25 years ago today

[henry d]

25 years ago today I was a Marine engineer onboard HMS.Glasgow and we were the first ship to enter the 200 mile Total Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands.

We were at action stations for about 12 hours that day as we were air picket defence for the other ships of the Task Force, especially Glamorgan, Arrow and Alacrity, who were sent into soften the Argentinian denfences around Port Stanley with their 4.5†guns.

There was wave after wave of attacks by the Argentinian Air Force mainly Mirage and a few Super Etendard, one of which was picked up by our 909`s firing an Exocet missile at over 100 miles distant which is twice it`s range.......thankfully!

My diary also says that a Mirage was splashed, by it`s own forces(later confirmed as shot by another Mirage), over Port Stanley and that Glamorgan was superficially damaged when she was straddled by 2 x 1000 lb bombs and that a mirage was splashed by Arrow who herself was damaged in the superstructure and one sailor injured(the first during the conflict).

 

I would have liked to post some pictures of the action, but I sent them off and they never returned even though the cheque was cashed .

 

Heres a couple of photos from later that year after hostilities had finished.

 

 

Me in an Argentine defensive position, there was a box of belted and loose 7.62 mm rounds at my feet along with SLR`s without breechblocks.

 

 

This was taken between Sapper hill and is facing towards Mt.Tumbledown and the Two Sisters, you can just make out the defensive positions among the rocks.

 

 

A 20 mm Anti-aircraft gun on Sapper hill south of Port Stanley.

Edited May 1, 2007 by henry d

[LEFTY478]

Nice post "H" thanks for sharing it. 25 years! Seems like only yesterday, though.

[Dunkield]

Good post H

 

I wasn't doing anything more useful than being stuck in Washington, trying to get home (on standby)

 

It doesn't seem that long ago, and I would like to say you don't look a day older, but . . .

[ronttuk]

Hats off to you henry, i wasnt in the forces but give the upmost respect to you guys who were and who went there my brother in law was in belize with the 3rd royal anglians

[Baldrick]

Although I joined the Mob about 20 years after you took these phots, Henry, I can assure you that the Islands really are still that bleak and featureless. I never got the opportunity to get out and do some wildfowling though.

[Poacher]

Nice photos Henry you ever been back since ?

[Graham M]

My sincerest respect to you Henry and to all the other lads who went and fought for the rest of us.

I was still on reserve at the time (Royal Engineers) and honestly expected to be called back, but because the war ended so quickly it wasn’t to be.

I remember my brother-in-law boasting to someone in the pub about how he had served in the Falklands; made me bloody angry because he had never even served in any of the forces.

G.M.

[LEFTY478]

My sincerest respect to you Henry and to all the other lads who went and fought for the rest of us.

I was still on reserve at the time (Royal Engineers) and honestly expected to be called back, but because the war ended so quickly it wasn’t to be.

I remember my brother-in-law boasting to someone in the pub about how he had served in the Falklands; made me bloody angry because he had never even served in any of the forces.

G.M.

 

 

 

Life's full of "Walts"

[Baldrick]

What colour is the Boathouse at Hereford?! I hope you took the opportunity for some serious Walt-baiting.....

[Axe]

It doesn't seem that long ago, and I would like to say you don't look a day older, but . . .

 

Hats off to you boys and yes it only seems like yesterday.

[LEFTY478]

What colour is the Boathouse at Hereford?! I hope you took the opportunity for some serious Walt-baiting.....

 

 

 

Just ask him 'what colour his "rucksack" was'?

[young airgunner]

my dad fought in the falklands with 3 para. he has told me how bleak it is out there and all the stories from the conflict. must say that the speed in which the british troops fought the argies was impressive. my dad also got a comendation for bravery. on the battle of mount longdon, he also assisted with stretcher bearing and got the comendation for his bravery during that as unlike the troops firing, they were unable to take cover. my dad told me how scary it was hearing the bullets wizz past there feet in the grass, but he said how the adrenaline jsut kicks in.all i can say is i would be ***** myself. great respect to everyone who fought in the falklands and all the others troops in the numerous conflicts.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Axe

[Baldrick]

Unless they have their bulls**t well researched, an amateur Walt usually falls that the "your last four?" hurdle.....

[LEFTY478]

Bet you can't guess my last Three? My mob was full of Lefty's and Hall's. At one time there were 4 & 6 respectively, in little over a hundred men.

[henry d]

my dad fought in the falklands with 3 para. he has told me how bleak it is out there and all the stories from the conflict. must say that the speed in which the british troops fought the argies was impressive. my dad also got a comendation for bravery. on the battle of mount longdon, he also assisted with stretcher bearing and got the comendation for his bravery during that as unlike the troops firing, they were unable to take cover. my dad told me how scary it was hearing the bullets wizz past there feet in the grass, but he said how the adrenaline jsut kicks in.all i can say is i would be ***** myself. great respect to everyone who fought in the falklands and all the others troops in the numerous conflicts.

 

 

He was a lucky man as Longdon seemed to be a £$%&*%$ of a fight , have a look here http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/longdon.html

It gives great detail to all the battles on this site.

[chunk]

Unless they have their bulls**t well researched, an amateur Walt usually falls that the "your last four?" hurdle.....

 

A walt was outed at work a while back. He was new and a know all , so had ****** everyone off anyway.

He went on about being in the army as an officer, then made the mistake of saying he fought in the Falkands to an ex royal marine who was there. After a few questions he was floundering then got a fearsome flaming and cleared off to shouts of derision from the rest of us.

[SNAKEBITE]

Respect to those who were in the Falklands in any capacity, and for those who continue to do the job today.

[Tam]

Good post HD, i vaguely remember the conflict hard to imagine you with hair though

[luckytrigger]

Nice post and pics HD. I well remember avidly reading all newspaper articles and watching every bit of news about the war as a teenager.

[BSA Shaun]

Repect to every person who fought in that war

 

I have been 'lucky' in the respect that my job has allowed me to go to the falklands. I got to see many of the sights such as Gypsy Cove, the memorial in Stanley, Whale bone, Col Jones' memorial etc.

 

Got to say actually being there and seeing the condition of the land etc and all the minefields which still have not been cleared, I have upmost respect for those who did their duty.

 

There are good things to see there too, such as the penguins, other wildlife and beaches, which you would not think you are in the Falklands to be honest! Also the bennies - do they count as wildlife too?

Good eating tho in Stanley especially the Brasserie And typical locals in the Globe Tavern and The Victory Bar - like a scene out of a wild west movie when you walk in

 

Good to see how the service personnel spend their evenings too, in the bottom NEFI bar, crab and sprocket etc all good fun!

 

Also managed to get a chinook ride to one of the mounain sites, now that was an experience

[the last engineer]

respect's to you and those who served HD, i hope those who were lost, are never forgotten.

 

 

i read a book years back called " dont cry for me sergeant major"

 

though written by press representatives/correspondents, i recall "news of the world"

it was well written and a good read, with the seriousness ofthe situation, a humorous side emerged from the troops, and enjoyable read.

 

Martin

[BTMS]

Best things.. by all reports charlie G's 66's, decent boots (non British) MAGGIE ,the Press, APWHD, Harriers, the Sun

 

Worst.... Grenades ,boots (British), cold weather gear, etc

[sussex lad]

respect's to you and those who served HD, i hope those who were lost, are never forgotten.

couldnt agree more

 

Although i was just a icle lad when it all kicked off.

My uncle was i the RN at the time, and we living next door to my grandparents then were pretty well informed by what was going on.

The one thing that i remember most about the conflict was the sea of union jacks up and down our street , just about every house had a Sun newspaper center page pullout supporting our boys tapped to the front windows

When my uncle finally came home we went to greet him at Bris Norton with a huge banner made by my school ( wouldnt bloody happen now would it ) welcoming him and his fellows hero's home because thats what they were

Anyway back to my uncle, he had some pretty bad luck while down there

He went out on the Sheffield which as we all know as hit and sunk then he was transferred to the Atlantic Conveyor which again end up at the bottom :o and then lastly found himself on the Sir Galahad when the **** hit the fan again

Like i said above these guys are and will always be HERO'S

[the last engineer]

Cover Notes

 

Very senior officers proposed, NCOs and fighting men disposed. The Falklands conflict was supremely an Other Ranks war. Here, then, is their side of the story, recorded at the time by two front line journalists. In their own words, often profane, usually funny, always to the point, the men of the Falklands task force and those who accompanied them describe what it was actually like to fight an underdogs battle in the icy wilderness 8,000 mi. from home. Funny, moving, incisive, occasionally bitter, always humorously resigned, this is the story of one war which could be any war, a portrait of the British soldier, in all his mud stained glory.

 

 

 

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/swbooks/Dont-cry.html

 

found it

[sandersj89]

respect's to you and those who served HD, i hope those who were lost, are never forgotten.

 

 

i read a book years back called " dont cry for me sergeant major"

 

though written by press representatives/correspondents, i recall "news of the world"

it was well written and a good read, with the seriousness ofthe situation, a humorous side emerged from the troops, and enjoyable read.

 

Martin

 

If you have not read this book then do so, very very entertaining, very very moving, very very good.

 

It is a book I return to time and time again. One of the authors is Max Hastings, a big supporter of Country Sports.

 

The section about the "loo" at Goose Green never fails to have me crying with laughter.

 

I am in my 40's now so was not old enough at the time to be directly involved....however I met Colonel H ...fantatastic bloke.

 

I also met Brigadier General Farrar-Hockley whilst at school, he went to the same school as I did and "inspected" me during a school CCF event. He played a key role in the Falkands Crisis.

 

General Sir Anthony Farrar-Hockley obit can be seen here:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story...1730852,00.html

 

Once the war came to an end I spent more than one day sat on a bridge over the M5 waving a flag as the marines came home using coaches down the M5 on their way back to Plymouth and Lympston.

 

Well done lads.......

 

Jerry