falklands war...

[Natator]

Re: falklands war...

This happened as I was doing A levels. I was absolutely glued to it, rushing home from school to see the news each day.

I was Royal Navy mad, had a scholarship to go to dartmouth, which would have been late 1982.

I'd spent time at sea on HMS Arrow when I was 14 and 15 and she was out there, took a bomb but survived, and I knew some of the crew still.

Most exciting thing in my life still .... Age 14, being "smuggled" aboard HMS Arrow (smuggled in the fact the MOD didn't know) and went with her down to Gibraltar, returning on HMS Newcastle. Was made an honourary member of the wardroom, was given watches, I can't even expres how exciting this was for a Navy mad 14 year old. I did a ship to ship transfer, just a sling under my armpits (imagine them being able to do that now with a kid!), got a taste of tear gas during annual gas mask testing. We were also "attacked" by the French Air Force and German fast patrol boats.

[staffslad]

Re: falklands war...

What great memories, Natator. No way that would be allowed today.

I was in my penultimate year of college in spring 1982. I remember so clearly the ships being cheered as they left the UK. Also, they got a great send-off from Gibraltar. I remember being on the top deck of a bus listening to a small portable radio when news of the first Vulcan raid broke.

[victorbrunswick]

Re: falklands war...

Argentina Army Visor Cap
Lieutenant Colonel, Engineers

From my collection. I think I had posted it before in the What Do You Collect thread but it disappeared when Photobucket got greedy.

[Silver Bear]

Re: falklands war...

In Argentina and neighbouring countries many people are almost grateful for the Falklands Conflict because it enabled them to throw off the military regime and install a (usually) functioning democracy. This set off a ‘domino effect’ spreading to Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and even Paraguay. However veterans are badly neglected, like Vietnam vets only worse.

Argentina is a very Anglophile country and there’s even a fake Harrod’s in Buenos Aires. In surrounding countries there’s a joke: “What is an Argentine? An Italian who speaks Spanish and thinks he’s an Englishman.”

[Richard1978]

Re: falklands war...

I remember reading that only the right wingers in Argentina are that bothered the Falklands these days, & it's a standard thing for governments to dig put any time they are losing popularity.

Only a year before Queen toured Argentina & were filling stadiums along with setting a few chart records like the Beatles did when the toured the USA for the first time.

I've heard that quote before, & I'm guessing it's true, certainly a lot of Italians settled in Argentina in the late 19th century.

[Twocky61]

Re: falklands war...

I remember the Welsh guy Simon Weston who survived the Sir Galahad, came out of that situation with serious face disfigurement after the fire on the ship

He has since given talks about his time in the services & written a book too

[Silver Bear]

Re: falklands war...

I remember reading that only the right wingers in Argentina are that bothered the Falklands these days, & it's a standard thing for governments to dig put any time they are losing popularity.

Only a year before Queen toured Argentina & were filling stadiums along with setting a few chart records like the Beatles did when the toured the USA for the first time.

I've heard that quote before, & I'm guessing it's true, certainly a lot of Italians settled in Argentina in the late 19th century.

Yes, lots of Argentines are of Italian descent, e.g. General Galtieri who ended up as a used car salesman. Governments of right and left have made sabre-rattling noises about the Falklands whenever the economy takes a nose-dive.

[Silver Bear]

Re: falklands war...

I remember the Welsh guy Simon Weston who survived the Sir Galahad, came out of that situation with serious face disfigurement after the fire on the ship

He has since given talks about his time in the services & written a book too

He’s a very remarkable man - and a good writer too.

[Twocky61]

Re: falklands war...

My sentiments exactly Silver Bear

[Silver Bear]

Re: falklands war...

My sentiments exactly Silver Bear

Thanks Twocky��

[Twocky61]

Re: falklands war...

yvw Silver Bear

[victorbrunswick]

Re: falklands war...

[Twocky61]

Re: falklands war...

Thanks for posting Victor

[Silver Bear]

Re: falklands war...

I’m really looking forward to watching this later.

[Twocky61]

Re: falklands war...

Me too