The veteran Issue 6
The quarterly magazine of the Alicante Branch of the Royal British Legion, issue 6
The quarterly magazine of the Alicante Branch of the Royal British Legion, issue 6
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
March 2022 - May 2022 <strong>Issue</strong> 6<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
Veteran<br />
Alicante<br />
<strong>The</strong> Quarterly Magazine of <strong>The</strong> Alicante Branch<br />
of <strong>The</strong> Royal British Legion<br />
Queen's Platinum<br />
Jubilee<br />
1952 - 2022<br />
40th anniversary<br />
of the liberation<br />
of the Falkland<br />
Islands
TABLE OF<br />
CONTENTS<br />
3 Introduction, Hamish McConnachie Branch Webmaster<br />
and Publicity Member.<br />
5 <strong>The</strong> South Atlantic Medal<br />
7 'Least we Forget, Falklands 40<br />
12 <strong>The</strong> Queen's Platinum Jubilee<br />
15 'We Served' HMS Hermes<br />
18 Alicante Branch News<br />
22 'We Served' 4 Fd Regiment Royal Artillery<br />
29 Alicante Branch Meetings<br />
32 <strong>The</strong> Video Page<br />
33 Military awards and decorations, Distinguished Service Order<br />
34 Forecast of Events<br />
35 Military Humour<br />
37 Poets Corner,Jim 'Jock' Love<br />
2<br />
Contact us<br />
John pratt - Alicante Branch Chairman<br />
Ed Morris - Vice Chairman, Recruiting &<br />
Retention<br />
Janet Brickhill - Branch Community<br />
Support<br />
Hamish McConnachie - Web Master &<br />
Publicity<br />
Alicante.Chairman@rbl.community<br />
Alicante.Vicechairman@rbl.community<br />
Alicante.BCS@rbl.community<br />
Alicante.Web@rbl.community<br />
2
Hamish McConnachie<br />
Alicante Branch<br />
Webmaster & Publicity<br />
Member<br />
It was decided when we first published the ‘Veteran’ that<br />
each Committee member would take a turn at writing a<br />
few words as an introduction. <strong>The</strong> idea was that Committee<br />
Members could introduce themselves and give a brief<br />
description of their past and indeed their current Committee<br />
Role. It seems that for issue six of the ‘Veteran’ that task<br />
now falls to me.<br />
I was born and educated in Inverness attending the<br />
Merkinch Primary and the Inverness High Secondary<br />
school. At the age of thirteen I joined the Queen’s Own<br />
Cameron Highlander cadets and decided that the military<br />
was going to be the life for me<br />
I joined the Army as a Junior Soldier at the age of fifteen in 1970 and was posted to the<br />
Junior Infantry Battalion at Shorncliffe in Kent. Having completed just over two years as a<br />
Junior I joined my Regiment, <strong>The</strong> Queens Own Highlanders (Seaforth & Camerons) in<br />
Germany. I remained with my Regiment for nearly 24 years (23 years 300 days) Serving<br />
in Northern Ireland, Belize, Kenya, Falklands and Hong Kong to name a but few of the<br />
locations. I was also posted to the School of Infantry at Warminster as an instructor and<br />
to the 3rd Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment in Ballykinler as a Permanent Staff<br />
Instructor.<br />
On leaving the Regular Army I was employed with Scottish Water in IT and annual<br />
reporting to the water regulator in Scotland (<strong>The</strong> Water Industry Commission for<br />
Scotland) before being head hunted by Network Rail where I was employed as a<br />
Maintenance Planner.<br />
On leaving the Regular Army I also joined the Territorial Army and served in the 3rd<br />
Battalion <strong>The</strong> Highlanders, 52nd Lowland Volunteers (Royal Scots) 51st Highland<br />
Regiment and <strong>The</strong> 7th Battalion <strong>The</strong> Royal Regiment of Scotland for fifteen years<br />
making a total of 39 years in uniform.<br />
I joined Legion Scotland in 2008 where I did a short spell as Recruitment and Retention<br />
member before moving to Spain in 2013 where I joined the Torrevieja Branch of the<br />
Royal British Legion. I transferred to the Alicante Branch three years ago where shortly<br />
after I took up the post of Webmaster tasked with getting the Branch Website up and<br />
running. Shortly after this I was asked to take on the role of Publicity Member. 3
I am proud to<br />
be a Member<br />
of <strong>The</strong><br />
Alicante<br />
Branch of the<br />
Royal British<br />
As Webmaster my main role is maintaining and<br />
updating the Branch Website while my role as<br />
Publicity revolves round keeping the Branch in the<br />
public eye. This has been done by introducing this<br />
Magazine, ‘<strong>The</strong> Veteran’ to both Members and Non<br />
Members within the local Alicante area and beyond,<br />
we currently have a readership of 1000+ per issue. I<br />
have also been heavily involved in producing<br />
articles for the Mellow Magazine a local magazine<br />
for the Alicante area which unfortunately stopped<br />
publishing in March of this year. I also provide<br />
articles for the Legion Overseas Newsletter, the<br />
District North Spain magazine and have had photos<br />
published in the National Newsletter and ‘<strong>The</strong><br />
Legion’ our national magazine. I have also taken<br />
over the Branch Facebook page on a temporary<br />
basis.<br />
Although I enjoy all my work with the Royal British<br />
Legion and certainly being the editor of this<br />
Legion<br />
magazine gives me great satisfaction I believe that<br />
my greatest achievement was heading the team<br />
that succeeded in erecting our Memorial in Castalla<br />
International to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of<br />
the Royal British Legion. <strong>The</strong> Memorial gives the<br />
Branch and local community members a focal point<br />
for Remembrance Services and quiet<br />
contemplation.<br />
This year we will see services for the Falklands 40, the 40th anniversary of the liberation<br />
of the Falkland Islands as well as Remembrance Sunday.<br />
Finally I must thank all Branch Members and Members of the Community who have given<br />
input to the Branch website and the various publications that the Branch has been involved<br />
in.<br />
'Service Not Self '<br />
4
Military awards, medals and decorations of the United Kingdom<br />
South<br />
Atlantic<br />
Medal<br />
<strong>The</strong> South Atlantic Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British military<br />
personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands War of 1982 between the<br />
United Kingdom and Argentina. Over 33,000 medals have been awarded.<br />
<strong>The</strong> medal with rosette was awarded for one day's service within 35° and 60° South<br />
latitude or for at least one operational sortie south of Ascension Island, between 2<br />
April and 14 June 1982 (2 April being the date of the Argentine invasion, 14 June<br />
being the date of Argentine surrender). This, generally, denoted service in the<br />
combat zone.<br />
<strong>The</strong> medal without rosette was awarded for 30 days continuous or accumulated<br />
service between 7° and 60° South latitude between 2 April and 14 June 1982<br />
(completing no later than 12 July 1982). As a result of the 2012 Independent<br />
Medal Review the qualifying period for the medal without rosette was extended to<br />
21 October 1982.<br />
Those mentioned in despatches during the campaign wear a bronze oak leaf on the<br />
medal ribbon.<br />
Service qualifying for the South Atlantic Medal does not count towards the period<br />
required to receive the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal.<br />
Ribbon bars of the medal with and without rosette<br />
5
Alicante Branch Holders<br />
of the<br />
South Atlantic Medal<br />
Hamish McConnachie, Jim Love, Jack Kemp and Ed Morris<br />
Jim Love<br />
Branch Member<br />
Jack Kemp 4 Fd Regt RA<br />
Branch President<br />
Ed Morris HMS Hermes<br />
Branch Vice Chairman<br />
Hamish McConnachie<br />
Queens Own Highlanders<br />
Branch Webmaster & Publicity<br />
Not Pictured<br />
Steve Norris<br />
John Compton<br />
Hamish McConnachie (Middle row 5th from left) Black Hill House West Falkland<br />
6
On the 40th anniversary of the<br />
Falklands War, join us at the<br />
Garden of Remembrance in Castalla<br />
International as we remember all<br />
those impacted by the conflict.<br />
All members of the Community are invited to attend on Tuesday<br />
14th of June at 12:00<br />
Liberation Day<br />
On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces invaded<br />
and occupied the Falkland Islands. Following<br />
several weeks of intense fighting, Argentine<br />
forces surrendered on 14 June 1982.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Alicante Branch of the Royal British<br />
Legion will mark the 40th anniversary of the<br />
liberation of the Falkland Islands by holding<br />
a Remembrance Service in honour of all men<br />
and women who took part in the conflict. All<br />
are welcome to attend<br />
7
<strong>The</strong> Falklands<br />
War 2 April to 14 June 1982<br />
T<strong>The</strong> Falkland Islands—an archipelago in the<br />
South Atlantic located 8,000 miles away<br />
from the British Isles was one of the U.K.’s<br />
more obscure overseas territories, home to a<br />
community of just 1,800 people, the majority of<br />
whom were of British descent.<br />
Britain’s presence in the Falklands dates back to<br />
1690, when Navy Captain John Strong made the<br />
first recorded landing on the unpopulated islands.<br />
<strong>The</strong> British started a settlement on the<br />
archipelago in the mid-18th century but<br />
abandoned it around a decade later, leaving the<br />
area under Spanish control. <strong>The</strong> newly<br />
independent Argentina arrived on the scene in<br />
1820 and promptly laid claim to the Falklands,<br />
arguing that it had inherited the islands from the<br />
Spanish crown earlier that century. British troops<br />
returned to the Falklands in 1833, expelling its<br />
Argentinian officials and reasserting the U.K.’s<br />
claim to the islands. Britain established the<br />
Falklands as an official colony.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Falklands became increasingly<br />
important for Argentina in the year<br />
leading up to the war. Based on the<br />
information collected in the Falklands<br />
Census of 1980, the islands were<br />
inhabited by just 1,813 people, with some<br />
members of 42 Royal Marines stationed<br />
at Moody Brook Barracks. Nearly all<br />
(1,723) of those people held British<br />
nationality and just 30 were Argentine<br />
nationals.<br />
In 1981, a referendum saw the population<br />
vote in favour of remaining under British<br />
sovereignty.<br />
However, during the very same year,<br />
Argentina was facing a very tough<br />
economic and civil situation.<br />
8
Less than six months before the conflict started,<br />
the Argentine military regime changed and a<br />
new junta took charge.<br />
As civil unrest and dislike for the military<br />
dictatorship grew in Argentina, the junta<br />
attempted to shift the public's interest from<br />
national issues to a war.<br />
<strong>The</strong> junta supported claims that the islands held<br />
ties with the South American country, but the<br />
ultimate goal was most likely to spur a nationalist<br />
sentiment across Argentina and for the military<br />
regime to gain both popularity and greater<br />
influence over the South Atlantic region.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ongoing tension between the two countries<br />
over the islands increased on 19 March, when a<br />
group of Argentine scrap metal merchants which<br />
had been infiltrated by Argentine Marines raised<br />
the Argentine flag at South Georgia Island, an<br />
act that would later be seen as the first offensive<br />
action in the war. <strong>The</strong> Royal Navy ice patrol<br />
vessel HMS Endurance was dispatched from<br />
Stanley to South Georgia on the 25th in<br />
response. <strong>The</strong> Argentine military junta,<br />
suspecting that the UK would reinforce its South<br />
Atlantic Forces, ordered the invasion of the<br />
Falkland Islands.<br />
On 2 April, Argentine forces invaded the<br />
Falkland Islands.<br />
Meanwhile, on 29 March the British Government<br />
had already dispatched three vessels from<br />
Europe to the South Atlantic in response to what<br />
was happening in South Georgia.<br />
Following the invasion of the Falklands, the UK<br />
formed a task force aimed at retaking control of<br />
the islands as part of Operation Corporate.<br />
<strong>The</strong> task force was made up of vessels that<br />
were ready to be deployed at the time, including<br />
nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror,<br />
aircraft carriers HMS Invincible and HMS<br />
Hermes. <strong>The</strong> British Forces also requisitioned<br />
vessels that were not necessarily used for<br />
military operations like ocean liners SS Canberra<br />
and Queen Elizabeth 2. By the time the whole<br />
task force was put together, the Armed Forces<br />
had 127 ships in total – 62 of which were<br />
merchant ships.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Flag of the Falkland Islands<br />
While preparations were in full swing in<br />
the UK, the Royal Air Force set up an<br />
airbase on Ascension Island, where<br />
bombers, fighters and refuelling aircraft<br />
were sent to protect the naval task force<br />
that would arrive on its way to the<br />
Falklands.<br />
RAF Vulcan bombers played a significant<br />
part in the Falklands War. <strong>The</strong> V-<br />
Bombers performed a series of missions<br />
from Ascension Island to the Falklands<br />
between 30 April and 12 June 1982,<br />
specifically targeting first the runway at<br />
Port Stanley Airport and later Argentinian<br />
anti-aircraft radars.<br />
RAF Vulcan Bomber<br />
Several vessels were lost by both sides,<br />
most notably Argentine cruiser General<br />
Belgrano and British destroyer HMS<br />
Sheffield.<br />
Airpower was also weakened on both<br />
sides, but Argentina suffered the loss of<br />
what was estimated to be 20% to 30% of<br />
their aircraft.<br />
9
HMS Sheffield 28 May 1982. Twenty lives were<br />
lost in a strike by an exocet missile.<br />
On 21 May, British forces were able to land on<br />
the Falklands. Contrary to what had been<br />
expected by Argentinian military officials, the<br />
amphibious operation took place in the east of<br />
the islands, avoiding the capital Stanley, where<br />
the Argentine forces had planned their major<br />
resistance points.<br />
During the night of 21 May, the British<br />
Amphibious Task Group mounted Operation<br />
Sutton, the amphibious landing on beaches<br />
around San Carlos Water, on the northwestern<br />
coast of East Falkland facing onto<br />
Falkland Sound. <strong>The</strong> bay, known as Bomb<br />
Alley by British forces, was the scene of<br />
repeated air attacks by low-flying Argentine<br />
jets.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 4,000 men of 3 Commando Brigade were<br />
put ashore as well as units from the Royal<br />
Artillery and Royal Engineers. Armoured<br />
reconnaissance vehicles were also put ashore<br />
along with Rapier missile launchers. By dawn<br />
the next day, they had established a secure<br />
beachhead from which to conduct offensive<br />
operations. From there, Brigadier Julian<br />
Thompson's plan was to capture Darwin and<br />
Goose Green before turning towards Port<br />
Stanley.<br />
Hard fighting continued until British forces were<br />
able to surround the capital of Stanley and the<br />
main port. On the night of 11 June, after<br />
several days of painstaking reconnaissance<br />
and logistic build-up.<br />
British forces launched a brigade-sized<br />
night attack against the heavily defended<br />
ring of high ground surrounding Stanley.<br />
Units of 3 Commando Brigade, supported<br />
by naval gunfire from several Royal Navy<br />
ships, simultaneously attacked in the Battle<br />
of Mount Harriet, Battle of Two Sisters, and<br />
Battle of Mount Longdon. Mount Harriet<br />
was taken at a cost of 2 British and 18<br />
Argentine soldiers. At Two Sisters, the<br />
British faced both enemy resistance and<br />
friendly fire, but managed to capture their<br />
objectives. <strong>The</strong> toughest battle was at<br />
Mount Longdon. British forces were bogged<br />
down by rifle, mortar, machine gun, artillery<br />
and sniper fire, and ambushes. Despite<br />
this, the British continued their advance.<br />
3 Para medics attending to a wounded<br />
Argentine soldier, Mount Longdon, 1982<br />
<strong>The</strong> second phase of attacks began on the<br />
night of 13 June, and the momentum of<br />
the initial assault was maintained. 2 Para,<br />
with light armour support from the Blues<br />
and Royals, captured Wireless Ridge, with<br />
the loss of 3 British and 25 Argentine lives,<br />
and the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards<br />
captured Mount Tumbledown the Battle of<br />
Mount Tumbledown cost 10 British and 30<br />
Argentine lives. A simultaneous special<br />
forces raid by the SAS and SBS in fast<br />
boats to attack the oil tanks in Stanley<br />
Harbour was beaten off by anti-aircraft<br />
guns.<br />
10
A daylight attack on Mount William by the<br />
Gurkhas, delayed from the previous night by<br />
the fighting at Tumbledown, ended in<br />
anticlimax when the Argentinian positions<br />
were found to be deserted.<br />
Following the capture of Stanley, further<br />
operations were launched to take the<br />
surrender of other Argentine troops on West<br />
Falkland. Royal Marines from HMS<br />
'Endurance' also cleared the enemy from<br />
the South Sandwich Islands and Southern<br />
Thule.<br />
A total of 255 British servicemen and three<br />
female civilians were killed liberating the<br />
Falklands. 649 Argentines had been killed.<br />
Repatriating Argentine prisoners of war<br />
(POWs) was a long process. Some 5,000<br />
prisoners were embarked on 'Canberra' and<br />
1,000 on 'Norland' on 17 June. By 20 June,<br />
10,250 prisoners had been repatriated.<br />
Men from 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha<br />
Rifles (7GR) make time for a brew<br />
On 14 June 1982, Argentina surrendered,<br />
officially marking the end of the 10-week<br />
undeclared war.<br />
A total of 907 people lost their lives during the<br />
10-week Falklands War – 255 of them were<br />
British, 649 Argentinian and three were<br />
Falkland Islanders killed by friendly fire.<br />
Several people were also wounded, including<br />
775 Brits and 1,657 Argentinians.<br />
Argentinians surrendering their weapons at<br />
Port Stanley, 1982<br />
Memorial to<br />
the fallen.<br />
port Stanley<br />
Major General Moore the Commander of Land<br />
Forces gave the Royal Marine Commandos the<br />
honour of replacing the Argentine flag with the<br />
original Union Jack at Government House, June<br />
1982<br />
'Least we Forget' 11
Alicante Branch<br />
and the<br />
local Community<br />
celebrate the<br />
Queen's Platinum<br />
Jubilee<br />
2nd of June 2022.<br />
As I look ahead with a sense of hope and<br />
optimism to the year of my Platinum Jubilee, I am<br />
reminded of how much we can be thankful for.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se last seven decades have seen extraordinary<br />
progress socially, technologically and culturally that<br />
have benefitted us all; and I am confident that the<br />
future will offer similar opportunities to us and<br />
especially to the younger generations in the United<br />
Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth.<br />
Queen Elizabeth II, 2022<br />
<strong>The</strong> Queen has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, becoming a<br />
much loved and respected figure across the globe. Her extraordinary reign has seen her<br />
travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits.<br />
Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, she has been an<br />
important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social<br />
change. <strong>The</strong> year 2022 sees Her Majesty <strong>The</strong> Queen become the first British Monarch to<br />
celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Alicante Branch of the Royal British Legion held a celebratory afternoon tea for<br />
Branch Members and Members of the local Community on the occasion of the Queen's<br />
Platinum Jubilee<br />
12
Branch Chairman John Pratt gave a short<br />
speech before giving the Royal Toast<br />
Over 60 Branch and<br />
Community members<br />
gathered together to<br />
celebrate the Queen's<br />
Platinum Anniversary in<br />
style. <strong>The</strong> afternoon<br />
raised the sum of 215<br />
Euros for the 2022<br />
Poppy Appeal<br />
13
A further 65 Euros<br />
was raised by Branch<br />
Members Les and Issy<br />
A total of 280<br />
Euros raised<br />
for the 2022<br />
Poppy Appeal<br />
on the day<br />
14
'We Served'<br />
Ed Morris<br />
Alicante Branch Vice Chairman<br />
Fleet Air Arm<br />
1962 - 1986<br />
HMS<br />
HERMES<br />
HMS Hermes was a conventional British<br />
aircraft carrier and the last of the Centaur<br />
class. Hermes was in service with the<br />
Royal Navy from 1959 until 1984, and she<br />
served as the flagship of the British forces<br />
during the 1982 Falklands War.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ship was laid down by Vickers-Armstrong at<br />
Barrow-in-Furness during World War II as HMS<br />
Elephant. Construction was suspended in 1945<br />
but work was resumed in 1952 to clear the<br />
slipway and the hull was launched on 16<br />
February 1953. <strong>The</strong> vessel remained unfinished<br />
until 1957, when she entered service on 18<br />
November 1959 as HMS Hermes after extensive<br />
modifications which included installation of a<br />
massive Type 984 'searchlight' 3D radar, a fully<br />
angled deck with a deck-edge elevator, and<br />
steam catapults.<br />
Hermes initially operated Supermarine Scimitar,<br />
de Havilland Sea Vixen, and Fairey Gannet<br />
fixed-wing aircraft, together with Westland<br />
Whirlwind helicopters.<br />
Proposed transfer to Australia:<br />
A 1966 review indicated that Hermes was<br />
surplus to operational requirements and she<br />
was offered to the Royal Australian Navy<br />
(RAN) as a replacement for HMAS<br />
Melbourne. In 1968, Hermes took part in a<br />
combined exercise with the RAN, during<br />
which the carrier was visited by senior RAN<br />
officers and Australian government officials,<br />
while RAN A-4G Skyhawks and Grumman S-2<br />
Trackers practised landings on the larger<br />
carrier. <strong>The</strong> offer was turned down due to<br />
operating and manpower costs.<br />
15
Ed Morris HMS Raleigh (Front row, Left) aged 16<br />
Proposed international fleet:<br />
Hermes served as one of four Royal Navy<br />
strike carriers mainly in the Indian Ocean<br />
area until 1970. She could have seen action<br />
against the Egyptians when Egypt closed off<br />
the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping in May<br />
1967 when the UK and US contemplated<br />
forming an international fleet to open the<br />
straits with force if necessary, but the idea<br />
never materialised.<br />
(after some of the helicopters were<br />
dispersed to other ships) as well as a troop<br />
of Special Air Service (SAS) and Royal<br />
Marines. As she was the RN's largest<br />
carrier, she was considered too valuable to<br />
risk close into the Falklands, due to the<br />
possibility of Argentine air force attacks. Her<br />
Harriers therefore operated at the limit of<br />
their endurance radius, but were very<br />
successful in keeping the enemy aircraft at<br />
bay.<br />
Falklands War:<br />
Hermes was due to be decommissioned in<br />
1982 after a 1981 defence review (that would<br />
have made the Royal Navy considerably<br />
smaller) by the British government, but when<br />
the Falklands War broke out, she was made<br />
the flagship of the British forces, setting sail<br />
for the South Atlantic just three days after the<br />
Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.<br />
She sailed for the Falklands with an airgroup<br />
of 12 Sea Harrier FRS1 attack aircraft of the<br />
Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, and 18 Sea King<br />
helicopters. A few weeks after sailing, more<br />
aircraft were flown or transported via other<br />
ships to replace some losses and augment<br />
the task force. Hermes's airgroup grew to 16<br />
Sea Harriers, 10 Hawker Siddeley Harrier<br />
GR3s of the Royal Air Force, and 10 Sea<br />
Kings<br />
Sea Harrier FRS Mk1<br />
Air group at the height of the Falklands Conflict:<br />
16 Sea Harrier FRS.1 Fighters<br />
10 Sea King HAS. Helicopters<br />
No. 1 Squadron RAF - 10 Harrier GR.3<br />
After the Falklands War:<br />
After her return home from the Falklands<br />
conflict Hermes entered into a much<br />
needed 4-month refit to her propulsion and<br />
electrical systems, as well as a thorough<br />
cleaning and repainting. When this was<br />
completed in November 1982, she<br />
embarked stores and performed work-ups<br />
exercises. She then took part in NATO<br />
exercises in the North Atlantic, and the<br />
Mediterranean Sea as a commando carrier<br />
16
In the autumn of 1983 she took part in her<br />
last exercise, Ocean Safari, where she<br />
reverted to a strike carrier role, embarking 12<br />
Sea Harriers, 10 RAF Harrier GR.3s and 10<br />
Sea Kings. After this exercise she returned to<br />
the UK for a minor refit and into maintained<br />
reserve in February 1984.<br />
In 1983, when the proposed sale of the<br />
aircraft carrier Invincible to the Royal<br />
Australian Navy was cancelled following<br />
the Falklands War, an offer was made to<br />
sell Hermes and a squadron of Sea<br />
Harriers to Australia. However the new<br />
Hawke Government decided against<br />
purchasing a replacement for HMAS<br />
Melbourne.<br />
Hermes served with the Royal Navy<br />
until 12 April 1984. She was paid off in<br />
1985.<br />
Viraat:<br />
In April 1986 Hermes was towed from<br />
Portsmouth Dockyard to Devonport<br />
Dockyard to be refitted, re activated and<br />
sold to India, decommissioning and<br />
sailing as INS Viraat (R 22) in 1987.<br />
Left HMS Hermes<br />
Ed Morris<br />
(Centre Right) on<br />
HMS Blake 1975<br />
17
Two<br />
Birthdays a<br />
Wedding a Birth<br />
and a<br />
Handshake<br />
Happy<br />
Birthday<br />
Not happy with just getting<br />
Married on their road trip<br />
Les and Izzy celebrated their<br />
Joint 75th birthdays in Mojacar.<br />
<strong>The</strong> couple were joined by<br />
friends including fellow Branch<br />
Members Les and Denise Dewson<br />
and Hamish and Sue McConnachie.<br />
Les & Izzy Tie <strong>The</strong> Knot<br />
Branch Members Les Hughes and Isobel<br />
Strange were married at the Registrar's<br />
Office in Gibraltar.<br />
Long time partners Les and Izzy<br />
finally tied the knot on the 30th<br />
March in Gibraltar at a private<br />
ceremony whilst on a road trip in<br />
Southern Spain.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Branch would like to congratulate<br />
the happy couple and wish them all the<br />
best for their future together.<br />
18
Congratulations<br />
to Ed & Sue<br />
Great Grand<br />
Parents<br />
<strong>The</strong> 7th generation Edward Poole Morris but his first<br />
name is Elija, so it's Elijah Edward Poole Morris. Born<br />
29th March 2022 weighing in at a healthy 8lb 2oz.<br />
Our congratulations to Ed and Sue Morris on<br />
becoming Great Grand Parents to such a beautiful boy.<br />
Bob Becomes a Buff<br />
Branch Members, Ed and Sue<br />
Morris with Great Grandson<br />
Elija<br />
Alicante Branch member Bob Routledge was initiated in<br />
to the Patience Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of<br />
Buffaloes in Torrevieja on the 1st of May. <strong>The</strong> ceremony<br />
was carried out by fellow branch member Hamish<br />
McConnachie. <strong>The</strong> RAOB although not a military charity<br />
has always had close relations with the military and<br />
<strong>veteran</strong>s with many military lodges still in existence. <strong>The</strong><br />
Patience Lodge along with other lodges in the area<br />
recently donated over 3000 euros in support of the<br />
Ukrainian Appeal. <strong>The</strong> lodge also support the Torrevieja<br />
Branch with a annual donation to their Poppy Appeal and<br />
by laying a wreath at the memorial in El Chaparral.<br />
Bob Routledge with Hamish<br />
McConnachie<br />
19
<strong>The</strong> McCrae Shield is<br />
awarded to one of the<br />
Overseas Branches that<br />
during the year has<br />
demonstrated and<br />
achieved the most progress<br />
and has also increased its<br />
Branch membership, and<br />
is of a high standard of<br />
efficiency as determined by<br />
<strong>The</strong> Royal British Legion<br />
Membership Council.<br />
Haig Cup – National<br />
award for a branch<br />
with over 50 members<br />
which during the<br />
previous year has<br />
made the most<br />
progress and is of<br />
high standard and<br />
efficiency.<br />
National Awards for<br />
Alicante Branch and<br />
Spain District North<br />
On May 15th the National Awards Ceremony took place at <strong>The</strong> Royal British<br />
Legion National Conference.<br />
Branch Chairman Mr John Pratt who was at the conference learned first<br />
hand that the Alicante Branch were the Winners of the McCrae Shield for<br />
the third year in succession and also the prestigious Haig Cup for the<br />
second year in succession.<br />
<strong>The</strong> McCrae Shield was collected by Alicante Branch Chairman John Pratt,<br />
and the Haig Cup by Jack Kemp the previous Branch Chairman.<br />
A further award was collected by Pam Twissell-Cross MBE on behalf of<br />
MABS Cancer Support Foundation.<br />
MABS - Cancer Support Foundation were awarded the Knox Shield, in<br />
recognition of its inspirational work supporting those, including <strong>veteran</strong>s,<br />
dealing with cancer.<br />
<strong>The</strong> District Chairman stated that "at District we should all be very proud that<br />
MABS and Alicante Branch have been recognised in <strong>The</strong> Royal British Legion<br />
National Awards for 2022. Well done and many congratulations".<br />
20
New Branch<br />
Community<br />
Support Member<br />
<strong>The</strong> Branch Chairman<br />
and members of the<br />
Branch Committee would<br />
like to welcome Janet to<br />
the team.<br />
Janet Brickhill<br />
Alicante.BCS@rbl.community<br />
<strong>The</strong> Alicante Branch have Caseworkers, Hospital & Housebound visitors and<br />
Telephone Buddies supporting our Beneficiaries here in Spain.<br />
Many people still don’t know that <strong>The</strong> Royal British Legion is here and is active and<br />
ready to offer help and support to any beneficiary who qualifies for help.<br />
Each case is dealt with in full confidentiality on an individual needs’ basis by the<br />
relevantly trained people, and in most cases, we can offer some help or support, if we<br />
can’t help at Branch level then we have fantastic support from District who will either<br />
assist or signpost you to another source of support.<br />
If we can’t help we will assess & consider requests for help for qualifying beneficiaries<br />
or family members, this does not always mean a financial payment, it could be<br />
guidance in where to get information or how to access social services.<br />
We are often asked about things such as how do we get a Blue badge, home help,<br />
meals on wheels etc and we can guide people to where they need to go.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Legion often have liaison between the beneficiary and their Regiment, Ship or Unit<br />
when help is delivered. This can be as simple as safety features in a bathroom, or a<br />
mobility scooter, a red button alarm in the home for peace of mind, a walking frame or<br />
other equipment, the list of things requested and supplied are endless.<br />
If you think you may need help, then please contact Janet Brickhill using the details<br />
above. If you think someone you know may have served and needs some support<br />
encourage them to contact us as we cannot contact anyone directly without their<br />
permission, and we cannot discuss anyone’s Individual circumstances with a third party<br />
until we have their express permission to do so.<br />
21
'We Served'<br />
A Personal<br />
Account Part 3<br />
By<br />
Jack Kemp<br />
<strong>The</strong> Falklands War<br />
Part lll<br />
<strong>The</strong> Royal Regiment of Artillery – Why?<br />
Gunners have always<br />
known that gunnery wins<br />
battles, and the Falklands<br />
campaign was no exception.<br />
<strong>The</strong> destruction of<br />
Argentine morale that<br />
found themselves<br />
experiencing the force of<br />
105mm howitzers firing in<br />
very close support, with<br />
high explosive rounds<br />
landing (at night) 50 meters<br />
in front of our advancing<br />
troops. This was something<br />
that few would have ever<br />
experienced before.<br />
Within 6 months of married life came the breaking<br />
news, on the 2 April 1982 in an act of unprovoked<br />
aggression which shocked the world. Argentina<br />
invaded the Falkland Islands. <strong>The</strong> small garrison of<br />
Royal Marines, assisted by a survey party from HMS<br />
ENDURANCE then working on the Islands, put up a<br />
short resistance, but the odds against them were<br />
overwhelming and after some four hours of fighting the<br />
Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Mr (Sir) Rex Hunt,<br />
ordered them to surrender to prevent casualties. South<br />
Georgia, after another spirited resistance by a<br />
detachment of 20 Royal Marines put ashore by HMS<br />
ENDURANCE, was also occupied by Argentine forces<br />
the next day.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Falkland Islands are British sovereign territory and<br />
the inhabitants, the vast majority of whom are of British<br />
descent, enjoyed democratic institutions and wished to<br />
preserve their links to Britain. <strong>The</strong> Argentine invasion<br />
threatened to destroy their freedom and their way of life.<br />
On the morning of 3 April, the Prime Minister<br />
announced that the Government had decided to send a<br />
Task Force to the South Atlantic. <strong>The</strong> same day, the<br />
United Nations Security Council passed a mandatory<br />
Resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of<br />
Argentine forces from the Islands.<br />
However, despite every effort in the weeks that<br />
followed, the Government failed to achieve a diplomatic<br />
settlement to the crisis, it became clear that Argentina<br />
would not agree to withdraw its forces unless it was<br />
forced to do so. Britain therefore looked to the Task<br />
Force to liberate the Falkland Islands and their<br />
dependencies. 22
Britain therefore looked to the Task Force to liberate the Falkland Islands and their dependencies.<br />
All members of the Task Force responded magnificently to this challenge. What follows was my<br />
recollection of Operation CORPORATE, the Operation to recover the Falkland Islands.<br />
Key Dates:<br />
2 April Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands<br />
5 April First elements of the Task Force sailed from UK<br />
16 April Task Force leaves Ascension for the Falklands<br />
17 April 29 (Corunna) Field Battery recalled from leave<br />
25 April South Georgia taken by British Forces<br />
12 May 5 Infantry Brigade sailed from UK<br />
15 May Raid on Pebble Island, West Falkland<br />
21 May Landings in San Carlos Water, East Falkland<br />
29 May Darwin and Goose Green taken<br />
30 May Mt Kent, Douglas Settlement and Teal Inlet taken<br />
4 June Fitzroy and Bluff Cove taken<br />
9 June British forces firmly established within 10 miles of Port Stanley<br />
11/12 June Mt Longdon, Two Sisters, Mt Harriet and Goat Ridge taken<br />
13/14 June Tumbledown Mountain and Mt William taken.<br />
14 June At dawn white flags flying over Stanley and Formal surrender of all Argentine forces<br />
18 June Argentine POWs moved to the MV Norland and SS Canberra, 29 (Corunna) Field<br />
Battery’s new roll as POW handling.<br />
3/4 July Flight back to RAF Brize Norton<br />
So, as you can see from the above date the<br />
time from invasion to elements of 4th Field<br />
Regiment leaving<br />
Aldershot was very short, no sooner had the<br />
Falklands been invaded the Battery were<br />
recalled from leave on 17 April, a busy week<br />
then ensued with outstanding stores being<br />
delivered, arctic clothing ordered, the new<br />
CLANSMAN communication equipment<br />
issued, small arms zeroed and the vehicles<br />
and 105mm Light Guns being embarked on<br />
the MS EUROPIC FERRY at Southampton.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n we had to wait for confirmation on which<br />
ship we would sail on, it was decided that 29<br />
(Corunna) Field Battery would sail on the MV<br />
Norland, <strong>The</strong> Norland was a P&O roll-on/rolloff<br />
ferry operating between Kingston upon Hull<br />
in Yorkshire, UK, and Rotterdam Europort,<br />
Netherlands, and then Zeebrugge. Once that<br />
was decided we just needed the deployment<br />
date, this was a massive strain on the families,<br />
I can remember it well, on three separate<br />
occasions I left our flat in Aldershot.<br />
saying goodbye, only to return on two<br />
occasions as the date was delayed, on the<br />
morning of 26 April I said farewell to Mary<br />
again, followed by no doubt I will see you in<br />
a couple of hours for another delay, this<br />
time we reported and left, third time lucky<br />
we set sail along with the 2nd Battalion,<br />
Parachute Regiment who we would be<br />
providing fire support with the Lt Gun. <strong>The</strong><br />
Battery Commander (BC) had flown direct<br />
to Ascension Island on 22 April as part of 2<br />
PARA Battle Group.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Task Force itself comprised of more<br />
than 100 ships and over 28,000 men and<br />
women, including 3 Commando Brigade,<br />
reinforced by 2 PARA and 3 PARA of 5<br />
Infantry Brigade.<br />
After a short settling in period on ship the<br />
Battery started on a period of training, daily<br />
routine on the Norland, up 05:30, 06:30<br />
physical training which normally involved<br />
running around the decks of the Norland.
<strong>The</strong> British Army Task Force:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Blues and Royals<br />
Royal Regiment of Artillery<br />
<strong>The</strong> Corps of Royal Engineers<br />
Royal Corps of Signals<br />
2nd Battalion Scots Guards<br />
1st Battalion Welsh Guards<br />
2nd Battalion <strong>The</strong> Parachute Regiment<br />
3rd Battalion <strong>The</strong> Parachute Regiment<br />
1/7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles<br />
Special Air Service Regiment<br />
Army Air Corps<br />
Royal Army Chaplain’s Department<br />
Royal Corps of Transport<br />
Army Medical Services<br />
Royal Army Ordnance Corps<br />
Corps of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers<br />
Corps of Royal Military Police<br />
Army Catering Corps<br />
Women’s Royal Army Corps<br />
After PT we completed skills training<br />
comprising of weapon training, Command<br />
Post Exercises (CPXs) for the signallers<br />
amongst us included myself which included<br />
learning Morse Code, the thought of<br />
completing Fire Missions in Morse Code was<br />
not a pleasant one, thankfully although the<br />
training continued during the 4 week sailing<br />
down south, we never had to put our new<br />
Morse Code skills into use as the new<br />
CLANSMAN radios and normal voice<br />
communications worked well, additional<br />
training included, survival, recognition,<br />
prisoner handling, First Aid. Post skills<br />
training we had more skill at arms training,<br />
weapon training, this also included small arms<br />
firing of the ship and also General Purpose<br />
Machine Gun (GPMG) firing, Carl Gustaf 84<br />
training.<br />
One of the other not so pleasant tasks was to<br />
send our last letter home and place it with our<br />
personal belongings,<br />
Jack (Rear) as No 2 on the 84mm Carl Gustaf<br />
as part of our pre conflict preparation we<br />
had to leave all personal belongings<br />
behind with our kit that was not required<br />
for the conflict,<br />
photographs, letters, rings, the letter was<br />
the hardest as you can imagine having<br />
only married six months prior to sending a<br />
letter to Mary starting with if you are<br />
reading this letter I’m sorry but I will not be<br />
coming home.<br />
Corunna Bty on board the MV Norland<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority of us thought that the<br />
Argentine Forces would withdraw, but as<br />
history now tells this was not the case.<br />
<strong>The</strong> task force headed for Ascension<br />
Island, a British territory in the mid-Atlantic<br />
3,700 nautical miles (4,300 mi) from the<br />
UK and 3,300 nautical miles (3,800 mi)<br />
from the Falkland Islands. So, from<br />
Portsmouth to Falkland Islands 8,100<br />
nautical miles, four weeks sailing time with<br />
a quick stop for replenishments at<br />
Ascension Islands.<br />
24
As we moved closer to the Falkland Islands it<br />
became obvious from our training routine that<br />
diplomatic talks were not going to work, and<br />
the Conflict against Argentine forces was<br />
inevitable.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Task Force arrived at Ascension Island,<br />
soon after dawn on the 7 May. During the<br />
short stop at Ascension the Battery flew half<br />
the Guns ashore and back again from the<br />
Europic Ferry onto the airfield together with<br />
Gun Detachments from the Norland. At the<br />
same time the Battalion practised embarking<br />
in landing craft through the side door of the<br />
Norland. <strong>The</strong> voyage south from Ascension<br />
became busier the further south we went with<br />
the fleet increasing in size as groups of<br />
vessels joined us.<br />
MV Norland San Carlos Water<br />
On the 17 May detailed Orders were given for<br />
the landings on the Falkland Islands. <strong>The</strong><br />
Orders confirmed that the Brigade would land<br />
at SAN CARLOS, final preparations were put<br />
in hand. Air attacks from the Argentine Air<br />
Force were expected, so we were at Defence<br />
Stations, in full fighting order ready to deploy.<br />
Thankfully the weather conditions, gales and<br />
poor visibility prevented the Argentines from<br />
mounting any air attacks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> landings on the Falklands took place<br />
during the night of 21 May 1982, following<br />
diversionary operations including raids by<br />
Special Forces. Under the cover of<br />
darkness, we sailed into San Carlos Water on<br />
the northwest coast of East Falkland. <strong>The</strong><br />
poor weather conditions from the previous<br />
day had passed.<br />
As we sailed into the exclusion zone, the<br />
sea was calm and the sky clear with an<br />
incredibly bright array of stars. <strong>The</strong> night<br />
was lit up by our warships shelling<br />
Argentine positions and the noise was very<br />
impressive and re-assuring. We awaited<br />
our helicopter insertion, holding and Recce<br />
troops first, followed by the remainder with<br />
the Guns and the Command Vehicles<br />
leaving the St Edmund at the same time as<br />
the troops from the MV Norland.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Guns had an<br />
eventful fly-in to an<br />
excellent Gun<br />
Position beside Head<br />
of the Bay House at<br />
the southern end of<br />
San Carlos water.<br />
Mirage enemy<br />
aircraft appeared at<br />
about this time and<br />
the helicopter fly-off<br />
went awry as a<br />
result. However by<br />
mid-afternoon the Chinook helicopter with 3/4<br />
guns were<br />
ton Landrover and Trailer<br />
established.<br />
thankfully the landings were unopposed,<br />
and 29 (Corunna) Field Battery were<br />
established at their first Gun Position in<br />
support of<br />
2 Para ready for the first Fire Mission,<br />
priority was for the outload of 105 Lt Gun<br />
Ammunition and by the end of day one our<br />
Gun Position was fully equipped with<br />
enough ammunition (2,000 105mm rounds)<br />
for the start of the conflict.<br />
Chinook with<br />
105 Lt Gun<br />
underslung<br />
25
For the next five days we witnessed the air<br />
attacks on the fleet in San Carlos Waters by the<br />
Argentine Air Force which started on 21 May,<br />
the Battle of San Carlos ("Bomb Alley") began<br />
once the Argentine Air Force attacked a<br />
detachment of British ships involved in the<br />
landing in the San Carlos Water.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Argentine Air Force sank three British<br />
ships (HMS Coventry, a Type 42 destroyer, and<br />
two frigates, HMS Antelope and HMS Ardent).<br />
Argentine Air Force Mirage 5A Dagger Fighter<br />
<strong>The</strong> bow and stern sections of HMS<br />
Antelope float above the surface in San<br />
Carlos Water after the ship began to<br />
sink on the 24th May 1982 during the<br />
Battle of San Carlos. Two bombs were<br />
dropped on HMS Antelope by<br />
Argintine aircraft, flying at extremely<br />
low level, on 23 May. <strong>The</strong> bombs which<br />
did not explode , lodged in the engine<br />
roomof the ship. One detonated while it<br />
was being defused. <strong>The</strong> explosion<br />
ripped through the ship,which later<br />
broke in half and sank.<br />
All of this could be seen from our Gun Position at Head of the Bay House, with the enemy<br />
aircraft flying over the top of the Gun Position to line up for the dropping of the bombs and<br />
missiles. GBNF “Rest in Peace”<br />
A casualty from HMS Sheffield is rushed by<br />
stretcher to sick bay on board HMS Hermes.<br />
HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentine air<br />
launched Exocet missile on 4th May and sank<br />
the same day. Twenty members of the crew<br />
lost their lives.<br />
Two days previously the British nuclear<br />
powered submarine HMS Conqueror had<br />
torpedoed the Argentine vessel General<br />
Belgrano in which 323 Argentinians died.<br />
Right, 105 Lt Gun position.<br />
By 26 May, the British forces were ready to advance, 45 Commando, 2 PARA and 3<br />
PARA advanced on three axes. <strong>The</strong> terrain was exceptionally difficult and provided<br />
almost no cover or concealment except thick mists and freezing cold rain, our<br />
Observation Parties were embedded with 2 PARA and provided the enemy positions for<br />
us to engage, the Fire Missions were nonstop, in support of 2 PARA, enabling them to<br />
advance.<br />
26
Few vehicles could traverse the ground and<br />
helicopters, particularly the RAF’s Chinook,<br />
were needed to move out Lt Guns,<br />
Ammunition, Command Posts and troops,<br />
this meant that the remainder of the Task<br />
Force walked (or “Yomped” as it was called).<br />
Everybody carried as much extra equipment<br />
as each other could bear, understanding that<br />
the extra belt of GPMG ammunition or Small<br />
Arms ammunition could mean the difference<br />
to life or death.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Battery was moved by helicopter to our<br />
2nd Gun Position in preparation for the<br />
attack on Mount Longdon and Twin Sisters,<br />
during this preparation, the Argentine<br />
155mm Guns kept harassing fire. <strong>The</strong> air<br />
was so clear that we could hear the enemy<br />
Guns fire which allowed us to take cover in<br />
our trenches. <strong>The</strong> enemy shelling did get<br />
close, and we had soldiers struck by<br />
shrapnel on several occasions. This<br />
continued for about three days until<br />
thankfully a RAF Harrier strike destroyed the<br />
enemy Gun Position.<br />
Port Darwin was captured by 2 Para on the<br />
28 May, the next day reinforced by 42<br />
Commando, pushed on to Goose Green.<br />
After an intense fire fight<br />
2 Para had overcome<br />
stiff resistance and<br />
numerical odds of three<br />
to one against. It was in<br />
this action that Lt Col H<br />
Jones won his<br />
posthumous Victoria<br />
Cross.<br />
Two days later advance parties of 5 Infantry<br />
Brigade disembarked at San Carlos and by 8<br />
June the Brigade had moved by air and by<br />
sea to join 3 Commando Brigade which was<br />
established on the mountains west of<br />
Stanley, pre positioned for what would be the<br />
final three phase-attack.<br />
On the night of 11/12 June, 3<br />
Commando Brigade took Mount<br />
Longdon, Two Sisters and Mount<br />
Harriet. <strong>The</strong> next night, 5 Infantry<br />
Brigade took Wireless Hill, Tumbledown<br />
Mountain and Mount William, whilst <strong>The</strong><br />
Welsh Guards captured Sapper Hill.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 105mm Lt Guns from both 4 Field<br />
Regiment and 29 Commando Regiment<br />
fired in support of the above<br />
engagements, as soon as Tumbledown<br />
was taken our 105mm Lt Guns engaged<br />
in support of 1/7th Gurkha Rifles<br />
allowing them to take and capture<br />
Mount William. By first light 2 Para<br />
again supported by our Lt Guns had<br />
captured Wireless Ridge, after Naval<br />
Gunfire Support and diversionary<br />
attacks by the SAS finally broke<br />
Argentine resistance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> enemy vacated Sapper Hill, large<br />
numbers stood about having thrown<br />
down their weapons and surrendered.<br />
This had a snowball effect, and General<br />
Moore was quick in exploiting the<br />
collapse. For some hours before the<br />
official surrender, British forces had<br />
been ordered to fire only in selfdefence.<br />
During the course of the<br />
afternoon White Flags were flying over<br />
Stanley. <strong>The</strong> battel for Port Stanley<br />
was over and the Falklands were once<br />
again free.<br />
27
<strong>The</strong> Argentine Army signed the instrument of<br />
surrender on the 14 June 1982, Argentine<br />
troops were then disarmed and officers<br />
separated from the men (for their own<br />
safety, they were also allowed to keep side<br />
arms).<br />
On the 18 June Argentine and Britain agreed<br />
on the process for repatriation of the POWs<br />
and they boarded the SS Canberra and the<br />
MV Norland bound for Peurto Madryn in the<br />
Argentine, two hospital ships were sent from<br />
Argentina to Port Stanley to collect sick and<br />
wounded POW from British Field Hospitals.<br />
29 (Corunna) Field Battery’s new role was<br />
POW Handling until flight back to RAF Brize<br />
Norton.<br />
During the next few days we established our<br />
new roles and responsibilities looking after<br />
the POWs, this also gave us an opportunity<br />
for some down time, we were all informed<br />
that we could each send one Telegram<br />
Home, that in its self caused an issue, in<br />
1982 the forces had no Casualty Notification<br />
Officers, so all notification of death was done<br />
via telegram, before we left for the Falklands<br />
our families were briefed on this procedure,<br />
so if you can imagine a 17 year old Mary<br />
Lou, in her flat in Aldershot, with a postman<br />
standing at the door saying Mrs Kemp I have<br />
a Telegram for you!!!!!! Something that Mary<br />
Lou still remembers to this day.<br />
Our return flight back to the UK was<br />
soon upon us, a 23 hour flight, first by<br />
C130 from Falkland’s to Ascension<br />
Islands, followed by Tristar from<br />
Ascension to RAF Brize Norton to meet<br />
our families. I will never forget the pilot<br />
announcing we are now flying over the<br />
United Kingdom, welcome home.<br />
In total, 649 Argentine military<br />
personnel, 255 British military<br />
personnel,<br />
and three Falkland Islanders<br />
died during the hostilities.<br />
During the Falklands Conflict<br />
the 29 (Corunna) Field Battery<br />
fired 3,700 rounds and had been<br />
involved in each major battle
Branch<br />
Meetings<br />
As part of our Branch<br />
policy to support local<br />
business our April Meeting<br />
was held at Brown's<br />
Restaurant near El<br />
Campello<br />
(Left)Branch stalwart<br />
Jenny Powell with<br />
guest Chris Epps<br />
Joan Mollins<br />
Wendy<br />
Venters<br />
with John<br />
Candler<br />
Roy and Carol Crisp<br />
(Left) Malcolm Gregory<br />
Denise and Les Dewson<br />
Christine Gardiner with Sue Morris<br />
29
And May's Meeting<br />
at Amigos<br />
In Onil<br />
Branch Chairman John Pratt playing<br />
video games<br />
<strong>The</strong> Prices in deep conversation whilst Jenny Powell<br />
gets in some meditation<br />
Judith Thurston with new BCS Member<br />
Janet Brickhill<br />
Ed Morris explaining just<br />
how big it was<br />
Nice bag Barry, Barry<br />
Thurston waits for the<br />
meeting to start<br />
30
Our June meeting<br />
was held at the<br />
Black Bull on<br />
Castalla<br />
International<br />
31
<strong>The</strong> Video Page<br />
Our Video page is designed to complement and give further information on articles<br />
that appear within the Veteran.<br />
Click Here<br />
Click Here<br />
HMS Hermes returns from the Falklands Falklands 1982<br />
Gibraltar 30th March 2022<br />
Click Here<br />
Click Here<br />
<strong>The</strong> Wedding of Les Hughes and<br />
Isobel Strange<br />
Royal British Legion Parade and<br />
Drumhead Service, Annual Conference,<br />
London. 15th May 2022
Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom<br />
Distinguished Service<br />
Order<br />
(DSO)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Distinguished Service Order is an operational<br />
gallantry award given for highly successful<br />
command and leadership during active operations.<br />
Personnel who perform a further act of such<br />
leadership which would have merited a second award of the DSO would be issued<br />
with a gold bar.<br />
It may be awarded to all ranks of the services. This award is not available<br />
posthumously.<br />
Instituted on 6 September 1886 by Queen Victoria in a Royal Warrant published in<br />
<strong>The</strong> London Gazette on 9 November, the first DSOs awarded were dated 25<br />
November 1886.<br />
<strong>The</strong> order was established to reward individual instances of meritorious or<br />
distinguished service in war.<br />
Since 1993, reflecting the review of the British honours system which recommended<br />
removing distinctions of rank in respect of operational awards, the DSO has been<br />
open to all ranks, with the award criteria redefined as 'highly successful command<br />
and leadership during active operations'. At the same time, the Conspicuous<br />
Gallantry Cross was introduced as the second highest award for gallantry. Despite<br />
some very fierce campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, the DSO has yet to be awarded<br />
to a non-commissioned rank.<br />
<strong>The</strong> DSO had also been awarded by Commonwealth countries but by the 1990s most,<br />
including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, were establishing their own honours<br />
systems and no longer recommended British honours.
Forecast of Events<br />
Alicante Branch meets at 12:00 pm on the 1st<br />
Thursday of the month:<br />
All meetings are followed by a Social Lunch within the local area.<br />
Our weekly casual 'Meet & Greet' takes place at the No Problem<br />
Bar on Thursdays at 15:00. Come along and meet some of the<br />
members.<br />
14th June 12:00 40th Anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands<br />
Service, Memorial Gardens Castalla International.<br />
14th June 13:00 Table top sale in aid of the 2022 Poppy Appeal at the<br />
main car park on Castalla International<br />
25th June Armed Forces Day, Torrevieja.<br />
7th July Branch monthly meeting. <strong>The</strong> International Club El Campello.<br />
4th August Branch monthly meeting. Amigo's Onil.<br />
1st September Branch monthly meeting. <strong>The</strong> International Club El<br />
Campello.<br />
Liberation Day is the national day of the Falkland Islands and<br />
commemorates the liberation of the Falkland Islanders from<br />
Argentine military occupation at the end of the Falklands War on<br />
14 June 1982.<br />
34
Forgive and Forget<br />
A British officer spotted a busker in the London Underground with a sign that<br />
read: "VETERAN SOLDIER OF THE FALKLANDS WAR." <strong>The</strong> officer<br />
thought, "Poor chap, I was there and it was awful!" Feeling sorry for<br />
a fellow <strong>veteran</strong>, he took £20 out of his wallet and gave it to the<br />
busker. <strong>The</strong> officer was then greeted with a hearty: "Gracias,<br />
Señor!"<br />
Super Dooper Paratrooper<br />
MILITARY HUMOUR<br />
We have all<br />
met him<br />
His men would<br />
follow him<br />
anywhere, but<br />
only out of<br />
curiosity.<br />
He is depriving<br />
a village<br />
somewhere of<br />
an idiot<br />
During the Falklands conflict four<br />
paratroopers each from England,<br />
Scotland, Wales and Ireland, were<br />
on a plane about to jump when they<br />
realized there was only one<br />
serviceable parachute.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Welsh paratrooper downed a<br />
glass of rum, said "For Wales" and<br />
jumped without the parachute.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Irishman downed a glass of<br />
Jameson's, said "For freedom!" and<br />
jumped without the parachute.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Scotsman downed a glass of<br />
whiskey, said "For Scotland!" and<br />
threw the Englishman out.<br />
A general and a captain walking<br />
down the street passed a number of<br />
soldiers, and each time one of them<br />
saluted the officers, the captain<br />
saluted back and said, "<strong>The</strong> same to<br />
you." "Why do you always say that?"<br />
the general asked the captain. "I used<br />
to be a private, too," said the captain,<br />
"and I know just what they are<br />
thinking."<br />
Odds or Evans<br />
A new officer was assigned to a submarine, a<br />
boyhood dream come true. He was trying to<br />
impress a knot of sailors with his expertise on<br />
trim control and surfacing, all taught in 'Sub<br />
School'. One of them cut him off quickly and<br />
said, "Listen, 'sir', it's real simple. Add the<br />
number of times we dive to the number of<br />
times we surface. Divide that number by two.<br />
If the result doesn't come out even, don't<br />
open the hatch."<br />
A paratrooper on his first jump stares at his<br />
parachute doubtfully. "What should I do if it<br />
doesn't open," he inquires of his Sergeant<br />
who is handing them out.<br />
"Just bring it back, lad," comes the smooth<br />
answer, "and I'll replace it."
Patriotic Soldiers<br />
Two old men, Bill and Joe, were sitting on a porch reminiscing about the Falklands.<br />
"It was a real struggle," said Bill.<br />
"I know what you mean," said Joe."I remember I was struggling all the way. I fought<br />
and I fought, and I fought, and when I thought I was tired out, I found the strength<br />
to carry on fighting another day."<br />
"Yup."<br />
"But it didn't matter, because in the end they made me join the Army anyway."<br />
Most Dangerous Comments<br />
A private saying “I learned this in<br />
basic training…”<br />
A lieutenant saying “Based on my<br />
experience…”<br />
A captain saying “I was just<br />
thinking…”<br />
When backtalk is still funny:<br />
As a group of soldiers stood in<br />
formation at an Army Barracks ,<br />
the Sergeant said, “All right! All<br />
you idiots fall out.”<br />
As the rest of the squad wandered<br />
away, one soldier remained at<br />
attention. Sergeant walked over<br />
until he was eye-to-eye with him.<br />
<strong>The</strong> soldier smiled and said, “Sure<br />
were a lot of ’em, huh, Sergeant?”<br />
Center of the Universe<br />
How many pilots does it take to<br />
screw in a light bulb?<br />
Only one. He holds the bulb and<br />
then the world revolves around<br />
him to screw it in.<br />
<strong>The</strong> other day a police officer<br />
pulls over a man driving a bus<br />
when he walks on up to the side<br />
windows and he sees 20 penguins<br />
in there.<br />
<strong>The</strong> officer questions the man<br />
"sir, are these your penguins?"<br />
<strong>The</strong> man replies "yep, they are<br />
my pet penguins" <strong>The</strong> officer then says "sir, I am going to need<br />
you to take those penguins to the zoo immediately!"<br />
<strong>The</strong> man says "ok" to the officer and he drives off towards the<br />
zoo.<br />
<strong>The</strong> following day the officer pulls over the same bus and is<br />
shocked to see the same 20 penguins inside all<br />
wearing sunglasses.<br />
<strong>The</strong> officer looks sternly at the driver and says "I<br />
thought I ordered you to take these penguins to the<br />
zoo? "<strong>The</strong> man replies "I did, and today we are all<br />
going to the beach!"<br />
Credit for the cartoons on these pages goes to<br />
my friend and comrade Kelvin (Yonk}<br />
Hunter, the Isle of Wight Highlander. CFGB
Poets<br />
Corner<br />
2 Para, June 82..... on ,<br />
It was some show......<br />
Better, than Dante's inferno.<br />
Bright colours.....,<br />
Filled the night, as....<br />
Death.... filled the air,<br />
With a living, screaming rainbow !<br />
Swathes of fiery light plucked,<br />
Holes, in mortal souls.<br />
While banshees .....eerie cries!<br />
Heralded the end, for some.<br />
While Paratroopers fought.<br />
As shells and bombs rained down.<br />
Some....were just thrown aside,<br />
tossed, .....in the air.<br />
To land and lie, and briefly laugh.....<br />
Before rising up,<br />
to join in deaths dance, once more.<br />
And as suddenly as it begun.<br />
Once more Silence......<br />
Filled the land,<br />
as dawn, begun to break.<br />
For the Valkyries .....<br />
had filled their quota.<br />
On yon.....last<br />
vista....<br />
Way down South!<br />
Just before Stanley, at place.....<br />
Called<br />
Wireless Ridge.<br />
Giajl © Jim Love<br />
Nowhere to run & Nowhere to hide<br />
....( RIP )<br />
What I Miss Most<br />
As part of our Falklands<br />
40 celebration<br />
poets corner features the<br />
poems of Branch Member<br />
and Falklands Veteran<br />
Jim 'Jock' Love.<br />
I miss those crisp clear nights, when the frost glistens in the<br />
moonlight.<br />
I miss those lonely exposed hills, lashed by the rain.<br />
I miss the young and innocent faces, some of whom we’ll<br />
never see again.<br />
I miss the laughter and the crack.<br />
I miss their morbid humour, the childish pranks and unspoken<br />
laws.<br />
I miss the sense of belonging, that unique bond.<br />
I miss youth at its best, though I’ll grow old, unlike the rest.<br />
What I miss most?<br />
I miss the lads.<br />
On Far Off Lands.....<br />
<strong>The</strong>y'll always...... be.<br />
A little part, of me.<br />
That's been,.... left behind.<br />
Whether, added ....to the water.<br />
Or buried, in the mud.<br />
Perhaps..... reverent, in the wind.<br />
Or ....<br />
a small piece, encapsulated...<br />
Within,....<br />
My brain.<br />
Which will forever rest.<br />
As long,.... as I remain.<br />
A memory......... of a,<br />
Time,.... when,<br />
I once was, a warrior!<br />
Giajl © Jim Love<br />
37
<strong>The</strong> Alicante Branch<br />
of the<br />
Royal British Legion<br />
"Service not Self "<br />
Visit our website at<br />
http://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/alicante