MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands War general Jeremy Moore dies aged 79

Major-General Sir Jeremy Moore KCB, OBE, MC

Major-General Sir Jeremy Moore KCB, OBE, MC and Bar, Royal Marines, who commanded the British Land Forces during the Falklands War 25 years ago and accepted the Argentine surrender, has died aged 79.

Major-General Moore who died on Sunday had been suffering from arthritis and prostate cancer for sometime. He is survived by his wife, Veryan, whom he married in 1966, and their two daughters. His involvement in the Falklands War occured by chance. He had been due to retire from the British Forces when the Commandant General Royal Marines, Lieutentenant-General Sir Stuart Pringle was badly injured by an IRA bomb. As Major-General Commando Forces he was asked to stay on until Pringle was fit to resume his duties. The Military chief saw active service around the world, including two tours in Northern Ireland where he commanded 42 Commando. The Falklands were invaded on 02 April 1982 when 1,000 Argentine troops landed on the beaches around Port Stanley, overwhelming the small garrison of 60 British Royal Marines. In the ensuing savage conflict, was lasted for 74 days, 649 Argentines, 255 British troops and 3 civilian ladies lost their lives. 6 British ships were sunk and more than 100 Argentine aircraft shot down. At 9-00pm local time on 14 June, Major-General Moore received the surrender of the Argentine Governor, Major-General Mario Benjamin Menendez. Patrick Watts, who ran the Falklands radio station in 1982, and was present at the surrender signing ceremony recalls: "We waited for Major-General Moore to arrive, thinking we would see an officer in a sparkling, clean shining uniform. Instead this rather small grubby looking individual in dirty combats and with camouflage cream on his face walked up the steps - he was obviously a field soldier who had experienced the same difficulties as his men during the action, hence the high regard with which he was held." Moore described the moments before Menendez signed the surrender document as "a very nervous time". "In my mind, if he (Menendez) didn't (surrender), a whole lot of people would be killed unnecessarily when the fighting resumed." He then insisted on meeting the population who he had liberated and despite the town being in total darkness and full of armed Argentine soldiers, walked to the West Store where 100 people were sheltering underground. He apologized for "taking rather longer than intended to get here" and was hoisted shoulder-high by the ecstatic freed Islanders. He apologized profusely to the local Veterinary officer whose English born wife had been unfortunately killed by a stray British shell. Major-General Moore, maintaining a true British tradition, then asked for a cup of tea and as he sat in candlelight at the home of Watts and his family, declared that it was," the best damned cuppa I've had since we set out." His illness prevented him from attending the recent 25th anniversary commemorations in the Falklands. At Stanley, a Book of Condolence has been placed in Gilbert House for those members of the public who wish to pay tribute to Major-General Sir Jeremy Moore.