Falklands War Heroes - Book Recommendation

[Stalker62]

Members of a "certain age" will need no reminding of the Falklands War.

It was the war that I 'dodged' when I took on an apprenticeship, over joining the Army full time.

One of my classmates went and joined (for reasons unknown to me) the Welsh Guards. He had no connections to Wales,
He was killed (along with so many others) on the 8th June 1982, when RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Sir Galahad was struck. He was twenty years old.

Michael Ashcroft (who has the worlds largest collection of VC medals) has written another book - this time about the Falkland War Heroes.

I have received my copy today. It is beautifully written and extraordinarily moving.

If you are minded to do so, then I urge you to read it.





RIP Private Andrew Walker

 

[willie_gunn]

Thanks for that.

I will add it to my list of books to read - next in line is "Brothers in Arms", which has had rave reviews:

Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment's Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day: Amazon.co.uk: Holland, James: 9781787633940: Books

Buy Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment's Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day by Holland, James (ISBN: 9781787633940) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

If you enjoy this kind of history then also look out "Across An Angry Sea" by Cedric Delves:

Across An Angry Sea: The SAS in the Falklands War: Amazon.co.uk: Cedric Delves: 9781787381124: Books

Buy Across An Angry Sea: The SAS in the Falklands War First Edition by Cedric Delves (ISBN: 9781787381124) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[tozzybum]

My cousin got rescued from the Sheffield. Didn't do his mental health any good .
Too many lives lost to the stupidity of Argentine generals .

 

[Stalker62]

My cousin get rescued from the Sheffield.

One of the pubs in the village had plaques of several of HM Ships.

HMS Sheffield's plaque was always hung "upside down".

Always poignant.

 

[dartmoordog]

Falklands Commando by Hugh McManners is also another fine book, well worth a read.

 

[bfltd0]

If you enjoy this kind of history then also look out "Across An Angry Sea" by Cedric Delves:

Great book - I borrowed it off a shooting buddy who was in the Paras during the Falklands but had recently come back from Hereford and knew Cedric well. Always spoke highly of him. Apparently a b***tard of a squadron commander who didn't hesitate to drop people who weren't up to his standards.

I was fortunate enough to listen to General Cedric once when he gave a presentation as Commander Field Army. It was a bit of a surprise as he wasn't on the agenda and he came into the lecture theatre after some helicopter noises from outside. He rocked up dressed in his SAS windproof half-zipped up, and IIRC, wearing a very old OD jungle shirt. With no beret. You can take the man out of Hereford....................

Literally, you could have heard a pin drop. We all sat there transfixed. Massively charismatic man.

Sure he would have gone further, were it not for that drunk driver in Holland that ended his career. Great shame.

 

[GBR66]

Thanks for that.

I will add it to my list of books to read - next in line is "Brothers in Arms", which has had rave reviews:

Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment's Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day: Amazon.co.uk: Holland, James: 9781787633940: Books

Buy Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment's Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day by Holland, James (ISBN: 9781787633940) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

If you enjoy this kind of history then also look out "Across An Angry Sea" by Cedric Delves:

Across An Angry Sea: The SAS in the Falklands War: Amazon.co.uk: Cedric Delves: 9781787381124: Books

Buy Across An Angry Sea: The SAS in the Falklands War First Edition by Cedric Delves (ISBN: 9781787381124) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Brothers in Arms in excellent, you can also step up a level with the Author's War in the West that puts it into strategic context, and then go the other way with the memoir of one of the troop commanders who fought from June 9th to the end of the war.

 

[Stalker62]

It's an odd thing.

This year I have met two men, who fought in the Falklands. Both very modest 'understated' men. They both fought in the same battle.

It was my absolute pleasure to spend time in their company.

This is worth a read.

 

[trickie]

3 days in June is yet one more Falkland’s book to read,

 

[BenBhoy]

Maybe I was always doomed to be a lefty sympathiser...

As a teen we had a history teacher who's family had emigrated to Patagonia. He'd then moved back to Wales. He "suggested" we read this as an extra curriculum book...

The Fight For the 'Malvinas': The Argentine Forces in the Falklands War https://amzn.eu/d/e9pnyGr

Young minds are impressionable...

 

[Dave_45]

It's an odd thing.

This year I have met two men, who fought in the Falklands. Both very modest 'understated' men. They both fought in the same battle.

It was my absolute pleasure to spend time in their company.

This is worth a read.

View attachment 386839

My dad had that book , I think from memory it’s exerpts/memoirs from different units who recaptured the falklands.

There’s a good book by “Mike Curtis” called CQB about the Falkland’s.

What the navy did to get the task force there was unreal.

I have the pleasure of knowing some former RMs who were “down south” as they refer to it.
True to fashion you’d never know unless you saw them on the one day a year they reunite to remember.

If it’s of interest ,read into NP8901 and how they repelled the Argentine task force of 4000 troops and armour , for as long as they could before it became inevitable the gig was up.
There was only 30 of them.

There’s also the case of the missing marine from NP8901,that also may pique your interest.

 

[Dave_45]

Maybe I was always doomed to be a lefty sympathiser...

As a teen we had a history teacher who's family had emigrated to Patagonia. He'd then moved back to Wales. He "suggested" we read this as an extra curriculum book...

The Fight For the 'Malvinas': The Argentine Forces in the Falklands War https://amzn.eu/d/e9pnyGr

Young minds are impressionable...

There was Welsh speaking conscripts in the Argentine invasion force at the various battles for the falklands islands.

A Welsh speaking paratrooper admitted it was very hard listening to his mother tongue from opposing forces.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

NP8901, the only time in warfare where a sniper engaged a ship,bet they caused some consternation on the bridge.

 

[Stalker62]

There’s also the case of the missing marine from NP8901,that also may pique your interest.

Almost certainly subject of foul play before the Falklands War.

There was also the tale of the teenage Scots Guard who went 'missing' during the battle and reappeared over forty days later.

 

[Stalker62]

There was also the tale of the teenage Scots Guard who went 'missing' during the battle and reappeared over forty days later.

Guardsman Philip Williams was 18 when he fought in the Falklands War. He was left for dead and a memorial service was held for him. On his return, the press treated him with hostility and his life turned sour. He has left the Army and is often unemployed.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Spoke to a next door neighbour of a house my daughter owns in Dover turns out he was an RSM in the Paras with Colonel H as his commanding officer when he was based in Hong Kong or Singapore.

 

[DVS1]

I've not read it for a very long time and I believe its probably out of print but Don't Cry For Me Sar'nt Major is an excellent account from some news reporters embedded with the British Task Force. It captures the heartache and humour of military life perfectly!

 

[Stalker62]

It captures the heartache and humour of military life perfectly!

Military humour - very much still alive...

A word of comfort from the Gillie...

Another day dawns in the Highlands, and I am once again out on the Hill. When you are sat in your study contemplating your next trip north, or sat in your lounge staring into a log fire; the notion of a day on the Hill is evocative, romantic and attractive. The reality is somewhat different...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Dave_45]

Almost certainly subject of foul play before the Falklands War.

There was also the tale of the teenage Scots Guard who went 'missing' during the battle and reappeared over forty days later.

I wonder if the thought of dying in battle got to him , he didn’t want to shoot anyone, or a fight or flight brain injury type thing overpowered him and off he went.

I prefer to think he found a rather lovely farmers daughter in a hayloft and was otherwise engaged.

 

[Stalker62]

I prefer to think he found a rather lovely farmers daughter in a hayloft and was otherwise engaged.

There is little doubt that he was (at some stage) taken in my a farming family.

He was very well nourished when he returned to the ranks.