Features

What are your memories?

chris chivers
it is a really great loss to all of the peoiple who died in the flakands

Gary Stroud
I remember two closely linked events. The first was the helecopter that brought back some very badly wounded troops to Canberra. The wounded were taken down to the hospital set up under the flight deck and while the "cab" was on the deck, Canberra's civilian crew (mostly the stewards I believe) were loading ration packs up to the flight deck and out to the "cab" for transport ashore so as it was not an empty run.The second event concerns the same helecopter. As it left the flight deck the flight deck crew thought there had been a leak from the "cab's" hydraulics and took steps to wash away the slippery oil, the pilot was warned that he may have a problem over the radio. To the surprise of the flight deck party the oil did not emulsify and turn white with the oil dispersant but stayed red. At this point they realised that what they had taken for hydraulic oil was in fact blood that had, literally, been running out of the helecopter that had brought back the wounded.I was one of Naval Party 1710 on board and I would like to thank those of Canberra's civilian crew who worked alongside the service personnell throughout the conflict.

Blair Yorke
I was only 11 at the time of the conflict, away in Derbyshire on a school trip. I remember nearly of the footage,and the feeling of unbridled patriotism I hold till this day, of our brave soldiers! Sadly now, where in this country does that remain? We used to be Great Britain! now a mere shadow of what used to be. That makes me so sad.

Rick Bird
A time of remembering and reflecting! I was part of the task force that sailed from southampton on a bright red Townsend Thoreson ferry and thought there would be no way we would go to war on such a target! I was part of a Gazelle helicopter repair and servicing team that were late arriving at the docks and were hurridly boarded onto the MV Baltic Ferry, it wasnt until we were at sea was it realised that the aircraft on this ship were in fact Scout helicopters. This meant that the Scout team had Gazelles on their ship.....no tools fitted and all servicing publications were on on the wrong ships....was this put right as soon as it was discovered? NO. We sailed all the way to the islands making do with what we could. Once on the Falkland the right people were reunited with the right aircraft.It (the conflict) was an experience that I shall never forget, I am proud to have been part of such an accomplishment and have many memories of it all, both good and bad.On my safe return to UK I contacted my mother and told her I was back safe and well, she moaned about not being told that I was going and she fretted about me being away even though I was back home, I hate to think of the state she would have been in had I told her that I was going to war!I wish all veterans of the conflict all the best at this special time and thank you all for being part of such a great team. My thoughts are with the families of those that didn't return. Bless you all.

Peter Travis
Aged only 17 on HMS Glasgow.When down below in the engine room we where hit by a 1000bl bome which went stright thougth the ship,only feet away from me, That moment in my life changed me for ever, and I'm thankfull for that and the people that i met when posted to Port stanly.