Description
Object description
British marine and NCO served with 40 Commando, Royal Marines in GB, Cyprus and Northern Ireland, 1974-1977; served aboard HMS Mohawk in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1977-1978; served as observer with Air Squadron, 3rd Commando Bde, Royal Marines in GB, Northern Ireland and during Falklands War, 1979-1982
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Birkenhead, GB, 1952-1973: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Marines in GB, 1973: background to enlistment; basic training at Royal Marines Depot, Deal; move to Commando Training School, Lympstone; ethos of Royal Marines; pattern of training including final endurance tests; decision to remain with Royal Marines; selection interview for specialised training; attending radio operators course. Aspects of operations as marine with 40 Commando, Royal Marines in GB and Cyprus, 1974-1977: joining unit at Seaton Barracks, Plymouth; deployment to Cyprus; briefing on arrival in Cyprus; role of unit; state of Turkish Cypriot refugees; encounter of patrol with National Guard of Cyprus; clash between National Guard of Cyprus and unit removing furniture; flight to GB and rapid redeployment to Cyprus; reasons for redeployment.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as marine and NCO with 40 Commando, Royal Marines in Northern Ireland, 1975-1976: deployment to Northern Ireland; how unit's attempt at hearts and minds operation was ruined by Royal Ulster Constabulary; impressions of Belfast; character of camp; shooting at base and accidental firing of anti-tank weapon in camp; duties as wireless operator; mobile patrols using Land Rovers; nature of operational area and incidents occurring within it; rules of engagement and powers of arrest; sense of security of civilians living around camp; composition of patrols; patrolling in urban environment; uniform worn on patrol; search operations; threat to radio operators; technique for exiting and returning to barracks; duration of tour; return to GB to attend junior command course.
REEL 3 Continues: promotion to Intelligence Section corporal; interest in intelligence work; second tour in South Armagh, Northern Ireland, 1976; deployment of unit in South Armagh; situation in South Armagh; patrolling in South Armagh; information gleaned from conversations with civilians; building up intelligence on Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA); how he was unable to attend family funeral in Republic of Ireland; use of Vehicle Check Points to gather intelligence; story of videoing gathering of intelligence; following target vehicles; sources of intelligence; initial avoiding of sea service. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Marines aboard HMS Mohawk in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1977-1978: drafting to ship; role of Royal Marines on board; duties maintaining marine engines of Gemini Boats; ashore in Mediterranean. Aspects of operations as NCO with 40 Commando, Royal Marines in Northern Ireland, 1979: posting to Northern Ireland; promotion to sergeant; attending selection process for aircrew; attending observer course including learning to fly helicopter.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with Air Sqdn, 3rd Commando Bde, Royal Marines in GB and Northern Ireland, 1979-1982: joining air squadron; deployment and organisation of air squadron; duties; posting to Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, 1980; duties in Northern Ireland; threats to helicopters; insertion operations; incident of loss of helicopter; air evasion exercises in Scotland, 1982. Recollections of operations as observer with Air Sqdn, 3rd Commando Bde, Royal Marines during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982: preparations for deployment; degree of knowledge of Falkland Islands; preparing helicopters for move south; operating Westland Gazelle AH.1 Helicopter from Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships; attitude to deploying for war; duties on voyage from GB to Ascension Island; designing of General Purpose Machine Gun mount to Westland Gazelle AH.1; ashore on Ascension Island; dealing with unit member who had problem with personal morale; attitude to prospect of war; weather conditions between Ascension Island to Falkland Islands; further preparations.
REEL 5 Continues: degree of understanding of overall planning for landings; proposed role of Westland Gazelle AH.1; character of pre-dawn aerial reconnaissance mission of ridge line above San Carlos Water, 21/5/1982; escorting Westland Sea King helicopters, 21/5/1982; dealing with problem on General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) mounting; sight of landings at San Carlos, 21/5/1982. Account of being shot down in Westland Gazelle AH.1 (XX 411) over San Carlos Water, Falkland Islands, 21/5/1982: flying towards Chancho Point on escort duty; hit on aircraft and effect on helicopter; Sergeant Andrew Evan's control of helicopter's descent; reaction to hitting water; attempts to get out of helicopter in water; problem of being still attached to helicopter by dispatchers harness; problems of getting knife from scabbard to release himself from dispatchers harness; silence after crash.
REEL 6 Continues: attempt to inflate life jacket and Sergeant Andrew Evans breaking surface; sight of Argentinean troops firing on him and Sergeant Andrew Evans; reaction to being shot at; supporting Sergeant Andrew Evans during swim towards shore; inflating life jacket and Argentinean opening fire again; sight of civilians on shore; narrow miss by bullet; aid from civilians; sight of Westland Gazelle AH.1 (XX 412) over Chancho Point and it's subsequent shooting down by ground fire; reaction of civilians to their arrival; nature of Sergeant Andrew Evans's wounds; civilians contacting of invading forces; death of Sergeant Andrew Evans; arrival of medic from 3rd Bn Parachute Regt; reaction to death of Sergeant Andrew Evans and narrow escape from shooting by paratrooper; evacuation to beachhead; protecting civilians during air raid; evacuation to SS Canberra; arrival of Argentinean casualties on board; his nose wound; voyage to South Georgia. Aspects of period as observer with Air Sqdn, 3rd Commando Bde, Royal Marines during Falklands War, 5/1982-6/1982: reception on arrival back with squadron; duties during rest of war; duration of night operations; threat of mines.
REEL 7 Continues: reaction to end of campaign; importance of voyage back to GB to adjusting to experiences; attending 25th Anniversary celebrations of Falklands War, 2007; use of Aerospatiale Gazelle as memorial.