edwards, R. (2015). Mental Health and Mental Illness. https://www.medicinenet.com/mental_health_psychology/page3.htm McLachlan R, Gilfillan G Gordon J 2013.Deep and persistent disadvantage in Australia. Canberra: Productivity Commission. Morgan VA, Waterreus A, Jablensky A, Mackinnon A, McGrath JJ, Carr V, et al. 2011.People living with psychotic illness: report on the second Australian national survey. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. NIH (2016). Health and Education Statistics: Suicide. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide/index.shtml#part_153199 Psychiatric News (2011). People With Serious Mental Illness Have Shorter Life Expectancy. https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/people-with-serious-mental-illness-have.html Slade T, Johnston A, Teesson M, Whiteford H, Burgess P, Pirkis J et al. 2009.The mental health of Australians 2. Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Canberra: DoHA. The Guardian (2010). Mental illness and the developing world. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/may/10/mental-illness-developing-world Torgovnick, K (2008). Why do the mentally ill die younger? https://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1863220,00.html#ixzz26AvjkszJ WHO (2011). Global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level. https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB130/B130_9-en.pdf WHO (2012). Mental Health: Suicide Data. https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/ WHO. (2010) People with mental disabilities cannot be forgotten. https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/mental_disabilities_20100916/en/ WHO (2012). Risks to mental health: an overview of vulnerabilities and risk factors. https://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/risks_to_mental_health_EN_27_08_12.pdf WHO. (2016) Mental Health: Strengthening our response. https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/