MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' Scot Guards veterans donate a priceless crafted whiskey bottle

Andy Malcolmson and Vince Campbell (Pic by Penguin News)

Two 1982 Falkland Islands conflict veteran Scots Guards and the brother of the last man to be killed in action just 30 minutes before the surrender of the Argentine invaders on June 14 visited the Islands last week and made valuable donations to the Museum and the Cubs and Scout groups.

 Vince Campbell and Jim Peters both served with 2 Scots Guards and accompanying them was Andy Malcolmson whose brother David was killed in action as he worked with a volunteer stretcher party on Mount Tumbledown just minutes before the Argentine forces surrendered.

The men’s connection with the Falklands has however been ongoing for some time and far exceeds their fleeting three day visit, something normally only pathologists do, quipped Vince with typically pithy Scottish humor.

Andy who works for the Ardagh Group glass factory had carried a very special bottle of whiskey to the Islands.

While a high price can easily be paid for a special or preferred whiskey, on this occasion it is the carefully crafted bottle which is without doubt priceless.

With the blessing of his employers and on behalf of the Tumbledown Veterans and Families Association Andy has created a bottle sporting the Scots Guards Cap Star and embossed with the words Second Battalion Scots Guards, Tumbledown Veterans and Families Association.

The label carries the names of the nine Scots Guards who lost their lives on Tumbledown: David Malcolmson, Archibald Stirling, Clark Mitchell, Derel Denholm, Daniel Wright, James Reynolds, John Simeon, Ronald Tanbini and John Pashley.

It cost about £16,000 (£4,000 for the glass mould alone) to make the bottle of which there are only about 30 in the world, said Andy, adding, “but really it’s priceless.”

The bottle contains a unique blend of whiskey, but what the men chose to create their Tumbledown blend we will never know. “It’s a secret, we’re not telling,” they chorused.

Prior to their visit they had organized for the Tumbledown Vets Association to gift five, three man tents to the Falklands' Cubs and Scouts and last week they returned to Tumbledown with members of the youth groups and raised the Association’s standard.

Cub leader Jan Miller explained that the Cubs climb Tumbledown on June 13, every year to remember the Scots Guards who lost their lives in 1982.

Over the years many of the Guards and their families have got to hear about this, said Mrs. Miller adding, “they are so taken that the youngsters here remember their fallen comrades that they decided to present them with a gift, and what a gift.

“We received five very smart Vango tents, which we are overwhelmed with, said Mrs Miller.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone in the Tumbledown Veterans Association who gave us such a generous gift.

“They are really good quality tents and will withstand the Falklands climate for many years to come.” (Penguin News).-