Tomorrow, the 19th March is the 27th anniversary of the day the Argentinians raised a flag on South Gergia which eventually led to the Falklands War BBC News A group of Argentines have landed at the British colony of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic and planted their nation's flag. About 50 Argentines are reported to have arrived at Leith Harbour, on South Georgia, about 1,400 miles east of the Falklands archipelago off the Argentine coast. BBC News on The Falklands War
Tell me about it...I remember exactly where I was when I heard about it. April 3rd about 6am on a Saturday morning I was on my milk round aged 14 and I took the milk into the newsagents on Brownhill Road with the junction at Laleham Road and I saw the headlines on the newspapers laid out. It was quite funny as all the adults in there had never heard of the Falklands and I told them where it was. In my early teens I was really interested in WW2 and the Royal Navy and had not long read about the battle of the River Plate-One of the Royal Navy ships retreated to Port Stanley after sustaining damage during the battle. Anyway I disgress, but WW2 was good for my geography
I was working and living in New York in 1982 and remember the demonstrations outside the UN building near where I was staying. A group of us jeered the Latin American parade when the Argentinians went past chanting about the Malvinas. They were amazed at our outburst and thankfully did nothing in retaliation. It did not make the news there and it was difficult to keep in touch with events. After the retaking of the Falklands, I did my own sort of celebration and raised the British Flag at an outdoor concert in Central Park. Happy Days.
I recall having all sorts of dry rubs from a rather ignorant "bitter chap" who mixed NI politics with the Falklands when Sheffield was sunk and when Atlantic Conveyor was lost. After the landings and the advacne to Stanley he never said anything to me again , not that I raised the subject with him either - I gave him a fool's pardon as he missed how close run the whole thing had been. As wars go it was something quite unique something we were totally unprepared to fight and which was organised at the drop of a hat. The spending cuts came home to roost and beacuse of them it could all have gone so very very wrong. For those who took part in it only huge respect although he never ever sought it Simon Weston became the public face of sufferring and the courage to put life back together - he like so many other veterans of the South Atlantic fought their own private wars. Only respect for them one and all , it is impossible to see UK ever fighting a war like this again. Had the Hermes been scrapped or the two assult ships sold where in the world would they have been ? The phrase " I counted them all out , and I counted them all back" is one which really has become part of our collective history - B.H. said everything , gave away nothing and reassurred the viewer/listener.
I remember being on holiday on Madeira during May when things were getting hot. There were long queues at the tourist office as it was one of only two teleprinters working on the news network and was always in possession of the latest news, some of it rather grim at times. Regards Tom
Great reading chaps.....Even though I was just a nipper it does take me back to fond memories. James, funny you should mention whether we could do another Falklands I had a debate on a bike forum a year or so ago with a chap in the RAF who reckons we could. I don't think he was in touch with reality. All his arguements had a lot of 'if's' in them. The army in the 80's was a very different army of today let alone the RAF and Senior Service. Cheers Andy
YouTube - Mark Knopfler - Brothers In Arms Falklands Version Video I can't imagine another event like it.
As far as I recall Hermes was taken out of the breakers yard list and was made ready for sea again , the two assult ships had been earmarked for selling ( to Argentina or Chile) , the Harrier was untried (the Americans supplied the missile at short notice) the "Ships Taken Up From Trade" provided the backbone of the logistical element and the RN destroyer force had been so cut that numbers were a problem and they were not really suited to the job they had to do , the fleet sailed with no early warning system. It was a case of sending what could be sent rather than what should have been sent, alot of what should have been sent had either been sold or did not exist. ( The old Ark Royal would have been an asset but she had long since been SOC). When it came down to it the ability to go there and win was down to the standard of the men who went there, more power to them .
