Description
Object description
Detailed ts account (107pp, written 2011) illustrated with copies of maps and photographs, about his service as Battery Commander of 7th (Sphinx) Commando Battery, 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery (45 Commando Group, 3rd Commando Brigade) during the Falklands War, 1982, Operation Corporate, with details of the history of 7th Commando Battery, Based in RN airbase Condor, Arbroath, the difficulties of physical separation from the 29th and 45th Commando, training in early 1982, the international situation, his leave being cut short, planning for deployment, the positive attitude and excitement of many, people extending service to take part, the rush to get things done, final leave with family, the disbelief that the situation would escalate to war, embarking on Landing Ship Logistics (LSL) RFA SIR PERCIVALE (5 April 1982), some friction with the crew of the ship, the voyage, trap shooting, training programmes, meals, poor state of transport ships, carrying their mascot, a one ton steel Sphinx (aka The Golden Dog), on-board entertainment, his relationship with the CO of 29th Commando Regiment, the casual atmosphere on board, reassembling guns and test firing from the ship, arriving at Ascension Island, practicing landings, touring the island, hearing of ships being sunk, training and meetings becoming more serious, parachute regiment and anti-aircraft battery joining the commandos, moving to RFA REGENT, relaxing change, returning to PERCIVAL when REGENT was diverted to partake in Operation Parquet in South Georgia, transferring to the STROMNESS, final orders, watching Zulu the night before, landing at Ajax Bay, San Carlos Water (21 May 1982), huge amounts of equipment and no transport, digging in, feeling like it was an exercise, Argentine air attacks, defensive artillery fire, watching the sinking of HMS ARDENT and destruction of HMS ANTELOPE, the increasing accuracy of anti-aircraft fire, firing his first shots in action, being based in a canning factory also used as a medical centre, the miserable march with heavy equipment towards Douglas settlement with 45 Commando and 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment (3 Para), morale boost of receiving mail, accommodation in Douglas, returning to Brigade HQ by helicopter, hearing news of 2 Para at Goose Green, moving out to Teal Inlet (June 1982), a troop of 7th Battery being airlifted to Mount Kent to join Special Forces, 45 Commando and the second troop joining later, seeing captured Argentine Special Forces, joining 7th Battery, continuous firing, digging in overlooking Port Stanley, coming under enemy artillery fire, supporting attacks on Mount Longdon, Two Sisters and Mount Harriet, planning for the assault on Two Sisters and details of the attack whilst accompanying Colonel Andrew Whitehead (11 - 12 June 1982), eating Argentine supplies, ordering fire on an Argentine airfield destroying seven aircraft, preparing for the assault on Mount Tumbledown, pursuing and firing on the fleeing enemy, ceasing fire as it was 'just murder', news of the cease fire, moving into Stanley, the disarming of enemy soldiers, the poor and unhygienic condition of the prisoners, the post conflict clean-up, souvenir collecting, battery returning to the UK on board CANBERRA, and his journey to Ascension Island in HMS INTREPID, details of the trip and return to military discipline, flying in a C130 (Hercules), details of the battery's wives coping at home, flying to join the CANBERRA on its return, and the huge reception they received. With anecdotes, details of fellow officers and men, organisation, daily orders, conditions, cold wet weather, thoughts, dealing with war correspondents, latrines, admiration for the British troops and public support, compassion for Argentinean dead and prisoners, blue on blue casualties, high spirits of his men, improvisation in the field, acting as a Forward Observation Officer descriptions of fierce front line fighting, and feeling calm in battle, and the come down from the adrenaline rush, lessons learnt, with an epilogue containing details of return trips to the Falklands, and about the post war careers of some of his comrades.
Content description
Detailed ts account (107pp, written 2011) illustrated with copies of maps and photographs, about his service as Battery Commander of 7th (Sphinx) Commando Battery, 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery (45 Commando Group, 3rd Commando Brigade) during the Falklands War, 1982, Operation Corporate, with details of the history of 7th Commando Battery, Based in RN airbase Condor, Arbroath, the difficulties of physical separation from the 29th and 45th Commando, training in early 1982, the international situation, his leave being cut short, planning for deployment, the positive attitude and excitement of many, people extending service to take part, the rush to get things done, final leave with family, the disbelief that the situation would escalate to war, embarking on Landing Ship Logistics (LSL) RFA SIR PERCIVALE (5 April 1982), some friction with the crew of the ship, the voyage, trap shooting, training programmes, meals, poor state of transport ships, carrying their mascot, a one ton steel Sphinx (aka The Golden Dog), on-board entertainment, his relationship with the CO of 29th Commando Regiment, the casual atmosphere on board, reassembling guns and test firing from the ship, arriving at Ascension Island, practicing landings, touring the island, hearing of ships being sunk, training and meetings becoming more serious, parachute regiment and anti-aircraft battery joining the commandos, moving to RFA REGENT, relaxing change, returning to PERCIVAL when REGENT was diverted to partake in Operation Parquet in South Georgia, transferring to the STROMNESS, final orders, watching Zulu the night before, landing at Ajax Bay, San Carlos Water (21 May 1982), huge amounts of equipment and no transport, digging in, feeling like it was an exercise, Argentine air attacks, defensive artillery fire, watching the sinking of HMS ARDENT and destruction of HMS ANTELOPE, the increasing accuracy of anti-aircraft fire, firing his first shots in action, being based in a canning factory also used as a medical centre, the miserable march with heavy equipment towards Douglas settlement with 45 Commando and 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment (3 Para), morale boost of receiving mail, accommodation in Douglas, returning to Brigade HQ by helicopter, hearing news of 2 Para at Goose Green, moving out to Teal Inlet (June 1982), a troop of 7th Battery being airlifted to Mount Kent to join Special Forces, 45 Commando and the second troop joining later, seeing captured Argentine Special Forces, joining 7th Battery, continuous firing, digging in overlooking Port Stanley, coming under enemy artillery fire, supporting attacks on Mount Longdon, Two Sisters and Mount Harriet, planning for the assault on Two Sisters and details of the attack whilst accompanying Colonel Andrew Whitehead (11 - 12 June 1982), eating Argentine supplies, ordering fire on an Argentine airfield destroying seven aircraft, preparing for the assault on Mount Tumbledown, pursuing and firing on the fleeing enemy, ceasing fire as it was 'just murder', news of the cease fire, moving into Stanley, the disarming of enemy soldiers, the poor and unhygienic condition of the prisoners, the post conflict clean-up, souvenir collecting, battery returning to the UK on board CANBERRA, and his journey to Ascension Island in HMS INTREPID, details of the trip and return to military discipline, flying in a C130 (Hercules), details of the battery's wives coping at home, flying to join the CANBERRA on its return, and the huge reception they received. With anecdotes, details of fellow officers and men, organisation, daily orders, conditions, cold wet weather, thoughts, dealing with war correspondents, latrines, admiration for the British troops and public support, compassion for Argentinean dead and prisoners, blue on blue casualties, high spirits of his men, improvisation in the field, acting as a Forward Observation Officer descriptions of fierce front line fighting, and feeling calm in battle, and the come down from the adrenaline rush, lessons learnt, with an epilogue containing details of return trips to the Falklands, and about the post war careers of some of his comrades.
History note
Cataloguer SJO