Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (Oral history)

British officer commanded Royal Marine detachment Naval Party 8901 on Falkland Islands, 1978-1979; acted as adviser and planner for Task Force landings during Falklands War, 1982

REEL 1 Recollections of period as commander of Royal Marine detachment, Naval Party 8901 in Falkland Islands, 1978-1979: survey activities; orders to select landing beach; relations with governor Jim Parker; question of likelihood of Argentinean invasion; evidence of Argentinean plans to invade; question of requirements needed to repel Argentinean invasion. Recollections of operations as Royal Marine advisor and planner with Task Force during Falklands War, 1982: initial meeting with Brigadier Julian Thompson; role briefing personnel on board HMS Fearless; attitude towards war; potential effects of war on Falkland Islands fauna; issuing of survival document. REEL 2 Continues: problems of explaining Falkland Island terrain; problems of ration and water supply; joining planning team for San Carlos Water landings; types of problems encountered planning landing; abandonment of timing for landings; importance of dry landings; duties after landing; question of mines; opinion of Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones decision to attack Goose Green on foot; disagreement with HMS Intrepid's captain over where landing craft should launch; character of run in with 1st Bn Scots Guards to Bluff Cove; effect of lack of landing craft in preventing meeting with 1st Bn Welsh Guards on HMS Fearless; reasons for delay in 1st Bn Welsh Guards disembarking from Sir Galahad. REEL 3 Continues: problems created by HMS Hermes having her boiler clean; question of Argentinean Air Force superiority; taking surrender at Pebble Island; reaction to recapture of Falkland Islands; question of Argentinean ground force tactics; opinion of Argentinean Air Force; opinion of sinking of Belgrano.