As part of Armed Forces Week, Nub News explores various aspects of the themes, today is it about Global Affairs, and here serving Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Shaun Sams takes us on a trip to the Falklands as it is today and reminds us, a week after the UK was retaken some 38 years ago, of the unfolding events.

At the end of 1981 I applied to join the Royal Navy. It seemed like a good idea; I could see the world for free.

The process took just over a year, but by the time I arrived at HMS Raleigh in Plymouth, my realisation of what the Royal Navy is there for had changed.

I had always wanted to go to the Falklands to have a look at the places where it all happened. I was never on a Ship that went there though. I am still in the Navy, but now work at Colchester – No more Ships for me.

To be honest, I was disappointed that I had never made it 'Down South' and that, realistically, I now never would. Then in October 2017 that changed. I was given the opportunity to go on a Battlefield Tour of the Islands.

There huge advantage of this was it was going to take 15 ½ hours to get there in an RAF Victor (Crab Air) from Brize Norton, as opposed to four weeks in my usual method of transport – a Warship. So I snapped their hand off at the chance. I will now tell you about some of the places we went, and what happened there in 1982.

San Carlos Bay

Personally, I feel San Carlos Bay (referred to as 'Bomb Alley') was the location for some of the most iconic news footage of the conflict, with numerous daily air attacks on ships in the sheltered waters. The planes were able to come in low and pop up over the hills to start bombing runs against the Task Force.

HMS ARDENT sunk after being bombed just across a small peninsular in Grantham Sound. HMS ANTELOPE was hit by two bombs which failed to explode. One of which exploded later in the day whilst being defused, causing the ship to sink. The Argentine Air Force dropped on target 11 more bombs which, thankfully, failed to explode.

Troops were landed at San Carlos between 21 – 25 May 1982. Aircraft that had been intended to fly British Troops and equipment towards Port Stanley were lost when the ATLANTIC CONVEYOR was hit by an Exocet missile on 25 May.

The race between the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment to be the first into Stanley would be by foot. The Marines 'Yomp' and the Paras 'Tab'

San Carlos is home to the Blue Beach Military Cemetery. After being buried in the Falklands (until 1982 it was military tradition to bury the dead near to where they fell), many of those killed were later repatriated to the UK.

Today, 13 graves remain in accordance with the wishes of the families, Including Lt Col H Jones, awarded the Victoria Cross at Goose Green. We held a short Memorial Service and laid a Wreath at the site. One of our group was a Veteran of the Conflict, serving in the Merchant Navy, he was in San Carlos Bay for those five days. We met a group of Argentine Veterans at the cemetery. He joined them for a group photo, details were exchanged and new friendships were established.

Goose Green

The small Settlement of Goose Green is located a few miles from San Carlos. It was very heavily defended by a well-established Argentine position. Islanders living in the Settlement had effectively been held hostage in their own homes since the Invasion. In the early hours of 28th May the advancement of 2 Para was stopped by fixed machine gun posts. 2 Para's Commanding Officer, Lt Col H Jones single handily stormed one of the posts, and was killed. He was later awarded the Victoria Cross. Although 2 Para were vastly outnumbered, the following morning 1200 Argentine soldiers surrendered. The soldiers were young, cold and hungry conscripts, few of whom had the will to continue fighting.

Fitzroy

Like San Carlos, Fitzroy also provided iconic news footage. On the 8th June two Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram had, for some time, been anchored a short distance off the beach, loaded with soldiers from the Welsh Guards (including Simon Weston). Effectively 'sitting ducks', they were attacked by two waves of Sky Hawks. The resulting fires and evacuation was filmed from the beach, with the Guards ammunition on board exploding in the fires. Boats were being rowed ashore full of injured soldiers, many more could be seen in survival suits on the decks of the ships.

One piece of news footage that will always stick with me, is the sight of a Guardsman being carried along the beach on a stretcher with his leg missing. Many more were walking around the beach severely burned.

The mountains around Stanley

By the 11th of June British troops started to retake control of the Mountains around Port Stanley. Battles took place against the best of the Argentine Army for the next 3 days at various locations. Much of the debris from the battles remains in the mountains today. It is not uncommon to come across the remains of an old mortar position, there is even the wreckage of an Argentine helicopter (our guide did tell us that someone had tried to take the engine for scrap, but they were unable to move it to the road). One of the battles was an advance made by the Para's on Mt Longdon. They were quickly pinned down by very accurate and heavy enemy fire.

Realising that any further advancement was impossible with such heavy opposition, Sgt Ian McKay and two others ran towards an enemy placement.

Very quickly Sgt McKay was alone, with one of his mates killed and the other seriously injured. Sgt McKay continued to run against the position, and successfully stopped the firing from there by throwing a grenade. It was at that point that Sgt McKay was shot and killed, falling into the bunker he had just taken. Sgt McKay, 3 Para, was awarded the second Victoria Cross of the Conflict.

Stanley

The Argentine Forces surrendered on 14 June. The first troops into Stanley were from 2 Para. The Falkland's flag was raised again at Government house, and Sir Rex Hunt returned to resume his Governorship if the Islands. He remained in the position until 1985. I have had the pleasure of meeting Sir Rex, and I can honestly say he is one of the nicest, most sincere individuals I have met. It is easy to see why the Islanders have always held a place in their hearts for him.

Port Stanley is a beautiful, quiet town. White painted wooden buildings and immaculately clean streets.

There is not much there. A Few shops, newly sprouted up souvenir shops (The diverse wildlife of the Islands, along with its recent history means that cruise liners are regular visitors) and a pub - The Globe Tavern (Of course I went in there). Walking down the High Street, something reminded me very much of Shotley, but I can't put my finger on it!

Penguins! Lots of Penguins!

If you visit the Falklands it goes without saying that you have to go and see some penguins. There are lots on the Islands. We went to the white sanded vastness of Bertha Beach. I think it is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. You wouldn't get the sunbed out though – It was freezing cold! It is a long walk from the parking area to where the penguins live, but it is not a boring walk. You do not have to look at the sea for very long before seeing dolphins playing in the breaking waves and seals popping their heads up to have a look round.

Defending the Falklands.

The Falklands conflict was not an 'easy' win. The day before the Argentine surrender the Battle Group Commander wrote in his diary 'If they breath on us now, we will fall over'. Lots of Argentine bombs failed to explode on impact. After losing the Belgrano their Navy stayed in port. The outcome could have been very different.

Today the Islands are defended by over 1000 Service Personnel based at RAF MOUNT PLEASANT, 27 miles to the west of Stanley. Air defence is provided by four Eurofighter Typhoon Jets.

The Falklands 1982

A Conflict (War was never declared) 8,000 miles away had led to the loss or critical damage of eight British ships, an Argentine Cruiser and cost the lives of 907 people.

Argentina reported that it had 're-taken' the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic on 2nd April 1982. This was confirmed by the British Government the following day.

A fierce firefight between Argentine troops and a small detachment of Royal Marines had taken place overnight in the Streets of the Falklands Capital, Port Stanley.

Hugely outnumbered, and with Government House surrounded, the Governor, Sir Rex Hunt, had no choice but to admit defeat. He was flown home, along with the Royal Marines Detachment a few days later. The Royal Marines would very shortly return.

Amid frenzied diplomatic talks co-ordinated by the US, a large Naval Task Force led by the two Aircraft Carriers HMS INVINCIBLE (one of the ships I eventually served on) and HMS HERMES was formed and sailed south. Merchant Ships (including the cruise liners Queen Elizabeth 2 and Canberra) were commandeered to ferry troops and supplies. The Task Force arrived in the South Atlantic on the 30th of April.

I guess that I really should (begrudgingly) mention the Royal Air Force for this date. At the time of the Task Force arrival, The RAF were about to embark on the first of seven planned long-range bombing missions using Vulcan Bombers taking off from Ascension Island. 'OPERATION BLACK BUCK' was the name given to the 6,600 mile round trip to bomb the Radar instillations and the runway at Stanley.

Five raids took place – damage inflicted was fairly minor, but the planning and execution was, I have to admit, impressive.

Many British people had never heard of the Falklands before April, and a sizable number of those who had heard of them thought they were Islands off Scotland – So were a tad confused as to why they had been invaded by Argentina. Everyone had heard of the Islands by now, and the vast majority of the British public were in favour of the Falklands returning to British Sovereignty, by force if needed – but most thought that a diplomatic agreement would be reached.

The diplomacy option disappeared on the 2nd of May. The Argentine Battle Cruiser BELGRANO (a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbour) was torpedoed by the nuclear submarine HMS CONQURER.

The ship sunk with the loss of over 300 lives. The sinking caused some controversy, and still does.

You may have seen the Top Gear 'Patagonia Special' - The presenters and crew were attacked in Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego – Where the BELGRANO was based. The protests were a result of Jeremy Clarkson's number plate, H982 FKL potentially referring to the Falklands.

And so, the Falklands Conflict had started…..

Losses

649 Argentinian Service Personnel

255 British Service Personnel

3 Falkland Islanders

HMS SHEFFIELD – 4 May 1982. Hit by Exocet missile, sunk under tow on 10 May

HMS ARDENT – 21 May 1982, Bombed in Grantham Sound, sank the following day

HMS ANTELOPE – 23 May, Bombed in San Carlos, Bomb exploded while being defused. Sank 24 May

HMS COVENTRY – 25 May, Bombed to the north of Pebble Island

ATLANTIC CONVEYOR – 25 May, Hit by Exocet Missile, sank under tow

RFA SIR GALAHAD – 8 June, Bombed in Fitzroy. Towed to sea and sunk as a War Grave

If you have read this, and do not remember too much about the Conflict there are loads of news clips / documentaries on YouTube. I would also highly recommend the book: '100 Days – The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander' by Admiral Sandy Woodward.

There was also a made for TV film called 'An Ungentlemanly Act' with Bob Peck playing the role of Sir Rex. It is a slightly amusing and, according to Sir Rex, highly accurate of the lead up to the Invasion, and the events of the first night – Well worth a watch if you can find it.

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