Blades Scarf on Falklands War Memorial

[North anston blade]

2022, the 40th Anniversary of Rob Griffin's death. Presentation at St Matthew's Church on Carver Street of Drum Major Mace to the Sea Cadets unit in which Rob had been Drum Major. Jo is stood immediately in front of the White Ensign. An islet in the Falklands is named after Rob.

The Landing Craft, Foxtrot Four, on which Rob died was the last Royal Navy vessel lost in the conflict. The survivors were lifted off but it then sank whilst under tow. Earlier in the campaign Foxtrot Four had rescued many men from the stricken HMS Antelope.

I remember how the war put football joys/woes in perspective.

Yes, Foxtrot 4 is 1 of the few memorials i still need to visit and pay my respects at. I laid a cross at the main memorial in Stanley last week on behalf of a captain of 42 cdo who knew the lads on F4

 

[North anston blade]

I spent 7 months in the Falklands as the conflict was ending with the joy of sailing down from Ascension Island . A long 10 days on a requisitioned cruise ship in force 10 seas on a flat bottomed boat.
My eldest son was born on 4th may 1982 the day HMS Sheffield was sunk so always a bitter sweet day for us.
I also sailed back on the hospital ship SS Uganda.
Many years later I did a 6 month tour on Ascension islands which was pure heaven compared to Stanley.

I went back in 84 and sailed on Uganda from Ascension and back too

 

[North anston 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.

That's heavy praise coming from you kidda, I'll have to try and live upto it now

 

[North anston blade]

I was very close with his sister Joanne , she lived on South Rd at Walkley. It was a horrendous time and probably changed all our lives.

Indeed it did

 

[North anston blade]

The missile struck just after 2pm UK time on May 4th. Ian MacDonald didn't make the announcement until the evening of the same day, while the match was actually underway. Most people found out on the evening news bulletins that night.

It was a long day

 

[Baghdad Blade]

Great story! I was 10 at the time of the Falklands but I remember waking up early to look at the news in my Dad’s newspaper. I think it triggered something in me and was probably why I joined the Army. A few of the senior instructors in my training had served there in 82. One had been in the Scots Guards at Mount Tumbledown, where they actually fixed bayonets to clear positions. He was a man to be feared.
Thanks for sharing and I have always had great respect for the Senior Service!
From my experience everyone should do a battlefield tour, if they get the chance. Very humbling

 

[Sleafordblade]

I went back in 84 and sailed on Uganda from Ascension and back too

 

[North anston blade]

Great story! I was 10 at the time of the Falklands but I remember waking up early to look at the news in my Dad’s newspaper. I think it triggered something in me and was probably why I joined the Army. A few of the senior instructors in my training had served there in 82. One had been in the Scots Guards at Mount Tumbledown, where they actually fixed bayonets to clear positions. He was a man to be feared.
Thanks for sharing and I have always had great respect for the Senior Service!
From my experience everyone should do a battlefield tour, if they get the chance. Very humbling

I paid my respects on Tumbledown 2 years ago

 

[North anston blade]

 

[Super Furry Blades]

What a great read this thread is , puts 11 men kicking a bag of wind around into perspective.
So sad to hear about the lads from Sheffield who perished in the south Atlantic.
I was only 10 at the time but i remember the news bulletins.
Less than 7 years later I was serving in HM FORCES
War is a dirty business

 

[North anston blade]

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.

Do you know which ship? I was on HMS Arrow

 

[Zipwire]

Do you know which ship? I was on HMS Arrow

HMS Penolope.

My old man had left the Navy before the Falkland but he served on the Ark Royal and Hermes in the 1970s before becoming an airfield fireman on Yeovil air base

 

[North anston blade]

HMS Penolope.

My old man had left the Navy before the Falkland but he served on the Ark Royal and Hermes in the 1970s before becoming an airfield fireman on Yeovil air base

Thanks

 

[gooseh]

Great thread indeed, from a "pongo".

 

[Northyorksblade]

Whilst on a cruise 18 months ago, someone on the next table at dinner noticed my Help for heroes wrist band. We got chatting and he had been in the Paras as a medic and was the first one to treat Simon Weston when the Sir Galahad was hit. He didn't give much detail, but spoke generally about his army life. His wife told me later that he still has terrible nightmares and wakes up screaming. Bearing in mind this was over 40 years ago, that's serious PTSD. She said he's never got over that period.

 

[ashsufc1889]

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.

All very true!

 

[KeyffSmyff]

Again a great read and a heartfelt thank you you brave men and women who have served, whether in times of peace or war it conflict. Thank You

 

[North anston blade]

Whilst on a cruise 18 months ago, someone on the next table at dinner noticed my Help for heroes wrist band. We got chatting and he had been in the Paras as a medic and was the first one to treat Simon Weston when the Sir Galahad was hit. He didn't give much detail, but spoke generally about his army life. His wife told me later that he still has terrible nightmares and wakes up screaming. Bearing in mind this was over 40 years ago, that's serious PTSD. She said he's never got over that period.

There's not many days pass without remembering something from that war, PTSD wasn't recognised back then so no help offered. You just had to get on with life