26 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007
Chatham to
Jump jet
host event
stars in
at dockyard
exhibition
in summer
A NEW exhibition has opened
at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
to make the anniversary of the
CHATHAM Historic Dockyard
Falklands War.
Trust will be marking this year’s
Centre stage is taken by a Sea
Falklands 25 commemorations
Harrier, together with Wessex,
at a special Veterans Day on
Wasp and Lynx helicopters.
Saturday July 7.
The Sea Harrier played a pivotal
Among the highlights will be a
role in the war – Argentinian pilots
commemoration church service
became reluctant to risk a scrap
in the Dockyard Church at 11am
with the “Black Death”, as the
followed by a veterans parade, a
dark grey aircraft became known,
‘veterans reunion hall’ and a Beat
which helped the British gain vital
Retreat and Sunset Ceremony.
control of the skies.
Throughout the day there will
Of the 32 aircraft available to
be a range of static, have-a-go
the Navy, 28 were thrown into the
and arena displays, featuring
heat of battle across four squadrons
activities for all age groups,
– 800, 801, 899 and 809.
including modern and historic
Although the jets flew more
military vehicles, a mini-assault
than 2,000 operational sorties and
course, military equipment, laser
achieved 24 kills, no Sea Harriers
range, bomb-disposal, and more.
were lost in air combat.
The event will also see a
The Wessex helicopter on
welcome return to Chatham for
display was on active service as an
the Royal Marines Band, which
anti-submarine aircraft on board
will provide music for the church
HMS Antrim, and still bears
service, parade and Beat Retreat.
several shrapnel holes from 1982.
Galleries and attractions will It was involved in daring
be open as usual. rescue missions, and
The Beat Retreat and Sunset depth-charged Argentinian
ceremony, at 6pm, is a separately submarine Santa Fe.
ticketed event, and the Sunset
section will see a muster and
The Wasp also fought in the war,
● Wreckage from an Argentinian bomber lies where it crashed 25 years ago on Pebble Island in the Falkland Islands. Battlefi elds such as
parade of ex-Services standards.
Mount Longdon and the area around Falkland Sound are still scattered with debris from the Confl ict, stirring deep emotions in veterans
firing three missiles at the Santa Fe
Normal admission prices
returning to the scene for the fi rst time since the struggle to recapture the Islands in 1982 Picture: Cpl Richard Cave RLC
and helping put her out of action
to the Historic Dockyard will
for the rest of the conflict.
apply to visitors on July 7 but
And although the Lynx was not
special arrangements have been
in the South Atlantic at the time, it
made for veterans and Service
is identical to aircraft which were.
personnel, who should pre-
The exhibition also includes
register for themselves and any
interactive audio visual displays
accompanying persons.
featuring film footage taken during
Pre-registration is welcomed Pilgrims invited back
the war, and personal accounts of
from Armed Forces veterans,
some of the FAA participants.
former members of the RFA/
Opened by Admiral Terry
Merchant Navy, serving members
Loughran, chairman of the
of the Forces and former civilian
museum’s Board of Trustees,
employees of Chatham Dockyard
and by BBC correspondent
when it was operational up to
Brian Hanrahan, whose guarded
March 1984.
observation that “I counted them
The veteran/ex-employee will
to Falkland Islands
all out and counted them all back”
be admitted free, and their partner
has gained almost iconic status, the
and immediate accompanying
exhibition runs until November.
group, up to five people, will be
Also at the opening were 25
A WEEK-long pilgrimage the 25th anniversary of the
who were killed in action.
years ago,” he said.
admitted at the special one-day
Falkland veterans, including Task
rate of £7.50 each.
by holders of the South
Conflict, timed to coincide
John Phillips, who was seriously “The deadline for applications
Group commander Admiral Sir
Passes for the church service
Atlantic Medal 1982 has
with Remembrance Sunday in
injured while attempting to is June 30, and individuals will be
defuse the bomb which destroyed notified by July 5 if they have been
John ‘Sandy’ Woodward, and
will be distributed to pre- been organised to the
November.
HMS antelope (see opposite), successful.
widows and families of some of the
registered veterans as requested
12 people from RNAS Yeovilton
Falklands for later this
Half of the places will be made
is secretary of the Falklands25 “You do not have to be a
on their form on a first-come,
available to Combat Stress-
who died in the South Atlantic.
first-served basis, with priority to
year.
Pilgrimage Committee. member of SAMA – the South
registered patients, including “Priority is being given to those
Atlantic Medal Association 1982
Falklands veterans.
The Falkland Islands
their nursing staff, with 90 further who have not been since 1982, so
– just a medal-holder.
Historic Dockyard day-tickets Government has approved a places going to other veterans and we hope that most of the group “SAMA Falkland Islands say Veterans
will be valid from 10am to 6pm, plan for 200 visitors to mark ten to family members of those will be first-time visitors from 25
that the Islanders will bear all on-
and Beat Retreat tickets will allow
the-ground costs.
access into the Dockyard and the
“We just have to pay for travel
reunited
arena from 5pm.
out there, but we hope the majority
Tickets for the Beat Retreat
of costs will be borne by charities
FORCES Reunited, the largest
and Sunset ceremony can also be
and trusts.
online community of ex-Forces
ordered on the registration form
“But anyone in financial
personnel in the UK, is helping
and must be pre-paid – prices
veterans to meet up at the Falklands
difficulty will be assisted if
are: front centre seats £8; front
25 national commemorative event
necessary – not being able to
end and side seats £7; reverse
in London on June 17.
afford it should not put them
view seats £6.
In partnership with the official
off.”
The Beat Retreat will raise
organisers of the London event
funds for the Chatham Historic
John said there were around
www.falklands25.com, they
Dockyard Trust and South
15 to 20 people who they knew
have created a free online tool
Atlantic Medal Association
were heading to the Falklands
where any current or ex-Service
(SAMA).
under their own steam, who
personnel can arrange to meet.
Forms are available at:
arranged their own flights and
Dominic Hayhoe, managing
www.thedockyard.co.uk;
accommodation, but he said they
director of Forces Reunited, said:
marina
By written request or in person
did not want to impose on the
“As we are the first choice online
marina
from Chatham Historic Dockyard
locals, adding that people should destination for ex-Servicemen
Trust, The Old Surgery, The
not just turn up in the islands and women, we felt that creating
Historic Dockyard, Chatham,
without arranging accommodation somewhere for former colleagues
Kent ME4 4TZ;
in advance. and friends to arrange a meeting
By phone on 01634 823821;
Each successful applicant will be was essential.”
marina
In person from the Visitor
asked to list three places they would Forces Reunited was set up in
marina
Admissions Ticket Desk.
like to visit in order of priority, 2001 and caters for veterans of
and the organising committee will any age, offering services beyond
They were there
do their best to accommodate
reuniting ex-Service personnel.
them – flights around the islands
For more details, or to use the
THE Royal Marines Museum
will be laid on by the Falkland
service, see www.forcesreunited.
at Eastney in Portsmouth is
Islands Government, but places
org.uk or www.falklands25.com
presenting an evening entitled
will be limited.
“We Were There: Falklands
Application forms can be
Ensign on show
Remembered” on May 9.
downloaded from the website
Veterans – including Maj
www.falklands25pilgrimage. THE fi nal battle ensign of HMS
Gen Julian Thompson, who
com or by writing (with A5 Glamorgan has been brought to
commanded 3 Cdo Brigade
stamped addressed envelope) to Portsmouth by Ian Inskip, the
– will give personal accounts
Falklands 25 Pilgrimage, PO Box former Navigating Offi cer of the
and recollections of events in the
1982, Marton, Rugby CV21 9DZ. destroyer, who said it will remain
South Atlantic.
● Bulldog spirit: Tucked into the
Further details can be obtained by on display next to the Glamorgan
Tickets cost £7.50 – for more
corner of a panel at the British
telephone on 01926 632413 or by Memorial Window in the city’s
details call 023 9281 9385.
military cemetery at San Carlos,
email from phillips992@aol.com Anglican Cathedral until June 9.
a tiny model of a British bulldog
Looking out for No1
stands guard (left). The cemetery,
on a hillside overlooking the
Culdrose remembers
relatively sheltered waters of
A REQUEST in Navy News for
San Carlos Bay (above) has both RNAS Culdrose is to host a Guest of Honour will be Rear
surrender leafl ets had an 80 per
graves and memorial panels commemorative dinner at the Admiral Chris Parry, who was
cent success rate.
listing the names of those who Cornish base on Thursday June the Observer in HMS Antrim’s
Syd Baggett asked for leaflets
have no resting place. The peace 21. Wessex helicopter during the war.
dropped on the Falklands during
of the tiny, isolated settlement, Invitations to the event, at the Tickets cost £25, and numbers
the Argentinian occupation, and
at the far end of East Falkland Warrant Officers and Senior Rates are limited.
has copies of numbers 2 to 5.
to Stanley, is in stark contrast Mess, have been extended to all For more details of tickets or the
Now Syd, of 14 West Hill
to 1982 when these waters were Fleet Air Arm members past and event, contact the Mess Manager,
Avenue, Epsom KT19 8JU, has
crowded with British ships and present who either served in the CPO Caroline Foley, on 01326
made a final plea – can anyone
landing craft and jets, both friend Falklands or who wish to join the 552286 or email srmman@
find him a No1 leaflet?
and foe, streaked across the sky mess in the dinner. culdrose.mod.uk
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