The veteran Issue 6

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'We Served' A Personal Account Part 3 By Jack Kemp The Falklands War Part lll The Royal Regiment of Artillery – Why? Gunners have always known that gunnery wins battles, and the Falklands campaign was no exception. The destruction of Argentine morale that found themselves experiencing the force of 105mm howitzers firing in very close support, with high explosive rounds landing (at night) 50 meters in front of our advancing troops. This was something that few would have ever experienced before. Within 6 months of married life came the breaking news, on the 2 April 1982 in an act of unprovoked aggression which shocked the world. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. The small garrison of Royal Marines, assisted by a survey party from HMS ENDURANCE then working on the Islands, put up a short resistance, but the odds against them were overwhelming and after some four hours of fighting the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Mr (Sir) Rex Hunt, ordered them to surrender to prevent casualties. South Georgia, after another spirited resistance by a detachment of 20 Royal Marines put ashore by HMS ENDURANCE, was also occupied by Argentine forces the next day. The Falkland Islands are British sovereign territory and the inhabitants, the vast majority of whom are of British descent, enjoyed democratic institutions and wished to preserve their links to Britain. The Argentine invasion threatened to destroy their freedom and their way of life. On the morning of 3 April, the Prime Minister announced that the Government had decided to send a Task Force to the South Atlantic. The same day, the United Nations Security Council passed a mandatory Resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Islands. However, despite every effort in the weeks that followed, the Government failed to achieve a diplomatic settlement to the crisis, it became clear that Argentina would not agree to withdraw its forces unless it was forced to do so. Britain therefore looked to the Task Force to liberate the Falkland Islands and their dependencies. 22
Britain therefore looked to the Task Force to liberate the Falkland Islands and their dependencies. All members of the Task Force responded magnificently to this challenge. What follows was my recollection of Operation CORPORATE, the Operation to recover the Falkland Islands. Key Dates: 2 April Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands 5 April First elements of the Task Force sailed from UK 16 April Task Force leaves Ascension for the Falklands 17 April 29 (Corunna) Field Battery recalled from leave 25 April South Georgia taken by British Forces 12 May 5 Infantry Brigade sailed from UK 15 May Raid on Pebble Island, West Falkland 21 May Landings in San Carlos Water, East Falkland 29 May Darwin and Goose Green taken 30 May Mt Kent, Douglas Settlement and Teal Inlet taken 4 June Fitzroy and Bluff Cove taken 9 June British forces firmly established within 10 miles of Port Stanley 11/12 June Mt Longdon, Two Sisters, Mt Harriet and Goat Ridge taken 13/14 June Tumbledown Mountain and Mt William taken. 14 June At dawn white flags flying over Stanley and Formal surrender of all Argentine forces 18 June Argentine POWs moved to the MV Norland and SS Canberra, 29 (Corunna) Field Battery’s new roll as POW handling. 3/4 July Flight back to RAF Brize Norton So, as you can see from the above date the time from invasion to elements of 4th Field Regiment leaving Aldershot was very short, no sooner had the Falklands been invaded the Battery were recalled from leave on 17 April, a busy week then ensued with outstanding stores being delivered, arctic clothing ordered, the new CLANSMAN communication equipment issued, small arms zeroed and the vehicles and 105mm Light Guns being embarked on the MS EUROPIC FERRY at Southampton. Then we had to wait for confirmation on which ship we would sail on, it was decided that 29 (Corunna) Field Battery would sail on the MV Norland, The Norland was a P&O roll-on/rolloff ferry operating between Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire, UK, and Rotterdam Europort, Netherlands, and then Zeebrugge. Once that was decided we just needed the deployment date, this was a massive strain on the families, I can remember it well, on three separate occasions I left our flat in Aldershot. saying goodbye, only to return on two occasions as the date was delayed, on the morning of 26 April I said farewell to Mary again, followed by no doubt I will see you in a couple of hours for another delay, this time we reported and left, third time lucky we set sail along with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment who we would be providing fire support with the Lt Gun. The Battery Commander (BC) had flown direct to Ascension Island on 22 April as part of 2 PARA Battle Group. The Task Force itself comprised of more than 100 ships and over 28,000 men and women, including 3 Commando Brigade, reinforced by 2 PARA and 3 PARA of 5 Infantry Brigade. After a short settling in period on ship the Battery started on a period of training, daily routine on the Norland, up 05:30, 06:30 physical training which normally involved running around the decks of the Norland.
Page 1 and 2: March 2022 - May 2022 Issue 6 The V
Page 3 and 4: Hamish McConnachie Alicante Branch
Page 5 and 6: Military awards, medals and decorat
Page 7 and 8: On the 40th anniversary of the Falk
Page 9 and 10: Less than six months before the con
Page 11 and 12: A daylight attack on Mount William
Page 13 and 14: Branch Chairman John Pratt gave a s
Page 15 and 16: 'We Served' Ed Morris Alicante Bran
Page 17 and 18: In the autumn of 1983 she took part
Page 19 and 20: Congratulations to Ed & Sue Great G
Page 21: New Branch Community Support Member
Page 25 and 26: As we moved closer to the Falkland
Page 27 and 28: Few vehicles could traverse the gro
Page 29 and 30: Branch Meetings As part of our Bran
Page 31 and 32: Our June meeting was held at the Bl
Page 33 and 34: Military awards and decorations of
Page 35 and 36: Forgive and Forget A British office
Page 37 and 38: Poets Corner 2 Para, June 82..... o

The veteran Issue 6

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