East Lancashire remembers the Falklands War 30 years on

'I'd go back to fight in a heartbeat'

CHRIS Harrison, of Fecitt Brow, Blackburn, had only been in the Navy a year when he set sail for the Falklands aboard Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Percival.

The 50-year-old said: “We were some 500 yards from HMS Antelope when she exploded and were not far from the Atlantic Conveyor when it was hit by an Exocet missile and went down.

“I was 19 at the time, and it was a lot for a young lad to go through. They say that if you’re not fearful going to war, then there’s something wrong with you.

“When our ship came under attack from a plane, I was firing a gun at it on deck, but then my gun jammed. When I couldn’t fire, I stuck two fingers up at the pilot as it went past.

“I’ve since been told by a gun loader that there were two other planes behind the one I was firing at, that were coming for me, and bullets were flying either side of my head.

“I had no idea at the time – I was caught up in the moment. I feel very lucky.”

Chris, a father of two, who now works at the Tesco Express in Whalley New Road, Blackburn, said that since leaving the Navy he has suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“I have attended Combat Stress, and I sometimes find writing poems or painting helps.

“There are thousands of blokes who won’t go and get help, but it’s out there if you want it.”

Despite the horror of what he witnessed, he says he would “gladly go back to fight for the islands in a heartbeat”, as the residents have shown their gratitude to him on return visits.

He said: “The islanders regard themselves as more British than us, and would do anything for a Falklands’ veteran.

“They welcome you into their homes and can’t do enough - I’m glad I was able to help them.

“The Argentinian president going on about Britain militarising the islands now is just political showboating for upcoming elections.”

Conflict can never become forgotten war'

WAR hero Les Standish is now close friends with an Argentinian he held prisoner 30 years ago.

Mr Standish, 51, was a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the parachute Regiment during the conflict, and a section commander responsible for eight men during the battle of Goose Green.

He was awarded the Military Medal after dragging a colleague to safety during the battle, in which the regiment took 1,500 Argentinian soldiers prisoner.

Alejandro Vidlea was one of the prisoners who were disarmed, searched, and then put in a sheep pen before being shipped back to Argentina.

Ten years ago, via a regimental forum, Alejandro made contact with Mr Standish, who lived in Brookdale, Belmont, before travelling the world.

Mr Standish said: “He posted on a forum and was getting a bit of abuse, then I defended him.

“We began to swap emails and photographs, and eventually met up at Heathrow Airport in 2004. It was quite emotional for me as it turned out we had been shooting at each other.

“I was attacking the right hand side, and he was defending the left hand side. I was covered in blood when one soldier was hit, and so was he. We must have been about 10 or 15 feet apart.

“During the battle of Goose Green it was hand-to-hand fighting in trenches and you were killing people less than an arm’s length away.

“I’d describe it as like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, but on a smaller scale.

“I lost one of my men and another was wounded. Luckily I wasn’t hurt physically, but I was mentally.”

After the war ended, Mr Standish suffered a nervous breakdown because of his "horrific" experiences.

He recovered after spending time in hospital and going on a pilgrimage to Argentina to bury his ghosts.

He added: “This cannot be allowed to be the ‘forgotten war’, and problems need highlighting.

“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a massive, massive issue highlighted by the fact that more men have committed suicide since coming back from the Falklands than were killed out there.”

Giving islanders hope after the conflict

RICHARD Baker, founder of the Bowland Beer Company, spent four years as general manager of the Falkland Island Development Corporation, which was set up to develop the islands’ economy following the conflict.

The 48-year-old of Bashall, near Clitheroe, said there were constant reminders of the 1982 action around him.

He said: “Just after the conflict they started to clear the minefields, and a couple of people were lost in the process.

“The islanders said it wasn’t worth it for a place the size of Wales inhabited by 2,000 people, so they fenced them all off instead.

“Now everywhere you go you can see the minefields, and there’s still sheep shearing sheds with POW written on the side.

“Also where Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Jones died (one of the British commanders during the conflict who was killed in action), there’s a memorial to him, with stones marking out where his body lay.

“I was there on the 20th anniversary of the conflict and it was good to see the big, public events with Tornadoes flying overhead and visits from Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, but also the smaller events to commemorate a particular date or serviceman.

“One of the most moving memories of that was when my four-year-old son helped plant a tree in a forest for the 255 servicemen lost near Stanley.”

Richard began work on the island in 1999, building on succesful work already done by the Development Committee, set up by Lord Shackleton.

He said: “When I went in 1999, the economy was doing pretty well, with the Spanish and Portuguese paying about £26million to fish in their waters.

“I helped farmers diversify into meat, and was responsible for getting an abbattoir built with European Union approval to export it.

“There was a situation where 2,000 servicemen at a base in Mount Pleasant were importing meat from the UK that had originally come from Argentina. Now they’re able to buy it from the Islands and can sell it to the UK.”

Richard also helped encourage tourism in The Falklands by encouraging shops to open up for the 45,000-50,000 American cruise passengers, and for tourism routes to be developed. Now there are nearer 75,000 cruise ship vistors annually.

Richard added: “It was a lovely place to be. People think it’s wet and bleak, but it’s actually a lot drier than Lancashire.

“The wildlife is amazing with fresh water streams and good off-road routes you can go on to look at King Penguins.

“It’s also very English – I’d say the people there are more English than over here.

“There are Victorian-style villas, red telephone boxes and double-decker buses, but there are South American influences too, for instance, they will say ‘Che’ instead of saying ‘mate’.

'Residents still on alert'

LAWRENCE Gilbertson, 64, of Marsh House, Darwen, was a member of the volunteer Falkland Islands Defence Force for 10 years.

He signed up for the Territorial Army-style organisation while working for the government, building roads during 1996 and 2006.

When he arrived, there was only one road in the Western Island, and when he left, most of the settlements were linked up.

He said: “Most of the materials were shipped in from the UK. We had a team of about 30 men working on construction.

“It was very dangerous having to travel off-road, with every car carrying an emergency radio in case you got stuck in a bog. “With the roads in place, it has enabled neighbours to see one another and has also helped business.”

Lawrence, who lived on the Falklands with his wife Phyllis, said of the Defence Force: “There is a full platoon and they are well-armed.

“The aim is to support the British forces and to hold the Island while reinforcements arrive.

“There is still a wariness of the Argentines and their actions, and the Falklands are still on alert.”

The men who made the ultimate sacrifice

• SERGEANT Philip Jones of the Welsh Guards, G Squadron, died aged 28 in a helicopter crash.

Twenty eight others also died in the tragedy on May 19, 1982, when the Sea King was forced to ditch into the South Atlantic, because of high winds.

The helicopter was transferring men and equipment from one ship to another in preparation for the assault on San Carlos.

Known as “Taff”, Philip, of Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, left IJLB Oswestry in 1972, to serve with the Welsh Guards. During 1975 he completed selection for 22 SAS.

A tribute from colleagues on the Infantry Junior Leader’s Battalion, said: “From the start of his military career at the age of 15 as a Junior Leader, his strong open and cheerful character brought him immediate recognition.

“Whether playing rugby for the Welsh Guards or as a young Lance-Sergeant, his intelligence, sound common sense and ever-present humour backed by endless energy and enthusiasm constantly shone through.

“When the Falklands Campaign started he was one of the first from the regiment to go out. As one of the most experienced divers in the regiment he had added to an already wide experience which promised him an exceptional future.

“There was also the ever buoyant, sociable friend and dedicated fisherman as well as professional soldier.

“Whenever and wherever possible the rods would appear and Taff would disappear fishing. We will greatly miss his direct and cheerful spirit.”

He had been married to Moira for eight years, who worked for Blackburn fruit machine firm ATM.

He is buried in St Martin’s churchyard, Hereford, with an SAS Regimental Plot Memorial Plaque.

• SERGEANT Andrew Evans, 32, of Accrington, was a Royal Marine Commando who died when his helicopter was hit on Friday, May 21, 1982.

Sgt Evans was piloting a light Gazelle helicopter escorting a Sea King helicopter over Port San Carlos, when the Argentines opened fire on her and struck the engine and rotor.

Sgt Evans was mortally injured, but he managed to turn away from the fire and ditch in the water. The two crew men were thrown from the aircraft when it hit the water.

As they struggled in the water, the same Argentines who had shot the helicopter down, opened fire on the two crew men in the water, despite their officer ordering them to cease fire.

• OSWALDTWISTLE-born Chief Petty Officer Edmund Flanagan died on May 25, 1982, when his ship was hit by an Exocet missile.

The father-of-four was 38 when Argentine jets attacked his ship, the Atlantic Conveyor, believing it to be the carrier Hermes. His body was never found after the ship caught fire and sank.

In 2002, his widow Anita, 57, died with a wish to have her ashes scattered on the sea where her husband died.

The wish was realised when their daughter, Cassandra Flanaghan, appealed in a national newspaper for help, and BBC presenter Aled Jones volunteered to help as he was travelling to the Falklands to film a series.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph at the time, Cassandra, of Maidstone, Kent, said: “My mother never really got over my dad’s death. She never met anyone else and she missed him right until the end. They were so close it only seems right that they should be reunited at the end."

• NAVAL airman Brian Marsden, 19, of Green Hill, Great Harwood, died on Wednesday, June 16, 1982.

The former Accrington Moorhead High School pupil died onboard HMS Invincible when the vehicle he was using to tow an aircraft crashed.

Brian joined the Sea Cadets when he was 12. After signing up for the Navy, he served at H.M.S. Seahawk, Culdrose, H.M.S. Heron, Yeocilton. Also he was on H.M.S. Bulwark.

Brian was buried at sea. A section of a letter written by him while on the Falklands is on display in a chapel there.

He is described on a Falkland’s memorial site a “happy go lucky, kind and genuine lad, and is sorely missed by his family.”

• MARINE engineering mechanic Gary Whitford of Moorside Avenue, Blackburn, died when his ship the HMS Ardent was sunk in the Falkland Sounds on Friday, May 21, 1982.

The 25-year-old’s mother, Theresa Whitford spoke to the Lancashire Telegraph at the time of his death.

She said: “The Navy was Gary’s career and he never talked about coming out. It was the job he always wanted.”

Gary signed on for nine years, aged 18, and had served with HMS Devonshire and HMS Lowestoft before joining HMS Ardent in Easter 1982.

The Ardent was sunk by Argentinian planes with the loss of 22 lives. Another 30 were injured.