MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands’ service to honour British Forces who lost their lives when landing for the recovery of the Islands
The Falkland Islands held a commemorative service to the memory of those who lost their lives thirty years ago when British Forces landed in the Islands for the final push against the occupying Argentine forces. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules“At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”
May 24th, 2012 - 04:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Rest in peace lads, thirty years have gone by and they are still free.
This story puzzles me. There was no enemy fire as they landed. There were only air attacks the following day. This article implies a re run of Normandy.
May 24th, 2012 - 06:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@2 Not a Normandy re run I grant you,but there were some Argies lurking about
May 24th, 2012 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/san_carlos_bay_landings.htm
To prevent nearby Argentine forces attacking the beachhead and disrupting it, groups of Special Forces troops were sent out to deal with the known nearest threats.
A unit from the SBS attacked Argentine forces at Fanning Head (north of San Carlos) and occupied their positions and the SAS attacked positions near Darwin (south of San Carlos Bay). Both attacks took place as the main landing party approached the bay.
At Fanning Head, 25 men from 3 SBS attacked a force of 60 Argentine troops – their very presence on land that overlooked San Carlos Bay threatened the landing. The men from the SBS were landed by helicopter and attacked using mainly GPMG’s. They were supported by gunfire from ‘HMS Antrim’ that was able to fire accurately onto the Argentine positions as the SBS had taken with them a Royal Navy NGFO – Naval Gunfire Forward Observation expert. The Argentinean soldiers were given the opportunity to surrender (the SBS also took along Marine Captain Roderick Bell who could speak fluent Spanish) but refused to do so. 11 Argentinean soldiers were killed, 6 were taken prisoner and the rest fled.
Awful for soldiers on both sides, R.I.P. To those who lost their lives and the greatest respect for those who returned. I can't imagine what they all went through and hope I never have to.
May 24th, 2012 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0RIP lads.
May 24th, 2012 - 08:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks seems so small a word to cover the courage, determination and sacrifice of the Armed forces.
They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
With the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Thank you, stick and LEPRecon. Good words. For VERY GOOD MEN. This is what being British is all about. We don't rant and rave. We don't hop around the world trying to persuade sycophants that we have bullied to support us. Generally, we start with “We KNOW the truth.” If pressed, we may say “We have no doubt about..........” If further pressed by an acceptable enquirer, we may say “Here is the evidence”. But, at the end of the day, members of the British armed forces showed THE WORLD that they could do what the US Navy said was impossible. I suppose the US Navy knows what THEIR troops are capable of. Probably best not to underestimate British armed forces! I see “good 'ole” Norman Schwarzkopf was dismissive of the BRITISH SAS at the outset of the Gulf War. At least he had the grace and honesty to visit and thank them personally and acknowledge their contribution. Because British armed forces are the best there is.
May 24th, 2012 - 10:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Here in Britain, we may get a little bit pissed off at squaddies smashing up pubs and the like, but, hell, we respect you anyway. I'm sure the Falklanders feel the same. We know we need you. We are grateful to you. WE are so glad that we have YOU. And we are incredibly proud of you. Every one of you. Go for it people, show the yanks what real troops can do!
Small things, but nice to see the series of Falkland Island commemorative stamps recognizing the 1982 war sacrifices:
May 24th, 2012 - 11:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.stampedia.net/stamp/catalogue/stamp,179601/en
http://www.stampedia.net/stamp/catalogue/stamp,179601/en
http://www.stampedia.net/stamp/catalogue/stamp,179601/en
http://www.stampedia.net/stamp/catalogue/stamp,179601/en
RIP guys, you died to keep good people free, never forgotten.
May 25th, 2012 - 12:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Idlehands- 2 There was indeed Arg air action that day that caused loss of life. Also groundfire from those Arg retreating from the SBS brought down 2 Army small Gazelle helicopters 3 crew killed outright and a 4th - who was wounded - got out into the water and started swimming ashore - only to be gunned down whilst unarmed and in the water by those same Arg soldiers - and the likes of Marcos and others think we should join that nation!
May 25th, 2012 - 02:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0Islanders there at Port San Carlos who were prevented by same soldiers from launching a dinghy to rescue him, later brought his body ashore.
Compare that action to San Carlos where an Arg jet pilot was shot down into the bay - and a boat sent out to him,and rescued by the British and given medical assistance.
5 LEPRecon
May 25th, 2012 - 08:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0I know what you mean, Saying “Thank you” doesn't quite seem enough does it? Whatever the reason they went and whatever the cause was, I glad they did. When I look back on that time, read the stories in the history books and articles on the web, I feel... I feel so very, very proud of all of them.
For all of those VERY, VERY young men to go all that way to fight a war that everyone else said was impossible to win. To endue all the shortages of ammo, sleep and food AND put up with the worst of the weather and what the Argentines to throw at them........... They were and still are, better men than I was at their age. The whole story of the Falklands War stirs up so many emotions.
Great Pride in our armed forces.
Sorrow at the loss of so many young lives.
Shame, in myself, that I was not there with them.
and a kind of relief, that their sacrifice was not in vain, that it counted for something and that they manged the “Impossible” and set a people free to live their lives the way they wanted again.
So yes, “Thank you” is not enough is it?
R.I.P guys, you made us all so very, very proud. Rest well now.
We will remember them
May 25th, 2012 - 11:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0The Falkland Islands were British, the Islanders were British. Thanks to these men, they will always be British. The price was was high, the price of freedom is always high, but there are always men and now women who are willing to pay that price.
May 25th, 2012 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0“From the sea - Freedom.”
@12 - RC. Good post and so true.
May 25th, 2012 - 02:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0'Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.' Winston Churchill.
http://falklandsnews.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/britain-will-defend-the-falkland-islands-from-argentine-aggression/
May 27th, 2012 - 12:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0Please support our Keep the Falklands British page on fb, just sign in and click the like button to subscribe -
May 29th, 2012 - 12:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-the-Falklands-British/123151384435619?sk=wall&filter=3
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