The veteran Issue 6

The Argentine Army signed the instrument of
surrender on the 14 June 1982, Argentine
troops were then disarmed and officers
separated from the men (for their own
safety, they were also allowed to keep side
arms).
On the 18 June Argentine and Britain agreed
on the process for repatriation of the POWs
and they boarded the SS Canberra and the
MV Norland bound for Peurto Madryn in the
Argentine, two hospital ships were sent from
Argentina to Port Stanley to collect sick and
wounded POW from British Field Hospitals.
29 (Corunna) Field Battery’s new role was
POW Handling until flight back to RAF Brize
Norton.
During the next few days we established our
new roles and responsibilities looking after
the POWs, this also gave us an opportunity
for some down time, we were all informed
that we could each send one Telegram
Home, that in its self caused an issue, in
1982 the forces had no Casualty Notification
Officers, so all notification of death was done
via telegram, before we left for the Falklands
our families were briefed on this procedure,
so if you can imagine a 17 year old Mary
Lou, in her flat in Aldershot, with a postman
standing at the door saying Mrs Kemp I have
a Telegram for you!!!!!! Something that Mary
Lou still remembers to this day.
Our return flight back to the UK was
soon upon us, a 23 hour flight, first by
C130 from Falkland’s to Ascension
Islands, followed by Tristar from
Ascension to RAF Brize Norton to meet
our families. I will never forget the pilot
announcing we are now flying over the
United Kingdom, welcome home.
In total, 649 Argentine military
personnel, 255 British military
personnel,
and three Falkland Islanders
died during the hostilities.
During the Falklands Conflict
the 29 (Corunna) Field Battery
fired 3,700 rounds and had been
involved in each major battle