Falkland Islands |
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Roll of Honour:
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The Parachute Regiment Falkland Islands, Killed in Action. |
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The Falkland Islands 1982 |
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It is appropriate that one of the few Falkland Islands flags flown permanently outside the island, should fly over this Memorial. Those who participated and lost their lives in the Liberation of our Islands in 1982 will always be remembered with gratitude and the many memorials around the island are important focal points for us. One of the most moving ceremonies during the visit of HRH the Prince of Wales, in March this year, was when he laid a wreath at the Parachute Memorial at Goose Green. The Memorial here in Northern Ireland is a fitting tribute to all members of the Parachute Regiment who have died in the service of their Country. Ms
Sukey Cameron |
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2nd Parachute Regiment |
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Col. H. Jones, V.C., O.B.E. ... 28th May 1982 |
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As the Chairman of the Falkland Families Association I know only too well what it means to the families of those who served with the Airborne Forces in 1982 in the South Atlantic to have them remembered at the Memorial Garden in Holywood. My husband, Col H Jones is buried in a serenely lovely spot far away in the cemetery of Blue Beach at San Carlos, Falkland Islands. For me and my family it is a great comfort to know that so much nearer to home we have this dedicated spot on which to focus our thoughts. I
would like to thank those who put so much time and love into ensuring that
the Garden is always a place of dignity and beauty for the families to
visit. I know that here in a quiet corner of Northern Ireland 'We will remember them' Mrs
Sarah Jones CBE JP |
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Captain C Dent ... 28th May 1982 |
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Captain D A Wood ... 28th May 1982 |
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Lt Jim A Barry ... 28th May 1982 |
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Cpl David Hardman. MID ...28th May 1982 |
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Thanks to Jimmy O'Connell ... 3 Para (Falklands Vet) David
Hardman was killed during the Falklands War. His father Thomas, a Ravenscraig worker, died aged 39 when he was electrocuted in an accident at the small holding. Following the tragedy, David moved with his mother Agnes, brother Frank and sisters Ann and Barbara to a flat in Strathaven Road, Hamilton. Agnes, a waitress at the Popinjay Hotel, Rosebank, died in 1977 at the age of 53, and it was Ann, now 55, who brought up her youngest brother. David attended Low Waters Primary and St John’s Grammar and played football for his school teams and the Boys’ Brigade. In 1976, immediately after leaving school, David joined Second Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. He became a career soldier signing up for three years and later a further nine years. He honed his fitness and, according to Ann, was rarely seen with alcohol and, apparently, never went with girls. She added, however: “After he died, we received a number of telephone calls from girls he knew, so I think he was a bit of a dark horse.” David was promoted to lance corporal in 1977 and at the time of death had passed the stringent testing required for entry to the SAS. He served two years in Northern Ireland and narrowly escaped an IRA blast which killed 15 Paras and three members of the Queen’s Own Highlanders at Warrenpoint on August 28, 1979. Ann, who still lives in the Strathaven Road flat, said despite that horrific experience her brother remained committed to the Paras. He was “rarin’ to go” when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent the British Task Force south to remove Argentine forces from the Falklands. “He was home on leave and having a bath when he got the telegram telling him to report back to (the Paras’ base) at Aldershot,” added Ann. “I had never heard of the Falklands but David was glad they were going to see some action. He went away next day and that was the last I saw of him. ”David was killed on May 28, one of 17 members of 2 Para to die in the British assault on Argentine positions at Goose Green and Darwin. Goose Green was considered important to the invasion plan because of its close proximity to the British Forces’ beachhead at San Carlos. It was a fierce battle in which more than 1000 Argentine troops, many of them dug in, faced 600 members of 2 Para. The fighting spread over two days and David died when, with 2 Para’s commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel H Jones, he tried to wipe out an enemy machine gun position. Ann said: “Colonel Jones asked for volunteers to go over a hill and our David was the first with his hand up.” John Geddes, who fought with 2 Para that day and later wrote about the conflict in the book ‘Spearhead Assault: our fight to save the Falklands’, said David had been “shot up in an ill-fated assault on Argy positions”. He wrote that ‘Jock’ Hardman was a comrade for whom he would have died, and he added: “One of the other lads had been forced to use (David Hardman’s) body as cover and felt it twitching with enemy fire as Jock defended him even to the death.” For his bravery in 2 Para’s victory at Goose Green, David was Mentioned in Dispatches. He is buried at Wellhall Cemetery, Hamilton, where a service is each year held in memory of him and two other Paras who died on active service and are interred there. Ann, who worked until retirement at the Popinjay, has a 33-year-old daughter, Alyson, and two grandchildren. She still chokes back tears as she remembers her brother and remains bitter that he died in a war that she believes could have been avoided. “Margaret Thatcher went into it too quickly without thinking of the consequences,” she said. “There could have been a diplomatic solution.” Ann added: “I couldn’t be more proud of David, but I wish he had not given his life for his country. “That, though, is me being selfish. I couldn’t have held him back. He would have knocked me down to get out of the door to go. He would definitely put his life on the line for the Paras; they were like his second family. “And if he had not died in the Falklands, it could have been somewhere else. It’s what he wanted to do. I am more than proud of him, but I miss him so much and I am just waiting until I get to see him again.” |
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Cpl Steve. R. Prior ... 28th May 1982 |
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Cpl Paul. S. Sullivan ... 28th May 1982 |
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Lance Corporal Gary David BINGLEY. MM ... 28th May 1982 |
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24347663 Lance Corporal Gary David BINGLEY, The Parachute Regiment |
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L/Cpl Tony Cork ... 28th May 1982 |
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L/Cpl Nigel Smith ... 28th May 1982 |
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Pte Stephen Jeffrey J Dixon ... 28th May 1982 |
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Pte Mark W Fletcher (MID)... 28th May 1982 |
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Pte Mark Holman-Smith ...28th May 1982 |
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Private S. ILLINGSWORTH, DCM ... 28th May 1982 |
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Private S. ILLINGSWORTH, DCM |
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safety, and a total dedication to others. Whilst his action in coming to the help of a wounded soldier may have been almost instinctive on seeing the plight of a comrade, his move forward to collect much need ammunition for his beleagured platoon was a display of coolly-calculated courage and heroism of the very highest order. |
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Pte Tommy Mechan ... 28th May 1982 |
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SGT. Gordon P M FINDLAY ... 13th June1982 |
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Pte David A Parr ... 13th June1982 |
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Pte F Slough 13th June1982 |
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3rd Parachute Regiment |
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Thanks to James O,Connell ex 3 Para for sending the photo opposite. I
know you are there |
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Sergeant Ian J McKay VC ... 11th June1982 |
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During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an enemy battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually-supporting positions. Freda McKay- (Sgt-McKay's-mother)
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With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him ...
Many thanks to James Oconnell for his kind permission to use the above graphic |
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Cpl Keith (Ginge) McCarthy ... 12th June1982 |
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Cpl Steven Hope ... 11th June1982 |
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Letter delivered to David Cameron 4th July 2014 Cpl Stewart P.F. McLaughlin ... 11th June1982 |
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L/Cpl Pete Higgs ... 11th June1982 |
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Left to right Pete Higgs, Colin Charlton and Paul "Ski" Bachurzewski all from patrols, the photo was passed to me (Jimmy O'Connell) by Ski. Thanks to Jimmy O'Connell for passing this photo on. Want to contact Jimmy ? ... click here |
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L/Cpl. J (Doc) Murdock ... 11th June1982 |
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L/Cpl Chris. K. Lovett. (MID) ... 11th June1982 |
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L/Cpl Dave Scott ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Gerald Bull ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Jason Burt ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Jonathan Crow ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Mark Dodsworth ... 12th June1982 |
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Pte Anthony Greenwood ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Peter Hedicker ... 12th June1982 |
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Peter was born on May 25th 1960, in the Louise Margaret Hospital, Aldershot. He was the second son of Rita and the late Bill Hedicker; his father was a career soldier who spent 27 years in the Royal Army Service Corps, later the Royal Corps of Transport. As an "Army brat" Peter went to eight schools, finishing up at the Heron Wood school in Aldershot. During his school years he was a keen Cub and Scout. On leaving, he did a number of different jobs in and around Aldershot, including time as a barman in the Royal Exchange public house, where he met and made friends with a number of young soldiers from the Parachute Regiment. This prompted his decision to join up in September 1980, the same month in which his father hung up his own beret on retirement. Peter's pre-induction haircut was a major sponsorship event, supported by the regulars and staff of the Royal Exchange! On completion of his training, which was completed without incident or injury, Private Peter Hedicker was posted to 3 PARA, then in Aldershot, but which was subsequently moved to Tidworth. He chose to specialise in Infantry Support Weapons, and became an expert member of a Milan ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) fire team. In
this role he deployed to the South Atlantic in "SS
CANBERRA", landing on the Falkland Islands with 3
PARA on Friday May 21st 1982 as part of the amphibious
assault conducted by 3rd Commando Brigade. Peter then took part in the epic "tab" from
Port San Carlos to Estancia House, and subsequently
across the Murrell River to the start line for the
battle of Mount Longdon. During that long, hard fight on
the night of June 12th Peter was killed, along with
Corporal Keith "Ginge" McCarthy and Private
Phil West of his Milan team, by a direct hit from an
Argentine 106mm recoiless weapon. Peter was temporarily
interred with his 3 PARA colleagues at Teal Inlet, then
repatriated by sea to Southampton in November. After a
funeral with full military honours, his body now lies in the Aldershot Military Cemetery,
next to that of Sergeant Ian McKay VC. Peter is survived by his mother, Rita, and by his brother Stephen and sister, Nicola. In his name, they are all Special Members of SAMA82. |
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Pte Tim Jenkins ... 12th June1982 |
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Pte Craig. E. Jones ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Stewart Laing ... 11th June1982 |
I first met Stewart or Geordie to his friends in 1979 in the Parachute Regiment Depot, he joined 459 platoon after having an injury with a previous platoon, I was not keen on him at first as he was a very boisterous person all ways very loud, but as I got to know Stewart, you found a good friend who would do anything for you, give you the shirt off his back if he had to. At the end of our time in depot we were posted to 3 Para, Stewart went to A company and I went to B company, again Stewart was very popular in A company and stayed there till 1981. After the battalion came back from Northern Ireland, he and I both applied to do an anti tank cadre and joined Support Company, where Geordie made lots of close friends like Pat Harley, Kev Connery, Johno, Mushrooms, Terry Martin, Charlie Hardwick, and many more, too many to mention, We went to Canada and had a ball! life in the battalion was great, life was good, to good to last.
Then came April 1982, off we sailed on the SS Canberra
and we as a platoon and we drank our fill. When we landed, Support Company was split up, divided
between the different Company's in the battalion
"A, B and C. Stewart died on Mount Longdon doing what he always did,
"helping a friend" He will always be remembered by those us who knew him,
not a day goes by that we don't think of him, and the
other members of the anti tanks who died that night and
the rest of the battalion, Whenever I think of him its always with a big smile on
his face, he was a great loss. |
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Pte
Ian Patrick Scrivens ... 11th
June1982 |
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Pte Philip West ... 11th June1982 |
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Pte Richard John De Mansfield Absolon (MM) ... 13th June1982 |
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The church is the oldest stone church in New Zealand and houses the standards and military memorabilia of the early British Garrison that was next to the church in the 1800's. It's our pleasure to include on this website Richard's memorial it is in the grounds of St Mary's Anglican Cathedral, Red Coat Lane, New Plymouth, New Zealand. |
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9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers |
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Cpl Scotty Wilson ... 13th June1982 |
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Cpl
Scotty Wilson was Killed while attached to the 3rd Bn
Parachute Regiment during the Battle of Mount Longdon. |
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Cpl A. G. McIlvenny ... 8th June1982 |
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Spr W. D. Tarbard ... 8th June1982 |
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Wayne
was the first son of David and Jocelyn Tarbard. Born on
6th January 1963 in Burton on Trent, the second child of
five children - Sharon, Karl, Maxine and Kirsty. Wayne
attended primary school in Hilton, followed by a
secondary education at Hatton School. Here he began to develop a yearning for a career in the
Armed Forces. He was a keen sportsman, playing for a
local football team with aspirations of playing for Liverpool, his favourite
club, and he was also a member of the Marston Church
choir (though not renowned for his singing voice!). Wayne was always interested in
people around him and the part time pocket money jobs he
undertook reflected his interest in the village and the
surrounding community - a Butchers lad for the local
butcher, paper rounds and a variety of jobs at the
Hilcrete Company. However his long-term career path was
to join the Army and work towards a trade. To this end
he enlisted at The Royal Engineers Apprentice College in Chepstow at 16
and a half years of age. |
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L/Cpl J. B. Pashley... 13th June1982 |
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L/CPL. J B PASHLEY. RE L/Cpl
J B Pashley, he was attached to the 2nd Bn Scots Guards
and was killed during the attack on Tumbledown Mountain
... Tony (AL) Fry and six others
buried him at |
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216 Parachute Squadron Royal Signals
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Major Mike. L. Forge ... 5th June1982 |
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Below is an article about Mr Terry Peck ... Cancer has taken the life of Mr. Terry Peck, a Falklands hero of the 1982 conflict with Argentina. He passed away on the morning of Saturday, 30 December 2006 ... I thought that you should know about him, and his name should be recorded. He was made an honorary member of 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment. |
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Terry was sworn back in as Special Constable the day before Argentina invaded and at one time was considered by the Argentine occupiers as a candidate for Chief of Police; they could not have considered a more unsuitable candidate. He immediately began to do his utmost to undermine the occupying forces. His behaviour after the invasion caused consternation amongst the locals as he appeared to be wandering around Port Stanley clutching a length of drainpipe. In reality this disguised a telephoto lens, with which he photographed Argentine preparations for the defence of the town. The photographs he had taken were smuggled out of the Falklands by British contract workers taking the opportunity to leave the islands, providing valuable intelligence for British Forces. The Argentine military police, led by Major Patricio Dowling, arrived on the islands with detailed files on many islanders, particularly those known for their anti-Argentine views. Dowling, an Argentine of Irish origin who hated all things British, frequently over-stepped his authority, ignoring instructions to treat the islanders with respect and quickly became known for his tendency to resort to violence. Constable Anton Livermore had been asked to stay on with the police force to defuse potentially serious clashes between locals and the Argentines. Increasingly unhappy in the role he found himself in, when he heard Dowling discussing the imminent arrest of Terry Peck he took the opportunity to warn his former boss. Having prepared a possible escape plan for some time, Terry armed himself with a pistol, borrowed a motorbike from the garage of an expatriate and fled Stanley. His first stop was Long Island Farm, home of Neil and Glenda Watson, where a party was in full swing celebrating the Queen’s birthday. This was nearly his undoing as the party did not hear the approach of a Puma helicopter till too late and the house was already surrounded by Argentine soldiers. Fortunately the search of the house was half-hearted and he escaped detection with the simple expedient of locking himself in the toilet. He left for Green Patch to find the locals expecting him, there he acquired cold weather gear and rations left there by a party of Royal Navy sailors from HMS Endurance, He then spent ten miserable days camping in a remote part of the islands known as Geordie's Valley, where he had fished before the occupation. Eventually the cold sapped his morale and he risked a fire for the chance of a hot meal, unfortunately just as it was ready he accidentally knocked it over. |
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Sir Rex Hunt, who was governor of the Falkland Islands during the 1982 Argentine invasion, Sir Rex, who was considered a hero in the Falklands, will be remembered for his 'courage and dignity' in facing the invasion, the island's government said. The Yorkshireman took up his post in 1980 and was ousted as governor of the British overseas territory by invading Argentinian forces on April 2 1982, when he was taken prisoner and expelled to Uruguay. After refusing a plan to hide in the hills and outnumbered after a fierce gun battle, Sir Rex took the painful decision to surrender. But he made one final act of defiance when, dressed in full gubernatorial uniform, he refused to shake invading commander General Oswald Garcia’s hand. The islands were recaptured by British forces on June 14 1982 that year after then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher deployed a naval taskforce to the South Atlantic ocean. He returned as Governor following the 74-day war and remained in his post until 1985. Today the Falkland Islands government said in a statement: 'We received news of the passing of Sir Rex Hunt with great sadness. 'Sir Rex will forever be remembered in the islands for his years of service as governor, and particularly for his courage and dignity in facing the Argentine invasion in 1982. 'His numerous contributions to our home were recognised in his being granted the freedom of Stanley in 1985. 'A loyal friend of the Falkland Islands, he served for many years as chairman of the Falkland Islands Association and as president of the UK Falkland Islands Trust. 'His passion and commitment to the Falkland Islands will be sorely missed. 'The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all Falkland islanders are with his family and friends at this sad time.' Sir Rex Hunt was born in Redcar, Yorkshire, and educated at the local Coatham school. He read law at St Peter's College, Oxford, before joining the RAF as a cadet in 1941. He was commissioned as a pilot in 1944, and flew Spitfires with No 5 Squadron in India in 1946 before transferring to Germany with No 26 Squadron in 1947. He left active service in 1948, but remained in the reserves, where he reached the rank of flight lieutenant, until 1951. Sir Rex Hunt was knighted in October 1982.
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