Thompson, Julian Howard Atherden (Oral history)

British officer commanded 3rd Commando Bde during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982

REEL 1 Recollections of period commanding 3rd Commando Bde during preparations for deployment to South Atlantic in GB, 4/1982: hearing news of Argentinean landings from Major-General Jeremy Moore; state of readiness of brigade; organisation of shipping to accommodate brigade; requisitioning of civilian ships including SS Canberra; problems of movement of stores by rail; method of combat loading ships; reaction to civilian underestimations of Argentinean forces; opinion that war would occur; perceptions of Argentinean forces; method of conveying opinion of Argentinean forces to troops; expectations of nature of conflict; importance of first aid training and physical fitness; organisation of command structure. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of command structure. Recollections of operations commanding 3rd Commando Bde during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982: degree of intelligence about Argentinean forces during voyage to South Atlantic; use of special forces to gather intelligence on Falkland Islands; impressions of journalists on board SS Canberra; use of Mexeflote landing rafts; importance of amphibious training for units who had no experience of it; problems of disembarking troops from civilian ships; importance of live firing exercises on Accession Island; Ewen Southby-Tailyour's mapping of Falklands Islands; perceived Argentinean threats to Naval Task Force at Ascension Island; reaction to hearing of inability to establish air superiority during landings; effects of lack of air superiority during landings at San Carlos Water, 21/5/1982; reasons for Major-General General Jeremy Moore not being closer to landings. REEL 3 Continues: problems created by order to spread assault troops from SS Canberra around other ships; benefits of weather changes on run up to landings at San Carlos Water; problems with signals decoder aboard MV Norland; plan to attack Argentinean positions on Fanning Head, 20/5/1982-21/5/1982; reasons for delay to landings in San Carlos Water; problems 2nd Parachute Regt had embarking into landing craft, 21/5/1982; second and third wave landings at San Carlos Water, 21/5/1982; problems with establishing Rapier Missiles of T Bty, 12th Regt, Royal Artillery; effect of Argentine Air Force attacks on the landing sequence in San Carlos Water; effect of decision to remove vulnerable merchant vessels from San Carlos Water; question of interpretation of directive regarding beach-head; decision to mount raid using 2nd Parachute Regt on Goose Green; effect of loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor; question of under allocation of units for Goose Green operation; air support during Battle of Goose Green, 28/5/1982-29/5/1982; surrender of Argentinean forces at Goose Green, 29/5/1982. REEL 4 Continues: contact with Argentinean prisoners of war; positions of 3rd Bn Parachute Regt and 45 Commando, Royal Marines; problems of weather in moving 42 Commando, Royal Marines forward to Mount Kent; arrival of Major-General Jeremy Moore; reaction to Secretary of State for Defence John Nott's announcement on British Broadcasting Corporation World Service about 5th Infantry Bde's positions and location of Headquarters, 3rd Commando Bde; role of intelligence patrols; plans for attacks on mountains west of Port Stanley; attacks on Mount Longdon and Mount Harriet; events leading up to surrender of Port Stanley; role of Captain Rod Bell and Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Rose in negotiating Argentinean surrender; reaction to hearing news of Argentinean surrender. REEL 5 Continues: demeanour of prisoners of war and story of Argentinean Marines burning regimental colours; requisitioning Argentinean officer's jeep; question of controlling discipline after Argentinean surrender; character of Falkland Islanders; attitude towards Argentineans; opinion of Argentinean forces and equipment. Reflections on Falklands War, 1982: contact with Argentinean historian Virginia Gamba-Stonehouse; reception on return to GB; debriefing and discussions during voyage from Falkland Islands to GB, 6/1982; question of need for counselling; question of personal change after Falklands War; bombing of his headquarters; reaction to broadcast of 2nd Bn Parachute Regt positions at Camilla Creek House by British Broadcasting Corporation World Service; opinion of need to rationalise press briefings; attitude towards Falklands War.