On 2 April 1982, Argentine Forces invaded the Falkland Islands, a remote British Colony in the South Atlantic. The UK, which had all the islands for nearly 150 years (though Argentina had long claimed sovereignty), chose to fight. The conflict, lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June, returning the islands to British control.
We asked veterans to share their memories with us.... this is our first one ..........
Memories from (Capt) Nyg Parry
"One enjoyable event which happened, myself and a few of my fellow Technicians of the 205 Signal Squadron, as part of 5 Airborne Brigade, decided it was time for a shower. At the time we were located in someone's back garden in a hut.
However, there were materials and grounds sufficient for us to build one. So, we all got together and found some corrugated sheets to make a shower cubicle, along with a poncho sheet as a shower curtain. Some wood and an old ammunition box pierced some holes and fitted above the sheets to form a shower head. We found an old Oil drum which was cut in half, the type you might use as a BBQ. This was used to heat the water above a Peat fire. It took 3 of us to have a shower one, keeping the water and fire going, another to carry the water to the person standing above you to fill the ammunition box for the water to shower you. You were allowed I think 2 or 3 water loads, one to soak you, one to lather you and one to rinse. The fun part was you had to make a dash from the hut to the shower which was about 20 feet away, in the freezing cold as it was winter there at the time, with just a towel and then back again. However, once dried we all agreed it was the best shower we have ever had especially in the field. We were the envy of the remainder of the Sqn and especially HQ".
"Another was funny, but had its serious element at the same time. Me and a friend of mine having just arrived with the Sqn, into the area at Darwin were tasked with carrying out a house search. We came to this room in the building where we heard sounds coming from the closed room. In true war film style, we decided to rush the room and shoot anything that moved; me on one side of the door and my mate on the other. As we burst in we got the shock of our lives, just as we were about to open fire, this almighty huge PIG! went crazy and barged past us and ran out of the building. When we searched the room, we found it had been used as a food store for the Argentinians with loads of pasta and somehow the pig got trapped in the room and was merely chomping away at everything it could eat. After a few minutes to settle down we finally were able to report the building clear".
The saddest moment of our time there was hearing the news at the loss of our OC Major Michael Forge, and A Tp SSgt, SSgt John Baker along with the crew of the Gazelle Helicopter, Chris Griffin and Simon Cockton, they were flying in was shot down on 6 Jun unfortunately, by friendly fire. This incident is well documented. It was sad not only due to loss of life, but Major Forge had only been with us for a month having just taken over the Sqn. At the time we were all told it was an Argentinian outpost that had shot the Helicopter, with Blowpipe (Surface to Air missile system). It was 6 years later after reading the Sun newspaper whilst stationed in Germany, did I find out it was Blue on Blue. A really sad day for us all, for everyone who lost their lives.
