Blades Scarf on Falklands War Memorial

[Tarkus]

Just returned from an 8 day stay in the Falkland Islands with a fellow Blade who was a Falkland War veteran serving on HMS Arrow - we stayed at the Veterans Lodge in Stanley.
Purpose of our visit was to visit some of the Falkland's war sites/memorials (including the HMS Sheffield memorial on Sea Lion Island) and also take the opportunity to witness some of the Islands incredible wildlife.

On our final day we took the difficult off-road journey to Campito Hill at the far side of East Falkland to visit the memorial to my mates sister ship HMS Ardent that was sank below the hill in San Carlos Waters.
We were very moved to find an aging Blades scarf attached to the memorial (see attached photos)

On returning to the Lodge we did some look ups there and google searches and we believe the scarf was most likely dedicated to a young man called Shaun Hanson who was killed on 21st May 1982 along with 21 of his comrades on HMS Ardent. We found out that Shaun attended Ecclesfield school and was a lifelong Blades supporter.

More moving for us was that we found out that in memory of his bravery, in 2022 he was honoured with the naming of 'Hanson Bay' at Second Passage in the Passage Islands Group, West Falkland.

Thought this might be of interest to some of the more senior members of this Forum.

 

[davey1889]

Reg Brearley mentions this (I assume same scarf) in an article in either one of the programmes or maybe an end of season review around 83 or 84. Probably got it somewhere

 

[VictoryBlade]

All i can say is UTB, wherever you are young man!

 

[CrookesBlade]

Just returned from an 8 day stay in the Falkland Islands with a fellow Blade who was a Falkland War veteran serving on HMS Arrow - we stayed at the Veterans Lodge in Stanley.
Purpose of our visit was to visit some of the Falkland's war sites/memorials (including the HMS Sheffield memorial on Sea Lion Island) and also take the opportunity to witness some of the Islands incredible wildlife.

On our final day we took the difficult off-road journey to Campito Hill at the far side of East Falkland to visit the memorial to my mates sister ship HMS Ardent that was sank below the hill in San Carlos Waters.
We were very moved to find an aging Blades scarf attached to the memorial (see attached photos)

On returning to the Lodge we did some look ups there and google searches and we believe the scarf was most likely dedicated to a young man called Shaun Hanson who was killed on 21st May 1982 along with 21 of his comrades on HMS Ardent. We found out that Shaun attended Ecclesfield school and was a lifelong Blades supporter.

More moving for us was that we found out that in memory of his bravery, in 2022 he was honoured with the naming of 'Hanson Bay' at Second Passage in the Passage Islands Group, West Falkland.

Thought this might be of interest to some of the more senior members of this Forum.

My Dad (who’s in his 70s now) taught Shaun at Ecclesfield so I’ll show him this post as I know his death affected him.

Very interesting post. Do the army arrange trips to the Falklands for veterans or was it something you had to sort out yourself?

 

[Tarkus]

Thanks much Crookes

My mate organised this via his past veteran status - we flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, refuelled at the RAF base in the Ascension Islands and onwards to the RAF main airport at Mount Pleasant in Stanley.

The Falklanders are so keen to receive veterans (many have passed on now or are just too old for a 30 hour door to door journey) and their families and friends.

Veterans of the 1982 Falklands conflict are treated almost like royalty out there and as a consequence everything is either done for free or capped at a very low cost.

In all honesty I felt both privileged and humbled to accompany my mate - he is a true diamond. One that goes out of his way to lay tributes at several memorials on behalf of UK veterans who cannot make out there, has a sip of port in tribute to them and send the photographs back home to them.

He is old school and has the best values of any person I have known.

 

[Sithblade]

Some Yanks doing the yomp.

 

[N20 Blade]

HMS Sheffield?

 

[Tarkus]

HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile. Twenty people died and 26 were injured. It was the first Royal Navy warship to have been lost in combat since WWII.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

My Dad (who’s in his 70s now) taught Shaun at Ecclesfield so I’ll show him this post as I know his death affected him.

Very interesting post. Do the army arrange trips to the Falklands for veterans or was it something you had to sort out yourself?

The last time I was in The Greyhound pub in Ecclesfield, there was some form of Falklands memorial to Shaun Hanson on the wall in there.

 

[Zipwire]

The last time I was in The Greyhound pub in Ecclesfield, there was some form of Falklands memorial to Shaun Hanson on the wall in there.

It's still there.

 

[Zipwire]

Just returned from an 8 day stay in the Falkland Islands with a fellow Blade who was a Falkland War veteran serving on HMS Arrow - we stayed at the Veterans Lodge in Stanley.
Purpose of our visit was to visit some of the Falkland's war sites/memorials (including the HMS Sheffield memorial on Sea Lion Island) and also take the opportunity to witness some of the Islands incredible wildlife.

On our final day we took the difficult off-road journey to Campito Hill at the far side of East Falkland to visit the memorial to my mates sister ship HMS Ardent that was sank below the hill in San Carlos Waters.
We were very moved to find an aging Blades scarf attached to the memorial (see attached photos)

On returning to the Lodge we did some look ups there and google searches and we believe the scarf was most likely dedicated to a young man called Shaun Hanson who was killed on 21st May 1982 along with 21 of his comrades on HMS Ardent. We found out that Shaun attended Ecclesfield school and was a lifelong Blades supporter.

More moving for us was that we found out that in memory of his bravery, in 2022 he was honoured with the naming of 'Hanson Bay' at Second Passage in the Passage Islands Group, West Falkland.

Thought this might be of interest to some of the more senior members of this Forum.

https://sama82.org.uk/2023-gor-ip-hansons/ This is some more information om Sean Hanson for anyone who is interested.

My uncle was in the Falklands on a different ship and thankfully he came back home from it relatively unscathed. I don't think he knew Sean Hanson but the next time I speak to him I'll ask.

The old Falklands veterans are easily spotted on the Remerbrance Day parades, they are the one with the medals with a Blue and Green ribbons and usually wear something subtle with Blue and Green on the day like a scarf.

I learned a bit about Sean Hanson at school as a couple of the teachers when I was there in the early 90s when I was there had taught him 10-15 years before him.

 

[Zipwire]

My Dad (who’s in his 70s now) taught Shaun at Ecclesfield so I’ll show him this post as I know his death affected him.

Very interesting post. Do the army arrange trips to the Falklands for veterans or was it something you had to sort out yourself?

Just out of interest. What was your Dads name?

I’m half guessing the initials HS

 

[Jon Bon II]

HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile. Twenty people died and 26 were injured. It was the first Royal Navy warship to have been lost in combat since WWII.

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm mistaken by those with better memories or who have the dates at hand, but wasn't there a home game on the night of the HMS Sheffield sinking? If not the same day, maybe the day after? I can remember being at the game and there was a subdued atmosphere around the ground, with people talking about it in hushed tones. Can't remember the opponents or the score, just that it was on or around the same day as the sinking.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm mistaken by those with better memories or who have the dates at hand, but wasn't there a home game on the night of the HMS Sheffield sinking? If not the same day, maybe the day after? I can remember being at the game and there was a subdued atmosphere around the ground, with people talking about it in hushed tones. Can't remember the opponents or the score, just that it was on or around the same day as the sinking.

Rochdale at home, May 4th 1982. Heading for promotion, but as you say, a subdued atmosphere

 

[Jon Bon II]

Rochdale at home, May 4th 1982. Heading for promotion, but as you say, a subdued atmosphere

Thanks. Was it the same day? I'm pretty sure that an announcement was made on the tannoy and probably a minute's silence before KO, although I don't specifically remember that but seems logical that there would have been.

 

[sitwell]

My lad has to do a tour at the end of the year , its between UAE Minhad ,or the Falklands ,for 4 months ,he finds out next month.
My best female friend at the time lost her brother in the Falklands. Rob Griffin was blown up as the were manning landing craft at Goose Green, they were bombed by Argentinian aircraft.
I was 20 at the time, never really known war or death and it proper shook me up. Times were different then and the Falklands were a massive shock to everyone.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Just returned from an 8 day stay in the Falkland Islands with a fellow Blade who was a Falkland War veteran serving on HMS Arrow - we stayed at the Veterans Lodge in Stanley.
Purpose of our visit was to visit some of the Falkland's war sites/memorials (including the HMS Sheffield memorial on Sea Lion Island) and also take the opportunity to witness some of the Islands incredible wildlife.

On our final day we took the difficult off-road journey to Campito Hill at the far side of East Falkland to visit the memorial to my mates sister ship HMS Ardent that was sank below the hill in San Carlos Waters.
We were very moved to find an aging Blades scarf attached to the memorial (see attached photos)

On returning to the Lodge we did some look ups there and google searches and we believe the scarf was most likely dedicated to a young man called Shaun Hanson who was killed on 21st May 1982 along with 21 of his comrades on HMS Ardent. We found out that Shaun attended Ecclesfield school and was a lifelong Blades supporter.

More moving for us was that we found out that in memory of his bravery, in 2022 he was honoured with the naming of 'Hanson Bay' at Second Passage in the Passage Islands Group, West Falkland.

Thought this might be of interest to some of the more senior members of this Forum.

Many thanks for posting this. I sometimes think I spend too much time on this Forum, and then a post like yours reminds me that it is from time to time the source of really interesting items. Fascinating story, and very moving. Thanks for sharing.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Thanks. Was it the same day? I'm pretty sure that an announcement was made on the tannoy and probably a minute's silence before KO, although I don't specifically remember that but seems logical that there would have been.

I think it was the same day. My memory ( very hazy) is of listening on the car radio for updates before and after the match.

 

[sitwell]

Rochdale at home, May 4th 1982. Heading for promotion, but as you say, a subdued atmosphere

I remember being in the Lansdowne one night and an old guy came in and said the argentinians were just off the coast of Cornwall so immediate conscription was being imposed ,and everyone shit themselves and actually half believed him, we were that naive.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Thanks. Was it the same day? I'm pretty sure that an announcement was made on the tannoy and probably a minute's silence before KO, although I don't specifically remember that but seems logical that there would have been.

I think it was announced earlier that day that HMS Sheffield had been sunk. The game went ahead of course but there was definitely a minutes silence before kick off.

 

[sitwell]

2023 GOR IP GriffinRD

sama82.org.uk

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I remember being in the Lansdowne one night and an old guy came in and said the argentinians were just off the coast of Cornwall so immediate conscription was being imposed ,and everyone shit themselves and actually half believed him, we were that naive.

The village of Sheffield in Cornwall (just outside Penzance) was affected by a Spanish invasion in 1597, so perhaps he was a little confused…

 

[puppet]

I think Shaun was on the HMS Ardent.

 

[Jon B]

My lad has to do a tour at the end of the year , its between UAE Minhad ,or the Falklands ,for 4 months ,he finds out next month.
My best female friend at the time lost her brother in the Falklands. Rob Griffin was blown up as the were manning landing craft at Goose Green, they were bombed by Argentinian aircraft.
I was 20 at the time, never really known war or death and it proper shook me up. Times were different then and the Falklands were a massive shock to everyone.

Rob Griffin. He is commemorated on the War Memorial at King Ted's school. Those that knew him tell that he was one of the best. The very best.

 

[Cheesebored]

Another Blade killed in the Falklands was Pashley (john)? Used to drink in the Cross Guns on Sharrow lane. I used to pal about with his younger brother. Sure some others on here will remember him.

 

[Keen Blade]

Thanks much Crookes

My mate organised this via his past veteran status - we flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, refuelled at the RAF base in the Ascension Islands and onwards to the RAF main airport at Mount Pleasant in Stanley.

The Falklanders are so keen to receive veterans (many have passed on now or are just too old for a 30 hour door to door journey) and their families and friends.

Veterans of the 1982 Falklands conflict are treated almost like royalty out there and as a consequence everything is either done for free or capped at a very low cost.

In all honesty I felt both privileged and humbled to accompany my mate - he is a true diamond. One that goes out of his way to lay tributes at several memorials on behalf of UK veterans who cannot make out there, has a sip of port in tribute to them and send the photographs back home to them.

He is old school and has the best values of any person I have known.

Fascinating journey.
I'd love to know the type of plane on which you flew.
If is was an RAF plane , how did the experience compare to a normal commercial flight ?
You say 30 hours "door to door" but how long was the flight to the Ascensions , how long to refuel + how long the last leg to Stanley ?

I doubt I will ever make such a journey , so interested in your experience !

 

[bornablade]

It's strange how all our memories don't all align when we try to remember the same events.

My recollection of the sinking of HMS Sheffield is walking up Woodhead Road AFTER the night match and a guy walking in the opposite direction telling people about the sinking.

I don't recall any minutes silence before the match.

The news of the invasion of the Falklands by the Argies appeared as the last item on the radio news. It seemed so insignificant.
As days and weeks went by the story became more serious and obviously became the most important news item.

When I first heard the news of the invasion I couldn't understand why the Argies had invaded an island in Scotland. (I didn't do well in geography)

Thanks to the OP.

 

[ersblade]

I seem to recall coming out of the ground as the word was passed round that Sheffield had been hit. Pretty certain it wasn’t before the game.

 

[Original United]

Did we play Newport at home soon after as I seem to remember them not obeying a minutes silence?

 

[sitwell]

Fascinating journey.
I'd love to know the type of plane on which you flew.
If is was an RAF plane , how did the experience compare to a normal commercial flight ?
You say 30 hours "door to door" but how long was the flight to the Ascensions , how long to refuel + how long the last leg to Stanley ?

I doubt I will ever make such a journey , so interested in your experience !

Both my lads have worked on the Ascension islands , amazing place for cycling and hiking apparently. Also according to them a great place to meet women, as most long haul flights between south America and Europe use Ascension as a rest place for flight crew. Some stop over for 3 or 4 days.