THE FALKLANDS WAR - Post Conflict - Think Defence

There is a persistent myth that the Argentine forces were a bunch of frightened, underfed and ill equipped conscripts with no clue of their business. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their equipment in many cases was superb, in part, much better than that enjoyed by British forces.

Defensive positions were well sited and constructed, they had made excellent use of visual deceptions and the radar and ECM equipment were not only extensive but exceptionally well operated as well. Many were volunteers, thought right was on their side and fought with great skill, determination and gallantry. They were not short of most things, there were ample rations, ammunition and equipment, it was just poorly distributed which meant there were many local shortages outside Port Stanley, especially of food. However, the rift between the officer and other ranks was enormous, logistics was inconsistent and at the end of the day, they had no campaign plan because quite simply, they did not expect such a resolute response. The best soldiers on the planet, sailing 8,000 miles across open ocean, supported by equally fine air and sea forces, and with firm intent, fighting skill and centuries of tradition behind them was simply not within their range of expectations.

Following the surrender of the Argentine forces, it was now time to consolidate and prevent a rematch.

Although Argentina had accepted the Instrument of Ceasefire they only recognised this locally, there was no wider recognition of the cessation of hostilities so although they were down for the count the British government recognised that the nature of the unfinished business needed sensible and sturdy consolidation.

Unfortunately, the scale of the other problems facing both the victorious military forces and civilian inhabitants of the Falkland Islands were immense, there were many priorities, every single one of them number one.

Disposal of the detritus of war, getting the defeated Argentine forces home safe and well, restoring damaged or destroyed utilities, keeping everyone fed and watered, rotating British forces out of theatre, satisfying the demands of the world’s media and basically getting the islanders back to some semblance of normality all competed with rehabilitating the airport.

That said, commanders were entirely focussed on the airport facilities, it might have been competing with other resource demands but it was generally beating them as well. Unlike the Argentine forces, we recognised the strategic value of air defence from the islands.

For several weeks, there was also a real fear that elements of the Argentine forces might try an armed publicity stunt.

If many considered the conduct of the Argentine forces to very good during the conflict, towards the end, and after, they somewhat spoiled that.

A vast quantity and variety of mines had been laid and not just in out of the way locations. The hazard to civilians (especially children) and service personnel was enormous. On June 14th Major Roddy McDonald, the OC of 59 Independent Squadron Royal Engineers managed to track down the Argentine chief engineer, one Lt. Col Dorago, in order to assess the scale of the mine problem. Other personnel from 59 joined in, a warning was broadcast on local radio and through the military chain of command, and fourteen selected Argentine volunteers were utilised to complete the recce.

By the end of the day, the full realisation of the scale of the Argentine mining and booby trapping efforts had become apparent.

It was staggering.

They simply did not know how many or where mines had been laid, records were incomplete or incorrect, markers had been removed and mines had shifted in peat and deep sand. The problem was made worse because the Argentine chain of command allowed almost any unit to lay mines, marines, artillery and all manner of infantry units, not just the professional combat engineers. After a number of casualties the clearance effort changed to one of ‘marking only’

The POW volunteer force of Argentine combat engineers expanded, formed a close working relationship with British forces and received special privileges and pay not enjoyed by other POW’s. A joint guard of honour and bugler were provided for the burials of Argentine soldiers discovered during the clearance operations and in thanks for the rapid medevac and treatment of an injured Argentine member of the demining team they paid for and cooked a barbecue for British members of the team and OC of 9 Parachute Squadron RE.

9 PARA left for the UK on the 17th July and were replaced in the mine clearance role by 69 Ghurka Independent Field Squadron RE.

There was a lot of sympathy/pity for the prisoners of war but that understandably evaporated when the scale of booby trapping and vindictive sabotage became known. Argentine forces had deliberately set many complex booby traps in the latter stages of the conflict in civilian houses and places of business. These were often linked to attractive items like boots, binoculars or thermos flasks and many of the discarded munitions were also booby trapped, some even attached to propane cylinders. Water supply in Port Stanley was always a problem, Argentine forces even turned all the taps on in houses they occupied and opened fire hydrants. Desalination equipment was lost on the Atlantic Conveyor, as well as tentage for five thousand personnel, exacerbating the problems. 9 Squadron and 61 Field Support Squadron RE managed to get water supplies running after four days and this was supplemented with water dracones towed into Port Stanley harbour.

In addition, to mines and booby traps, an equally huge problem was that of unexploded munitions of every kind. Everything from small arms ammunition to napalm canisters to anti-aircraft missiles to flares were strewn around the area, half opened and often poorly accounted for.

‘Dumdum’ small arms ammunition was found in addition to a large stock of SA-7 MANPAD missiles fresh off the plane from Col. Gadaffi. Grenades, flares, rockets, cannon shells, mortar bombs, small arms ammunition, aircraft bombs, missiles, napalm, and artillery ammunition all needed to be tackled. Unboxed ammunition was recovered to the UK but anything else was made safe and destroyed by a combined Royal Navy, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Engineers and Royal Air Force team of EOD specialists.

Repatriating Argentine personnel and maintaining good order was made worse by the gulf between their officers and other ranks, a gulf, generally speaking, filled with a deep dislike bordering on hatred. This was plainly a result of the huge difference in the way they were both treated; officers had different, and larger, rations packs for example, including whiskey and cigarettes. The Globe Store was burned down by Argentine soldiers because they thought it was where their officers were accommodated and but for officers being allowed to retain their side arms, many might not have made it home.

For the most part, Argentine forces were well beaten and looking forward to going home, some weren’t though, the marines, for example, marched to the weapons surrender point and promptly burned their colours lest they become a souvenir in some Officers Mess in the UK.

Indeed, there were a number of slight lapses of UK military discipline as the acquisition of trophy’s and venting steam threatened to spoil the atmosphere. As Jeremy Edmund Shackleton Larken, British officer commanded HMS Fearless during Falklands War, 1982 commented that there was a;

a general acquisitive approach to liberating Argentine equipment

This was quickly dealt with.

The area of Port Stanley, a town that normally supported about 800 people, was no home to ten thousand POW’s, about five thousand UK military personnel, and of course, the permanent residents.

And all this was before the problems of the airport had been addressed.

There were three broad objectives for the British Forces;

ONE; Re-establish basic air operations at Stanley Airport such that they could support Harrier and Hercules aircraft. This would allow much of the task force, especially the aircraft carriers, to return to the UK, and replacement forces to arrive quickly.

TWO; Extend and reinforce Stanley Airport to allow the Harriers to depart and be replaced with Phantoms.

THREE; Select a suitable location for a large military airfield that could support all current and future combat and transport aircraft.

RAF Stanley – Phase One

Stanley Airport, formerly BAM Malvinas, was in an equally poor state as Port Stanley.

The image below reportedly taken the day after the surrender, shows Stanley Airport

Day after surrender.

Prisoners were an added complication around the airport in the days after surrender. Many of them were temporarily accommodated at the airport, it was an obvious place, easily contained, safe, yet surrounded by their own mines and with only one means of access before Boxer Bridge was built by 25 Field Squadron Royal Engineers in 1983.

Surrender

Clearance

The first task to conduct a survey and make safe any exploded munitions, booby traps and mines, of which there were plenty.

This task would fall to both the Royal Engineers and Royal Air Force EOD teams. No.1 Bomb Disposal Group RAF would play a considerable part in clearing Stanley Airport of unexploded munitions but that had a difficult start to the campaign. On the 27th of match they boarded RFA Sir Bedivere with all their vehicles and equipment but when loading had completed, were ordered off again. Another four man team clearing unexploded cluster bomblets from the West Freugh range in Scotland had been killed and the embarked team were disembarked in order to complete the task. The team would eventually join the task force by being flown to Ascension Island to catch up with Sir Bedivere. The team cleared munitions in San Carlos and Goose Green, especially the leaking napalm cannisters and mines at Goose Green. By the time the team had finished its deployment, it had cleared over 900 unexploded bombs, numerous mines and booby traps and tonnes of napalm.

The Argentine aircraft that were left at Stanley Airport were also cleared of booby traps, munitions removed and to prevent accidents by the ever present ‘trophy hunters’ the ejection seats were removed (firing the ejection seats was also used to initiate booby traps)

Once made safe, aircraft were then moved to an assembly area for eventual disposal

A number of PoW’s volunteered for removing none explosive debris and sweeping the runway after they assumed that such endeavours would earn them a priority ticket home, quite how they came to this belief has never been determined!

A number of Exocet missiles were also found, the canisters which would be used later.

Making Good the Runway

During the conflict, the runway was cratered by 5 bombs. The first and deepest was from Black Buck I and the others were much shallower, from retarded bombs dropped by the Sea Harriers/Harrier GR.3a’s. There were also over 1,000 shallow scabs from rockets, BL 755 bomblets, 4.5” shells and cannon fire.

59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (with a troop from 20 Field Squadron) filled in three craters and about 500 of the scabs on the Northern half of the runway, the repairs were made by using magnesium phosphate cement called Bostik 276.

The thousand pound bomb craters on the runway were backfilled and a quantity of AM-2 repair matting used to cover them. It was also discovered that Argentine engineers had used filled oil drums to fill the Vulcan crater, these were removed

his allowed the runway to be used for planned Hercules flights.

The first RAF Hercules landed on the 24th of June 1982, ten days after the surrender, a magnificent, and generally unrecognised achievement.

Harrier Operations and Airport Development

Using PSA-1 from the Port San Carlos FOB and a quantity of AM-2 matting left at the airport a short parallel runway, to the north of the main runway, was also created for use by Harriers.

The RAF Harrier GR.3 detachment, armed with Sidewinders, went ashore to Port Stanley Airport on the 4th of July and operated in the air defence role. A number of Rhubb shelters were installed to provide sheltered maintenance spaces but the weather was so severe, a number were dislodged and damaged aircraft.

11 Field Squadron Royal Engineers also supported the repair effort and as can be imagined, the tasks were extremely varied. Not widely known is that in order to create a drainage culvert, the engineers used a pair of empty Exocet missile containers.

In addition, to the runway, the airport support facilities were enhanced greatly and the sign was changed as well.

Chavez praises defence cooperation with Argentina, making Mercosur a military power block

President Hugo Chavez underlined the significance of the defence cooperation memorandum signed between Venezuela and Argentina which is part of “the necessary strategic integration of the armed forces in the framework of Mercosur and turning the block into a military power”.

The Venezuelan president at the military ceremony The Venezuelan president at the military ceremony

“It is an important strategic alliance to lift the immense offensive, dissuasive capacity from the block which begins at the Caribbean and reaches Patagonia and the Argentine Malvinas Islands, which are now our Islas Malvinas, they are now a regional claim”, underlined Chavez.

Last Friday the defence ministers from Argentina and Venezuela signed in the port of La Guaira on board Argentina’s tall ship ARA Libertad a memorandum of understanding which refers to the training, capability and military manufacturing technology as part of the “necessary strategic integration of the Armed Forces in the framework of Mercosur”.

During a military ceremony over the weekend at the Military University, Chavez also underlined the significance of Venezuela‘s incorporation to Mercosur, the block which he also described as “a military power in the region”.

Chavez boasted that despite repeated efforts from the Venezuelan bourgeois and the Paraguayan congress, “they missed the shot because now we are the Armed Forces of Mercosur: a great economic and geo-political impact for the region to help defend our resources, combat colonialism”.

However the Venezuelan leader also spoke about the need to consolidate the region as a democratic, anti-colonialist space of democracies where the peoples prevail.

“We must consolidate a great peace zone in the Caribbean and in South America; a zone of democracy where never again will there be military coups, or invasion or imperialisms, but also a space where only our peoples in their most pure democratic expression and through legitimate governments can decide their future”.

CFK announces pay rise for the military and plays the nationalistic tune

The New Argentine Junta

Argentine President Cristina Fernández, CFK, announced Tuesday evening a pay rise for all military personnel, effective July first during the Armed Forces annual dinner at the Libertador Building, in the Ministry of Defence.

Outside world is imposing severe restrictions on Argentina said Cristina Fernandez Outside world is imposing severe restrictions on Argentina said Cristina Fernandez

The president also called on all Argentines, with or without uniform, to be prepared for the “severe difficulties and restrictions which the outside world is imposing on Argentina”.

Although the amount of the increase was not revealed , she said that it will be around the hike that state workers received a few months ago, which stood at 21%.

“During next week, we will sign the decree for the Armed Forces personnel salary increase” said the head of state before making a toast for “the people and the motherland”.

In her speech to the Joint Forces command, the commanders of the three services, ministers, officials from the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary, President Cristina Fernandez thanked the Armed forces for their “inclusion task contribution together with other areas of government such as the Ministries of Security and Social Development”.

“You are acting in our shanty towns precisely to participate actively not in internal security affairs, which are banned under the Defence Bill, but in tasks which every Argentine, with or without uniform is obliged to if he has a good heart”, added the president.

Likewise there was special mention for the military support and logistics in those areas from metropolitan Buenos Aires recently hit by a tornado and in the south of the country when the eruption of a volcano covered large areas with ashes.

The Argentine president also referred to the current international crisis arguing that “in a difficult world, a complex world that not too long from now is going to demand from all Argentines, I reiterate that with or without uniforms, the best of us so that the country can overcome, as it has been doing, the very severe difficulties and restrictions which the outside world is imposing on us”.

The president and the military chiefs shared the main table with Vice president Amado Boudou, cabinet chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina; the president of the Lower House Julian Domínguez and the ministers of Defence, Arturo Puricelli, Federal Planning Julio De Vido and Interior and Transport Florencio Randazzo.

Hot air about the Falkland Islands reaches the UN

By John J. Metzler (*) At the time of the 1982 invasion, Argentina was run by a military junta who unwisely played the nationalism card and seized the islands 300 miles off the coast of South America.

The Argentine generals figured this would be an easy win and a political boost for a teetering government. They picked on the wrong guy, or in this case woman, and soon Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government struck back with resolute fury; a Royal Navy task force was assembled from 8,000 miles away and recaptured the atoll.

Today the salvos are not lethal but rhetorical. President Christina Fernandez Kirchner and her entourage descended upon New York on “Tango 01” to bring a high profile political road show to a normally somnolent UN committee. An impassioned plea by President Kirchner, demanded diplomatic discussions with Britain on the future of the Malvinas.

Regarding the “Question of the Malvinas Islands,” a consensus resolution backed by Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela along with Chile states that “the only way to put an end this special and particular situation is a negotiated settlement of the dispute existing between the governments of the two countries and requests the parties to consolidate the process of dialogue and cooperation.”

Chile’s Vice Foreign Minister Fernando Schmidt advised the committee, “For the Latin American and Caribbean nations, it is important for the question of the Malvinas Islands to be settled once and for all.”

Later comments from the sublime to the ridiculous saw Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Mainland China, Nicaragua and Syria speak in support of Argentina’s position.

But is there more than bruised nationalism? Sovereignty over the Falklands, and the farther away South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime exclusive economic zones would allow Argentina access to huge fishing rights as well as potentially rich petroleum resources.

The Falkland Islands are home to 3.000 islanders who resolutely wish to remain British; the islands remain a self-governing British territory with their own constitution, flag and Anglo traditions, which have nothing to do with Argentina. The British stress there was no displaced indigenous population, nor did an assimilated population come to speak English after the British seized the largely uninhabited islands in 1833.

Relative proximity of the rocky island atoll to the Argentine mainland (about 300 miles) does not a case of sovereignty make. If one considers so many geographical anomalies; the Channel Islands, a stone’s throw off the coast of Normandy in France, remain British though here with a very strong French cultural/linguistic influence. Or the ethnically divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where two very distinct ethnic and linguistic communities live in separation. But belongs neither to Greece nor Turkey.

Modern Argentina is a democracy which sadly still suffers from the economic undertow of state socialism, endemic strikes, and the political afterglow of the Peron era. Still Cristina Fernandez Kirchner’s government knows how to grandstand and playing the Falkland/Malvinas card works well politically back in Buenos Aires.

As the Buenos Aires Herald columnist Martin Gambarotta added editorially, “The President’s taste for the spectacular, if anything, has forced Britain to hit back with some rhetorical fireworks of its own.”

Indeed Britain has announced that the Falkland Islanders (all 1,600 voters among them) will hold a referendum on their status next year. But as Mike Summers, a Member of the Legislative Assembly told the UN that “unwelcome and unsubstantiated claim on our country by Argentina remains and is pursued with increasing vigor.” He added, “Falkland Islanders are comfortable with our-post colonial relationship with the UK. We have the right to move away from that relationship if we so wish.”

Summers, a sixth generation islander, warned that “Argentina might like to air-brush us out of existence.” Not likely, but the Falklands/Malvinas present an emotional and nationalistic rallying point to escalate political tensions in South America.

(*) John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for WorldTribune.com.

Cristina Fernandez calls for an end to colonialism and blast UN Security Council

In a strong speech claiming sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas issue addressing the UN Decolonization Committee, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez called on the UK “to leave this history of colonialism behind and start building a new history based on dialogue” but at the same time blasted the recent announcement of a referendum in the Islands do decide on their political status.

A numerous delegation accompanied the Argentine president at her presentation before the C24 claiming the Falklands

“We are not asking them to acknowledge that the Malvinas Islands belong to Argentina. We are only asking that we sit down and talk. Can anyone in this time refuse to engage in dialogue?” asked the Argentine leader in a rare appearance before one of many UN committees normally covered by mid ranking diplomats.

The Argentine leader began her speech insisting “it was the dictatorship who decided to unilaterally begin the Malvinas War without asking Argentines for their opinion” and added that she did not stand there alone, since she had the support of most Argentine political parties with congressional representation, some of which “strongly oppose my Government, but even so they believe that colonialism and the defence of sovereignty supersedes that”.

The speech on Thursday June 14 coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the end of the Malvinas war triggered by the invasion and occupation of the Falklands by Argentine forces in April 1982, which were ousted by a Task Force sent by then PM Margaret Thatcher.

“I’m here to ask for the humanitarian right. Our country is a human rights champion. Few nations have the kind of immigration freedom that we have. Few nations open their doors to citizens from all over the world like we do” she stated.

The president also reminded the committee that she had been joined by “war veterans and mothers war veterans who still haven’t been able to recover the remains of their sons and daughters.”

Cristina Fernandez then condemned the referendum that the Falklands have planned in order to determine whether the population wishes to remain British or become Argentine, and asked “when it comes to conducting a referendum, why don’t we have one in Afghanistan or Iraq and see what the people think about what they are doing there?”

She also blasted the flying of the Falklands flag; “When I saw the waving flag of the so-called ‘Falkland Islands’ I was ashamed, because wars are never cause for celebration or commemoration” she sated.

However her most heavy fire was against the UN Security Council, because the UK as a member can ignore compliance with dozens of UN and C24 resolutions and she underlined there are two categories of UN membership, whether you belong or not to the Security Council.

“The UK is benefiting from its privileged position as a permanent member of the security council of the United Nations,” she said.

Cristina Fernandez said that the UK/Argentina dispute over the Falklands is not a “bilateral issue”, but multilateral and does not only involve Argentina and the region “but has become a global issue” and challenged “how can the UK call the Malvinas British territory when it is 14.000 kilometres away from London?”

In support of Argentina’s claim Cristina Fernandez revealed that in the early seventies there had been secret negotiations with the UK, on London’s initiative, to share the Falklands as a co-dominion with the two flags, Spanish and English as the two official languages and alternate governors named every two years by the Queen and the Argentine president.

“The ‘non paper’ from the Foreign Office had five points for discussion” and was presented to the surprise of then President Juan Peron in May 1974, However “unfortunately President Peron died in July”, negotiations then collapsed and as the “Foreign Office had forecasted this was followed in Argentina by a military coup”.

“This means the UK admitted there was a sovereignty dispute and they were willing to discuss the issue and that is why we are requesting a resumption of the interrupted negotiations”, said the Argentine president.

Before Cristina Fernandez two petitioners, Alejandro Betts (born and bred in the Falklands but who left after the war to marry an Argentine girl) who lives in Cordoba and Marcelo Luis Vernet, a writer and direct descendent from whom Argentina identify as their first Governor of the Malvinas and allegedly was ousted by the British in 1833, made brief statements before the C24.

Contrary to what happened with the Falklands petitioners who spoke for the Falklands, lawmakers Roger Edwards and Mike Summers, the two Argentines received a warm clapping but with Cristina Fernandez it was a several minutes resounding applause and even congratulations from the chair of the C24 committee.

It must be said that Cristina Fernandez showed up for the speech with a numerous delegation of lawmakers, ministers, governors, mayors and Malvinas veterans’ organizations representatives, over 90 delegates, that turned the C24 presentation in a political rally of the clapping kind the president likes to organize back in Argentina.

Before speaking before the Committee, the President met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

The Falklands War

The Surrender - A conflict ends - 14 June 1982

Introduction

As dawn broke on the 14th June 1982 the British Forces in the Falkland Islands controlled almost all the high ground around Stanley. 45 Commando were on Two Sisters, 42 Commando were on Mt Harriet, 3 Para were on Mt Longdon, 2 Para had just taken Wireless Ridge, the Scots Guards had captured Mt Tumbledown and the Argentinians on Mt William were running away from the advancing Gurkhas. This just left Sapper Hill, which was supposed to be the objective of the Welsh Guards, but after the disaster on the RFA Sir Galahad, the Welsh Guards were severely reduced in numbers. A and C Companies from 40 Commando were sent to join them on the 10/11 June to bring the battalion up to strength. On the night of the 13/14 June this composite battalion were to be in reserve for the attacks on Mounts Tumbledown and William, before moving towards Sapper Hill shortly after these objectives were taken. While in reserve, they became bogged down in a minefield, which took them a very long and frustrating time to extract themselves from.

Due to this delay, it was decided that 45 Commando should move forward from Two Sisters to occupy Sapper Hill. While 45 Commando were marching towards Sapper Hill the Welsh Guard/40 Commando battalion had escaped from the minefield and they were picked up by helicopter. They were landed on top of Sapper Hill just as 45 Commando were approaching, so both units invested then stayed on the Hill. After first light, 2 Para on Wireless Ridge could see numerous Argentinians retreating back to Stanley. Argentine artillery was still in action, however, firing on the British positions surrounding them. One gun emplacement near Moody Brook was destroyed by four Scout helicopters armed with SS-11 wire-guided missiles. The helicopters withdrew safely, only pursued by mortar fire. The British artillery also shelled up to the edge of Stanley in reply, to demoralise the retreating troops, and to keep pressure on the commanders.

2 Para asked for permission to move towards Stanley, but Brigadier Julian Thompson, Commanding Officer of 3 Commando Brigade, wanted to see the position first. He arrived by helicopter and after reviewing the situation he gave the go ahead for 2 Para to move. At 1300 hrs B Company moved down Wireless Ridge, through Moody Brook and onto higher ground on the other side. The tanks of the Blues and Royals moved down the ridge, to provide covering fire if necessary. A Company, followed by D and C Companies, moved down the road towards Stanley. A Company made it to the outskirts of Stanley where they were ordered to halt. This meant that 2 Para were the first British unit into Stanley, after their efforts at Goose Green and Wireless Ridge, many observers were moved to comment that this was a well earned honour.

2 Para were ordered to stop as at this point it seemed that the Argentinians wanted to talk. This was the culmination of four days of verbal pressure from the Task Force. Colonel Mike Rose and Captain Rod Bell had been broadcasting on radio to the Argentines to the effect that they were in a hopeless position and that by surrendering, numerous lives, military and civilian, would be saved. So far three civilians had been killed from British shells, but if fighting took place in the capital, it was likely that many more would die. The Argentines did not respond to the broadcasts until 14 June, when General Menéndez ordered Captain Melbourne Hussey to organize a meeting with the British negotiating team as soon as possible.

Colonel Rose, Captain Bell and their Signaller boarded a Gazelle and flew to Stanley where they were met by Captain Hussey at 1500 hrs. Captain Hussey took the British to the Secretariat where they met General Menéndez. Colonel Rose saluted him as the senior officer present and then the talks began. Eventually it was time to call General Moore who arrived at 2300 hrs Zulu. The surrender document was signed at 2359 hrs Zulu or 2059 local, and the war was officially over. On 15 June 2 and 3 Para moved into Stanley and the Royal Marines followed shortly after where they stayed until they were returned to the UK. 5 Brigade were disappointed not to be able to stay in Stanley, simply because there was no room. Instead, the Gurkhas returned to Goose Green and the rest to Fitzroy. After the war was over there was the problem of the 12,000 or so Argentinian prisoners. Firstly, the tents intended to house them had been sunk on the Atlantic Conveyor, and with the winter weather now worsening, there was a real danger of exposure casualties among the prisoners. They were assembled at Stanley airfield, then repatriated back to Argentina as quickly as possible on ships such as Canberra and the Norland, the majority being shipped back to Argentina within three days of the surrender.

The Argentine units on West Falkland, at Port Howard and Fox Bay, were dealt with by the Royal Marines of 40 Commando and HMS Avenger. The Marines of B Company crossed Falkland Sound by helicopter and trawler during the afternoon, an earlier attempt to cross by landing craft having turned back due to bad weather. On arriving in Port Howard, they accepted the surrender of the Argentine 5th Regiment, who were described as being hungry and demoralised. At Fox Bay, Lieutenant Commander Tony Bolingbroke took four lightly armed men into the settlement by helicopter and accepted the surrender of the 8th Regiment. Finally, Captain Chris Nunn of 42 Commando sailed in HMS Endurance with some of M Company to the South Sandwich Islands, and removed the eleven members of an Argentine scientific and weather team from Cook Island. Thus the last Argentines were evicted from British territory.

The Falklands War cost the lives of 255 members of the British Forces, approximately 746 Argentinians and three civilian Falkland Islanders. Many people at the time and afterwards have questioned the need for the conflict to be fought at all, or stated it was a politically motivated action. The fact of the matter is that a democratic territory for which Britain was responsible had been invaded, and the citizens forced to accept a regime they neither recognised nor wanted. A response, diplomatic at first, and then with military force when this was rejected out of hand, was inevitable and necessary. If the history of the twentieth century teaches us anything, it is that tyranny breeds further tyranny, and that allowance of a single illegal, despotic action will only result in yet more, ever worsening, from the perpetrators and encourage others of similar intent. The fact that the majority of the Argentine people did not agree with the decisions of the Junta was amply demonstrated by their rapid removal from power, an overthrow that resulted in an end to the oppression that had been perpetrated within their own country. The following year saw a democratic election take place, so it is only fair to say that one result of the Falklands conflict was the liberation of the Argentine people.

The Falklands War - The Surrender

The Falklands War - Day of Surrender Taken from the diary of Tracy Evens

This film clip that I took is the only footage that I am aware of that was taken on Sappers Hill the moment we heard the news of the Argentine Surrender on 14 June 1982

Day of Surrender

Taken from the diary of Tracy Evens

1st Bn, Welsh Guards, No 2 Company

At the time Tracy was an 18yr old Guardsman...

Monday 14the June 1982

Tracy Evens    

It had gone midnight and the company made steady progress towards the objective.  It occurred about 0045hrs, when our progress came to a sudden halt.  Out of the depth of the darkness came the sound of an explosion to our rear, and it was soon followed by a long eerie scream that filled the cold night air.  It was the sound of severe pain and hurt, and a scream that I will never forget.  It became apparent to us all that the stupid bastards had brought us through a minefield.  That poor Marine, would not be the only victim, as another explosion was heard, when another Marine went to his aid.  He hardly screamed, just threw curses into the night.  Our problems were not over, as the Argies fired several shells into our general area, thankfully, most fell short and to our flanks but that did not stop fragmentation whizzing past.

Credit must be given to the two helicopter pilots who flew to the aide of the injured Marines.  They had no marker, but landed within yards of them, and were taken away for medical attention.  Meanwhile we had some engineers clear a route out of the minefield.  This took 4hrs to complete, the longest 4hrs that I have had to endure.  When it came time to move we had to stay in single file, and be aware of our footing, not an easy task in the dark, in a minefield.  We did notice several white triangular markers, indicating location of anti-personnel mines.  We got out without any further casualties.  As a result of this hold up, the intended mission was aborted, instead we went off and dug shell scrapes.  Myself and Gdsm Kevans took cover in a natural dip in the ground, and here we settled for the night. Sentries were posted and we got some sleep.  In the distance the rattle of gun fire could be heard throughout the night, which was 2 SG attacking Mount Tumbledown.

Around 1000hrs the company assembled and made their way back to the location that we occupied the day before.  While at this location we rested, had food, and sorted out our equipment.  The Coy Comd, Maj Drewry, received orders, and he in turn informed the platoon commanders, and we eventually received our orders, of the tasks that lie ahead of us.

We, with 2 companies from the Royal Marines, under Command of our CO, Lt Col Johnny Ricketts, were tasked to attack the last objective before Port Stanley, that objective being Sappers Hill.   We were then put in "chalks" by the Adjutant, ready to fly out to Sappers Hill.

A small fleet of helicopters landed.  So this was it and onto the Wessex we boarded, 16 in all with kit.  All sorts ran through my mind as we took the short flight along the coast line towards Sappers Hill.  It certainly got my adrenalin flowing, as well as the fear of dying, after all this could be my last moments on earth.  And yet at the same time the feeling of excitement was there.  It’s what we are trained for, and here we are now, about to put all that training into practice, and hope to God that it all pays off and we are all able to survive the carnage ahead of us.

Senior NCOs and Capt. Lewis waiting at San Carlos to get on HMS Fearless  

 The helicopters landed on the main track road leading up towards Sappers Hill and into Port Stanley.  The company jumped off the helicopters, and spread out to cover the other aircraft landing.  We went in about 20m from the road, then we heard the shouts, " Stay were you are, do not go any further but remember where you walked and make your way back to the road."  We had unknowingly run into a minefield that lined the road towards Sappers Hill.  I soon made my way back as did the others.

As we gathered on the track, we stood and listened to a member of the FOO party say that "a white flag has been seen over Stanley and that they have surrendered." This news was met with great joy from the lads in the company.  In the meantime there was a moment of confusion that needed to be clarified.  So we waited, and out came the cameras and plenty of photos were taken.  At this point I took my cine camera out and filmed the lads, such as Gdsm James 55, he was crying, which was nothing to be ashamed of.  Any person who says that they were disappointed that they never went into battle, well I would have to call them a liar.  Nobody in their right minds wants to do such a thing, and we as a unit have suffered enough, without adding more losses.  Slowly the word got through there was a white flag over Port Stanley, so we were told we would march towards Port Stanley, but to remain outside on the other side Of Sappers Hill.  Our weapons were to remain tight, and to be extremely cautious.  There was an incident when the Argies fired at the Para’s when they appeared to have surrendered under the white flag.

As we made our way cautiously up the road, out came our berets to let them know who we are, a feeling of pride was amongst us to be able to wear that beret with "the Leek".  We had earned that right as Welsh Guardsmen.  It soon came apparent to us what lay ahead if we had indeed attacked Sappers Hill.............a mass of casualties.  The hill was well defended and they made good use of the natural cover amongst the rocks, and had built sangers that gave them good cover.  In front and along both sides of the road were minefields, this was marked out by them with wire.  On the road side there are two wounded Marines, who became casualties moments before the white flag was seen, and both were taken well care of by the medics.

The closer we got to the top of the hill; we saw the debris that they had left behind as they fled to Port Stanley.  Equipment had been scattered about, ammo boxes, full and empty littered the area.  It reminded me of scenes that you saw from the old news reels of WW2.

As we approached the bend on top of the hill, there was a sight that I shall not forget in a hurry.  From a distance it just looked like a pile of old rags in the middle of the road but the closer you got, you soon realised that it was a dead Argentine soldier.  The body lay face down in the dirt, an arm was missing, and all that was left of his head was his hair that was settled in a pool of blood. Bits of brain and skull could be seen in the pool of blood, and his weapon was at his side.  Members of the company passed remarks, such as “Bet he's got a hell of a headache."  At the time I laughed along with them. They even took photos of the body, but even though I had my cine camera and camera I could not bring myself to take pictures of the body, I simply couldn't.

I just felt sorry for whoever that soldier was.  Like us he would have the same thoughts and fears, family and friends back home who will mourn his loss.  He is no different from us.......we are all the same underneath the guise of a uniform, a human being, but due to circumstances well beyond our control we find ourselves miles from home fighting a war that could have been avoided if the politicians had read the political signs correctly, and the other had no choice, as his country have been plagued by military coups for years.  I can't think of myself hating the Argentines as a result of this war.  The war may be over for those who survived, but for many the sounds and sights of the carnage that war inflicts will remain with them for the rest of their natural lives and as for the family, they will have that emptiness in their life of the person they loved, robbed by war.

 Me meeting Rex Hunt at Port Stanley June 82            

As we came over the brow of Sappers Hill we could see the objective in the distance ........Port Stanley. Through the falling snow, we saw what we had come along way for.  It looked a colourful town, with its buildings painted all colours, reds, green, yellows and blue.  I suppose that that's what the islanders wanted, after all the islands are fairly bleak.  I heard mutterings by some of the lads as they saw Port Stanley for the first time "Was it worth it?"  A hard question to answer at that moment in time, but later on I say it was worth it.  We do live in a democracy, and these people are British, who had their liberty robbed from them by the invading Argentines.  A high price to pay in regards to the loss of life, but one that we all must be thankful for. Our subsequent governments should remember this, and they should make sure that these tiny Islands remain British, otherwise our friends that have died, would have died in vain.  And how do you explain that to their family?

Not far from the body, down the track and to the right, was an attempt by the Argies to fool us in thinking that they had a 155mm in situ.  It was constructed with old plastic tubes, a couple of empty barrels and wheels. and some hessian was used to disguise it but from a long distance it would have given the impression that it was the real McCoy.  Not far away, with its barrel pointing into the dirt was the real 155mm, with several shells around it.

We were led to an area that the company would rest at for the night, I still took in the fact the Argies had prepared Sappers Hill well, they had depth positions that would have made the task of taking it very hard.  It will be a while before the feeling of knowing it's all over will sink in, but we do feel a bit more relaxed, and that did feel tremendous.  What bugs me at the moment, as I glanced over Port Stanley, the reports of up to 7000 Argentine troops in the town, but from what I saw, there was very few to be seen.

In the harbour, there were several ships one of which was the Argies hospital ship.  Helicopters were seen flying to it with casualties from last night's actions on Tumbledown.  It was during this attack, that two soldiers were captured by the Argies and Killed.  One was Dsgt Danny White and from what we have been told, the bodies were found by our Recce platoon, near a trench, with conscripts in it, and they were wearing clothing from those dead.  But I don't know if this is the truth or not.

I settled to get some hot food and a drink inside of me. My brother was with me and I shared my brew with him.  We catted about the events of the last few days, and to think there were several people within the company never shot a bullet in anger, such as Sgt Powell 01, and Gdsm Rob Hannan.  I managed to fire a few during last week's air attack on the Sir Galahad.  It was all over and we looked forward to the day that we got the order to go home, to our wives, girlfriends and family.  I will be pleased to see my parents, who have given a great deal of comfort and support to my brother and I, with their letters and parcels from home.

 Me at Fitzroy, with Sir Tristram at the rear