Sir Rex Hunt, Governor of the Falklands during the Argentine invasion has died
Sir Rex Hunt, the former governor of the Falkland Islands during the Argentine invasion which triggered the South Atlantic conflict of 1982 passed away in England on Remembrance Sunday.
A British diplomat and colonial administrator he was governor, Commander in chief and Vice Admiral of the Falklands and concurrent High Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory from 1980 to September 1985.
Considered a hero in the Falklands for his courage in organizing the resistance against the Argentine invasion, he was taken prisoner and expelled from the Islands by the Argentines.
However in Britain he became a symbol for the struggle to recover the Falklands and on his return after the war dedicated his life in support of the Islands and one of its most iconic lobbyists.
In a brief message the Legislative Assembly of the Falklands said Sir Rex will forever be remembered for his years of service as Governor and particularly for his courage and dignity in facing the Argentine invasion in 1982.
“His numerous contributions to our home were recognised in his being granted the Freedom Of Stanley in 1985. A loyal friend of the Falkland Islands, he served for many years as Chairman of the Falkland Islands Association and as President of the UK Falkland Islands Trust. His passion and commitment to the Falkland Islands will be sorely missed. The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all Falkland Islanders are with his family and friends at this sad time”.
Sir Rex Masterman Hunt, KCMG was born 29 June 1926 and after attending Coatham School, Redcar and St Peter’s College, Oxford, he joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet in 1941 and was enlisted as an airman in 1944 and commissioned as a pilot in 1945.
He transferred to No 5 Squadron in India in August 1946 where he flew Spitfires, before transferring to Germany with No 26 Squadron in August 1947. He left active service in 1948, but remained in the reserves until 1951 where he reached the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
In 1952 he joined the Colonial and Diplomatic Services and went on to serve on postings in Uganda, Sarawak, Brunei, Turkey, Indonesia, South Vietnam, Malaysia and the Falkland Islands. Hunt was appointed the Consul-General at the British Embassy in Saigon in 1974 and was there at the time of the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. From 1980 to 1985 he was Governor of the Falkland Islands.
Sir Rex became a household name during the Falklands War after the Argentine invasion of the islands. He was captured by the Argentine invasion force and expelled from the Islands to Uruguay.
During the invasion he had made his official residence, Government House in Stanley the operational headquarters for the Royal Marines. He sent his family and domestic staff away to safer houses with only their most valuable possessions. His housekeeper took a picture of the Queen and a bottle of gin.
Government House quickly became the site of an engagement between the Royal Marines garrison and the Argentine Navy commandos. Hunt gave the order to lay down arms, before going to Stanley town hall, wearing his governor's plumed hat, to meet the Argentine commander, Vice Admiral Carlos Büsser.
“You have landed unlawfully on British territory and I order you to remove yourself and your troops forthwith,” said Hunt. Four hours later Hunt was on a plane to Montevideo. Following the expulsion of Argentine forces in June 1982, Sir Rex returned to the Islands to his post as Governor until 1985.
Sir Rex Hunt wrote about his time in the Falklands in his book My Falkland Days. He was chairman of the Falkland Islands Association for many years. He retired as chairman in 2004 and moved to Yorkshire.
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A brave man, you have to be to wear the Governor's uniform in public!!!
MercoP. “A British diplomat and COLONIAL administrator” like Niguel?
PIG!! 2,000 Argentinians just invaded - a skulking sneak attack on a community of unarmed civilians, and firing live ammo at his house.
The people, women and children, were forced from their homes at gunpoint by brave Argentinians.
You are the worst kind of coward.
BTW, then numerically smaller British forces took it back from you, while your officers neglected to feed or clothe their own troops.
Lets not forget your troop[s who held outv a white flag to surrender, then shot at the Brits, or the Red Crosses on your ammo dumps. Shame shame.
The surrendering army was then shunned by their homeland - returning in disgrace.
Not your finest hour.
www.scribd.com/doc/103755318/Falklands-War-The-First-400-Years-PDF
Jose is simply a disgrace. No moral decency. What has he achieved in his life, or done for fellow men? Worthless. Even my dog is embarrassed for him!
Meanwhile, let's remember the inspiration and integrity he showed. Some of the finest British qualities - well done, Sir!
José Malvinero, you are a prize swine!
@4 - Jose
He took shelter under a tabe when people where shooting up his home. Seems a sensible thing to do.
You would've done what in similar circumstances? Stood at the window shouting abuse while someone is trying to kill you with automatic weapons?
Oh, I forgot, you're a La Campora troll. You would've surrendered immediately because, like your armed forces in the 80's, you are only brave when attacking unarmed people or have another fighting force outnumbered by 15-1.
Pathetic attempt troll, back to La Campora HQ for further instructions for you!
One less Englishman to worry about.
An English Gentleman to the end. Rest in peace now.
Rest in peace Sir Rex, you were a brave chap from the top drawer.
It seems Captain Giachiono is not so appreciated in his own home town, what with his (alleged) activities during the dirty war:
“His death prevents any further legal investigation, but the pressure of Human Rights groups compelled the City Council of Mar del Plata to remove his portrait from the chamber, where both the fallen soldiers from Mar del Plata and the local victims of the Argentine dictatorship are honoured.”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Giachino
Strange choice for a argie hero
Perhaps the most illustrative case is that of Lt. Pedro Giachino, the first Argentine casualty in the Falklands War. Giachino was posthumously promoted to captain, and awarded the country’s highest military honor. He was long viewed as a symbol of patriotism, until in 2011 it was revealed that the officer had served as an interrogator for the military junta, and witnesses claimed he committed torture and murder on several occasions.
Would explain a lot
The pro malvinas poster have yet again proved to the world what they are like.
Sad day indeed.
You were more of a man and a match for that coward Galtieri.
@5 The Falkland Islands were not his only posting. At one time, Britain had colonies. For example, at one time, the uninhabited British Antarctic Territory was a colony. Uninhabited South Georgia and uninhabited South Sandwich Islands also used to be colonies. What's your problem?
@11 Thanks for “worrying”. In our turn, we can say that not a single argie will EVER be missed. In fact, I would go so far as to say that any British serviceman or woman that misses an argie should be court-martialled!
@14 What a pity that WE only wounded 1,657 and took 11,313 prisoners. When WE could have killed the lot! Nobody would have ever known.
It takes a REAL man and an English gentleman to face down an undisciplined mob of argie gangsters. Rest In Peace, Sir Rex. A true Brit and a credit to our country!
Sir Rex would has done more in his lifetime than you could ever achieve in twenty. Go away in short jerky movments you disrespectful idiot troll.
Pro RG “American” is definitely not USA “American”,
only a SA “Americsn” run of the mill, Argentino troll.
He exhibits some of the same characteristics as “sussie” and is likely 'run' by the same demented operator.
No point criticising him as a sort of naive or misguided Yank Socialist.
On Ghana Web, there is an article on Libertad. The comments section is full of posters with fake “patriotic” names - “I am Ghanaian”, “Skipper- retired US Navy”, and others. They all criticise Ghana - “I cannot believe my African country's government is helping the vultures and Singer, etc etc...”
RIP Rex Hunt
It is shear jealousy from a group of inferiors.
If you want evidence of what makes us better than them then look at the comments by us Brits when Nestor died. You will find that we Brits were as per usual honourable and gracious. These Argie pigs are simply the lowest form of life on earth. Lie pigs they live in a pig sty which kind of sums up BA.
Just remember him for what he stood up for and not let any abusive Argentines try to tell it in any other way.
Sir Rex your legand will live on forever . It was a privilage to have known you.
Why was the obituary page closed? Was this the same Rex Hunt that hid under a bed when the shooting started? Oooops, he misplaced his sable.
35 Beef (#) Stop insulting the Argies and all of us other Americans.
Rex Hunt has no shame to be the appointed head of a colony on foreign soil. This guy only cared for his title and nothing else. Hoping to get a hefty retirenment from the crown and sit out his last days in England. He did not give a hoot about the “Falklands”. Just like the scoundrels that run the show for Her Majesties Govt. today, hoping for a big payola from the oil companies.
The ways of colonilism, thieves and Pirates.
You might as well drop this whole campaign of hate towards UK and Falklsnds, now.
Ban-Ki Moon has declared that a territory's inhabitants must have a say in their independence or their government.
The Falklands has both. Their referendum will confirm that.
In the meantime, they have self-governance.
The UN will not back your claims.
How's that ship thing going... ?
These Argies always spit at us, but then once we face them, they run like the cowards they are.
You are no more an American,
Than pirate hunter is Russian.
,,,,,,,,,,
What you [Xs] are, is jealous and envious.
At least mr hunt, as a member of the few,
Gave a better account than thousands of surrendering Argentines.
“Guzzano” has had his IP banned again, it seems.
I suppose he can't borrow TTT's machine, or one of “sussie's” either.
How much is a new laptop in BA, now? How much will it be, tomorrow ??? :-)
You obviously didn't know him.
Ungentlemanly Act” which portrayed the invasion of the Falklands and its subsequent recovery. The character of Sir Rex Hunt was played by Ian Richardson and to me rang true to as to what I imagined had happened during that period.
There is a bit in it I will always remember of a local walking down the road with gunfire all around. He is told to get to ***** out of there and his reply is ”I've got to collect my pension!
I suppose that summed up the Islanders then - semi-detached from the outside world.
Nov 12th, 2012 - 10:53 pm
“Oooops, he misplaced his sable.”
For someone who claims to be English speaking, the use of the word “sable” instead of “sword” rather points to you being Spnaish speaking, in other words your Argentine origins have come right to the front “hermano”!!!!!!!
www.malvinense.com.ar/smalvi/2012/2244.htm
Talk about self delusion ! No doubt this will eventually become part of the school curriculum and enter into “Holy Writ”
It's no wonder these prats think they have god on their side. I think they should all go and see him, as soon as possible and give us all a rest. :o)
Haha that is one of the craziest things I've heard yet from the Argies, and they talk some pretty crazy s**t.
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