Representing a Common Heritage
Representing a Common Heritage
Forty years on and forty years older, although still feeling 19 in mind if not in body. The history is well known; Argentina took the Falkland Islands by force; HM Forces went and took it back. In between the two events of invasion and surrender, 255 British service personnel were to lose their lives in the cold waters of the South Atlantic Ocean or on the barren wind-swept hillsides of East and West Falklands. Many are still there in their minds, fighting their own personal battles with their memories.
On 14th June 2022, the Royal British Legion held a service at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember those who took part; Sailor, Soldier, Airman, Marine and the countless civilians who were also in harms way. The RAFSC & TSW Association was represented by six members who were deployed on Operation Corporate, and they were joined by CO TSW, Wg Cdr Jon Smith and WO Kev Wynn, TSW Wing WO.
Veterans and guests turned out in big numbers, with a large number of South Atlantic Medals on show, with many veterans wearing the scarf of the South Atlantic Medal Association, knitted in the same colours of the medal ribbon. The weather was hot and sunny, burnt heads were everywhere and it did feel weird wearing a scarf mid-June but there is a reason for it.
We had brief moment of reflection at the RAFSC &TSW Memorial, to remember those we have lost in the last 12 months with a wreath laid by CO TSW. A few stories were told as we walked the exhibition of Falklands units, chatted with young serving personnel, and found old friends. We even bumped into and had a chat with Sqn Ldr Martin Withers DFC, who flew Vulcan XM607 from Ascension Island and dropped his bombs on Stanley airfield, at that time the longest ever bombing mission.
A guard of honour of serving personnel was formed for veterans to walk through, formed from many of the units that had served in the campaign.
While walking through, the Prime Minister was spotted walking up the steps towards the Armed Forces Memorial, and some wag shouted, “Is this a work event, Boris or a party?” Only in the military…!
The service was led by Sir Max Hastings who has become synonymous with the Falklands Conflict and music was provided by the Band of the Welsh Guards. Starting off with recorded words from Sir Rex Hunt and Falkland Islands radio, the scene was set with a chronological order from the Call to War through Bomb Alley, The Battles for the Mountains through to Overlooking Stanley, there were readings from Veterans and Islanders alike.
The tone had been set by the reading of Chris Howe MBE, who described the moments immediately after the bombing of HMS Coventry D118, in which he sustained third degree burns over 27% of his body and he described how his shipmates fought to get him topside and over the side into the water, and how he then ended up on the SS Uganda and the to Haslar hospital for treatment. His eloquent and moving words brought the first response from Veterans, who had until then, been sat in quiet reflection. The entire place erupted into applause. Probably not expected, but certainly well deserved.
Three serving personnel read out the gallantry citations for Sgt Ian McKay VC, 3 PARA, Cpl Steve Newland MM, 42 Cdo RM and Cpl Andrew Bishop MM, 45 Cdo RM, all of whom showed extreme courage in the face of the enemy,
During the service, the Falkland Islands Government announced that in recognition of their service to the Islands, all holders of the South Atlantic Medal were to be awarded the Freedom of the Falklands Islands and a scroll declaring such was presented to Tom Herring, Chairman of the South Atlantic Medal Association.
The building of the Drumhead commenced, with the Band of Welsh Guards playing Brothers in Arms and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place, which led perfectly into a film of dedication by children of the Falklands Islands, and the live Act of Remembrance, from Port Stanley.
With the wreaths all laid, the Prime Minister started to make a speech, and in the distance we could hear the dull thud of a Chinook making its way to the NMA with two Merlin in tow and various other noisy little helicopters. It’s plainly obvious that Boris has never been too close to a low flying Chinook, as he continued with his speech, totally and utterly drowned out by the flypast, much to the mirth and merriment of those attending, except for those serving Officers who looked suitably embarrassed amid the giggling from Veterans, who had by this time, mostly turned their backs on the Prime Minister to watch the Flypast.
After the ceremony, we made our way to our transport, and we headed off to the Woolpack pub in Weston, where we’d booked a table for some scoff and a couple of ales, which in good TSW fashion, turned into some scoff and copious amounts of ales, and some more ales and a couple of shots of some nasty stuff.
The day went well, we paid our respects as an Association, as a Unit and as individuals; we celebrated afterwards as we know TSW Veterans can, but we’ll never forget those who never came home.
RIP the 255. Heroes All!
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