MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands veterans 'lay ghosts to rest' on Tumbledown Mt.

Jim Gillanders at the Memorial to the fallen of Mount Tumbledown

A night spent on a cold and rainy mountain this week has 'laid ghosts to rest' say former British Servicemen who have been haunted by the deaths of their friends and colleagues in the battle for the Falkland Islands twenty five years ago.

Former Scots Guardsmen Jim Gillanders and Gordan Hoggan spoke to Mercopressabout their emotional return to Mount Tumbledown on East Falklands to pay tribute to the eight men that died there during one of the cruellest battles of the campaign. "Forty-seven of our guys were injured too," said Gordan, "I was shit-scared and we were also battling the weather; one guy went down with exposure and went crazy running around in the open. I had to rugby tackle him and drag him back in before he got killed." With the typical soldiers' black humour he added, "But we all laughed like hell when one of our blokes got shot in the backside." Jim explained the reasoning behind the decision to return to Tumbledown, "It was just a spur of the moment thing, it just felt like it was the right thing to do." Rather than simply lay a wreath during an official visit to the battle-site Gordon, Jim, three other former Guardsmen and a naval colleague from HMS Sheffieldpreferred the idea of an overnight expedition. The Falkland Islands Defence Force (local volunteer force) provided the men with suitable equipment and the group were driven to the mountain by two of the many Islanders who have been assisting the 250 strong 'pilgrimage' since they arrived in the islands last week. "The thing was though," said Jim "once we got there we didn't speak much about the war but about the guys themselves and the crazy stuff we all got up to during our time with the regiment. I don't think I've ever laughed and cried so much in all my life. We just stayed up most of the night talking and I guess we just slept where we fell – we didn't bother with the tents." Both Jim, and Gordon in particular, have suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since the Falklands Conflict. Jim said, "I was really aggressive and paranoid and argumentative after '82 but I'd never spoken to anyone about what happened. After the other night I feel so much better. It's just had an indescribable effect." Jim was only 17 in 1982, as were four others fighting next to him. Gordan, who only very recently attempted suicide, visits under the auspices of the Combat Stress Charity. He said, "I was really anxious about coming down here but I felt I had to face my fears, but after the other night I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. "The Falkland Islanders have been amazing too, I can't believe much money they've been able to raise for us all – its just incredible. Two hundred and fifty men have spent a week in the Falklands paying tribute to their fallen colleagues as part of the Falklands 25 Pilgrimage. The visit is funded by the South Atlantic Medal Association charity, although some have visited at their own expense. Lisa Johnston – SeAled PR – Stanley

Categories: Politics, Falkland Islands.

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