Falklands Gunner

A Day-by-Day Personal Account of the Royal Artillery in the Falklands War

Tom Martin

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781473881235
• Topic: Geschichte
• Subtopic: Lateinamerikanische & karibische Geschichte

The Royal Artillery played an absolutely vital, though often forgotten, part in the British armed forces successful operation to recapture the Falkland Islands in 1982. The actions of the artillery were recorded by one young officer in a journal which he kept before, during and after the conflict.Second Lieutenant Tom Martin was a Command Post Officer with 29 (Corunna) Field Battery RA which deployed to the South Atlantic in 1982 as part of the Task Force dispatched to retake the Falklands. With its six 105mm Light Guns making the journey on the MV Europic Ferry, the Battery sailed south on the MV Norland with 2 PARA, joining 3 Commando Brigade for the landings. The five gun batteries of the Royal Artillery, totaling thirty light field guns, fired a tremendous number of shells on the Argentine forces. For its part, 29 (Corunna) Field Battery fired the first Fire Mission of the conflict and continued to do so until the Argentinian surrender in the most testing environment and against the odds.Whilst in the South Atlantic, Martin sought to detail and record the action on the Batterys gun position. Supported by the recollections of some of those he served alongside, Martins notes and diary entries form the basis of this book; a vivid, blow-by-blow account which provides a comprehensive picture of the Royal Artillery and its pivotal role in the Falklands War.

Chapter 1

The Build Up and Deployment to The Falklands

DAILY NOTES WERE taken throughout the day, rather than as a single entry, hence their staccato format, and recorded in my ‘desk’ diary, of which the transcript for each day is shown below. Additional diary entries were also made, but may not have been written on that particular day, but were, nevertheless, contemporaneous. All these diary entries are shown in italics. Normal text provides either clarification, explanation or relevant anecdotes.

March 1982

9–11 March, Regt CPX

These few days were taken with training, by means of a Regimental Command Post Exercise, on the Regiment’s parade square at our barracks in Aldershot, in order to reinforce and sharpen our drills prior to live firing.

15 March, Regt Ex & Live Firing, Bde Ex

The Regiment then departed to Salisbury Pain to put the whole Regiment through its paces with a Regimental Exercise, which led on to conducting artillery live firing for the Guns. This was immediately followed by a Brigade Exercise.

19 Mar – Argentine ‘scrap merchants’ land on South Georgia - raise Argentine Flag.

22/3 March – Start support to RSA

4th Field Regiment’s support to the Royal School of Artillery (RSA) at Larkhill was due to the change-over of the School’s dedicated support unit. Whilst this change went ahead, the School’s training program continued, with the full range of courses being run. As a Light Gun Regiment, we were an obvious choice, being relatively close by in Aldershot; however, the deployment could not be run from there on a daily basis and we set up at Tilshead’s transit/training establishment in Westdown Camp, right in the middle of Salisbury Plain.

Westdown Camp is both isolated and Spartan and in late winter and early spring offers a bleak existence. Little did we appreciate at that time, as to the importance of this deployment and how we were to draw upon it in the months to come. There’s an old Army adage which simply says ‘train hard – fight easy’, of which the first element of it was certainly tested.

April 1982

2 April – Argentinian forces invade Falklands, British Marines surrender in Stanley.

3 April – South Georgia and Sandwich Islands seized by Argentina.

5 April – British Armada sets sail for Falklands.

8 April – RSA support ends.

9 April – leave starts.

The news of the day was dominated by both the political furnace that was the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands and the diplomatic efforts to curry favour on the world stage. Support fell on party lines, with the Spanish speaking world of Central and South America aligning themselves with Argentina and with the Unites States standing beside the United Kingdom. Not least in the news and of most relevance to us, was the monumental military effort, set by the Prime Minister – Margret Thatcher, to deploy a Task Force and retake the islands.

The Task Force’s fighting troops were predominately to come from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines (3 Cdo Bde RM), consisting of 40, 42 and 45 Commandos; augmented with its dedicated supporting arms and services: 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery (29 Cdo Regt RA), 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron (3 BAS) and various other Brigade assets. It was quickly established that three fighting units was not sufficient for the task and an extra infantry battalion was desperately needed. At that time, and as a legacy from the troubles in Northern Ireland, the Army had one infantry battalion in rotation on standby, which was known as ‘Spearhead’, with one company at twenty-four hours’ notice, with the remainder following on within three days. The Spearhead Battalion at that time was the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (3 Para), which was based in Bulford, and was added to the Brigade’s fighting strength. On 9 April, 3 Para sailed with the Commando Brigade on the SS Canberra, following the Task Force that had sailed a few days earlier. Vying for consideration was the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 Para), which was at that time in the role as the Leading Parachute Battalion Group (LPBG). 29 (Corunna) Field Battery Royal Artillery (29 Bty RA) as part of 2 Para’s grouping, was in Direct Support and as such was an integral part of the Battalion’s fighting strength.

The LPBG was in essence the Government’s military ‘firefighters’, who were on five days standby to deploy to anywhere in the world. We were trained and scaled for operations and ready to go with immediate effect – and being such a balanced force, saw ourselves as strong contenders for deployment. Little did we know of how the minds of our leaders in Whitehall worked, as the explanation of our non-inclusion was that we weren’t being sent, just in case we might be needed should a crisis develop!

Robert Fox, in his book Eyewitness Falklands throws a different light onto how 2 Para and ourselves were sent to join the Task Force. At that time, Fox was a reporter and was assigned to cover the conflict at short notice, coming therefore into frequent contact with senior officers. He describes 2 Para’s inclusion as somewhat of a mystery. He tells of their CO, Lieutenant Colonel ‘H’ Jones, as being on holiday, deciding to return to England and lobby the Ministry of Defence for 2 Para’s inclusion, presumably on the strength that we were the LPBG. He cites that ‘H’ successfully managed to make his case and unlike the other fighting units already sent, brought with him his own integral artillery and engineering support.

Needless to say, that throughout this period, the talk amongst us all in the Officers Mess, along with the more senior members of the Battery, was of the military build-up and the possible scenarios that could take place, in the weeks to come. Every newspaper article and news bulletin were avidly digested, as we tried to reason amongst ourselves what might happen. There was one thing that was not disputed and that was the fact that most had absolutely no idea where the Falkland Islands were and if they did, had no idea of what they looked like. I was one of the few who had any inkling of what or where these islands were, solely down to the fact that my father’s brother, Nib, had emigrated out to Argentina in the late 1950s. He went out to work on a very large estancia (farm) for an international British based food company, predominantly rearing beef; and worked his way up to managing one of these vast farmsteads, of approximately 100,000 acres. Having settled, he married a local girl and raised two sons. The irony was not lost on the whole family that had Nib and his wife Yolanda had children a few years earlier, that their eldest would have been of conscription age and could easily have been ‘playing for the other side’. Nib recounted after the war that the substantial English ex-pat community, whilst left in relative peace out in the countryside, felt that their mail was being intercepted by the military Junta and were being watched from afar.

Lieutenant Colonel Tony Holt RA, the Commanding Officer (CO) of 4th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (4 Fd Regt RA), held a Regimental Parade on the main parade square. Whilst it’s traditional for a CO to address his Regiment at the ‘end of term’, this was different, as the unfolding events, were far from normal. He was to brief all pre-leave on the situation and assure the Regiment that ‘this is purely a Commando operation and that we will not be involved. Go away, enjoy your leave and I’ll see you all when we get back after Easter’. Major Tony Rice, 29 Battery’s Battery Commander (BC), on the other hand, firmly believed that the Battery would be involved in proceedings before too long and before the men were dismissed he ordered a Battery Parade at Corunna’s lines.

Tony Rice joined the Battery soon after we returned from Northern Ireland into a role that he was already familiar, having previously served in 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (7 Para RHA) and knew the Airborne world well. Tall and slimly built, with a deep voice and laconic style, Tony was a direct, uncompromising no-nonsense leader. He trained his battery thoroughly and relentlessly and this was to deliver dividends during the campaign. When the ‘BC’ spoke, in his deliberate and measured tones, everybody listened, leaving every one of us in no doubt where we stood, or what was expected of us. That said, he was fair and fully backed his team. Tony’s hawkish standpoint was simply: we go where 2 Para go.

Notwithstanding the fact that we were on standby within the LPBG, Tony Rice ordered a full checklist of all stores and equipment, ordering deficiencies to be filed with the Quartermaster’s departments prior to departure. He briefed us on the real possibility of our involvement as a Battery and that we were to confirm our contact details prior to going on leave.

12 April – British impose 200-mile-wide war zone.

13 April – To Shropshire

After spending a few days in the Mess and with Jill Harrison, my girlfriend and a Lieutenant in the Women’s Royal Army Corps, at her parents’ house in Pirbright, we headed north to my parents’ home in Shropshire, which is located on the northern outskirts of Wellington, on the edge of Telford.

15 April - The Regiment was warned for operations in the South Atlantic.

16 April – Recalled to barracks over Falkland crisis – ‘Pegasus’.

‘Pegasus’ was the code-word sent out to all personnel for our recall to barracks. One must remember that communication back in 1982 predated the instantaneous world of the internet and mobile phones that we live in now and that it took time for the message to get through to some. The primary method was by telephone and/or telegram, but it was not uncommon to ask the local Police Force to pass on the message. The main recall went out on Saturday the 17th, with all returning by early evening the following day, many from as far afield as the North East.

Gunner Frame was a nineteen-year-old member of D Sub (Gun Detachment) and on Rear Party duties when the recall began: ‘I was on guard duty in Aldershot. They sent the telegrams out with the password Pegasus and we had to get back within twenty-four hours. The buzz was unbelievable, the adrenaline and testosterone. We knew something was coming off. It was big and we were going be the first ones out there.’ His first wife of just five weeks was devastated at the news, ‘we were setting up a new life together and I was off to war’.

It was during the early hours of the 16th at my parents’ home that I proposed to Jill. It was at 11:00 that morning that I took the very brief telephone call, calling me back, and I immediately packed to return to Aldershot. I bade my farewells and was back in barracks by mid-afternoon. Jill followed on and drove over to her parent’s house, some five miles from Aldershot and waited for me there. I broke the news to Tony Rice, who arranged for me to formally see the CO as protocol dictated, as soon as he was available. Despite the developments with our forthcoming deployment, the CO found time to see me and granted me permission to marry.

After seeing the CO, I was given a few hours’ grace and made my way over to Pirbright to formally see Jill’s father. After a very quick celebration, I had to say my goodbyes and drove back to camp. A few days later, I was once again granted a few hours off camp, when Jill and I went into Aldershot to find a ring. Needs must in extremis and we found a ring, albeit far from spectacular, after all I was on a Second Lieutenant’s wage. I made the promise to replace it one day ‘with a proper one’, which she held me to!

Sergeant Joe Walker, B Sub’s Number 1 (the gun detachment’s commander), was from the North East, where a significant number of the Battery hailed from and his story was typical of the recall: ‘Once we eventually went on leave, my family and I went up North, to Seaham, Co, Durham. On receipt of the telegram, I left Denise and our two daughters and returned to camp, being on station within a few hours.

‘To be honest, active service is what you train for. The chances of going are few and far between, but when it comes around it’s what you want. We didn’t know where the Falklands were, but we knew we had a responsibility to them. At the time a lot of patriotism kicked in’.

Whilst a significant number of the Battery hailed from the North East, some came from the opposite end of the country, one being Gunner George Kirvell, whose roots were in the South West. Gunner Kirvell was a nineteen-year-old member of Sergeant Walker’s B Sub and among the Battery’s younger cohort, who told of his recall to Aldershot: ‘I was on leave and back home in Plymouth. At the time, I knew something going at place called the Falklands, but like most people I didn’t know where it was.’ The appreciation of ‘what’, but not ‘where’ was typical of the majority of the Regiment’s gunners at that time.

George Kirvell continued: ‘What I remember the most is, I was having a typical night out drinking with my brother and Dad. He had served during the Second World War, in North Africa and Normandy and was then also aged nineteen or twenty. We were in local pub near to where we lived and at some point during the night the local Police Officer, who my Dad knew, came in looking for me. He told me I had to return to camp and he gave a telegram with ‘Pegasus’ on it, which was the recall word. Anyhow, my Dad said that he and my Mum, would drive me back to Aldershot the next day and then he proceeded to get me very drunk. I can only presume that he knew what the future had in store, but I was obviously “oblivious” when my Dad said goodbye to me at camp. He offered me a piece of advice which was, if the ships get attacked I was to make my sure I was on deck and not down below; so I would at least have a chance to swim for it, if my ship was hit and started sinking!’

19 April – Argentine sub Santa Fe sunk at South Georgia.

The week was, to say the least, rather busy. Captain David Gibbins, the ‘BK’ and the Battery’s second in command and his staff chased up, through 2 Para, all stores requisitions and issued equipment as and when it arrived. David joined the Battery after his Para training, having served predominantly in Germany, both in Air Defence and more latterly in Field Artillery with 49 Field Regiment. Now, as the Battery’s senior Captain, the Unit’s administration was a prime function of his position and it was an area that he excelled in. David’s eye for detail and meticulous planning, ensured that our needs were met, which at times challenged his dry sense of humour.

It became very clear to us, as more and more information came to light on the Falkland Islands, that our temperate clothing was not suitable nor fit for purpose and to that end Arctic clothing was ordered. One item of equipment that did arrive in time was the new style of military bergen. The old ’58 Pattern’ webbing’s large pack, whilst called that, was far too small to carry what was required. The new bergen was based on a new style metal frame, was considerably bigger, but still aimed at a temperate theatre. Getting all one’s Arctic clothing, rations and ammunition packed would be a challenge later on and compromises had to be made. Time was spent out on the ranges zeroing our personal weapons, as well as preparing the Command Posts (CP) and guns. Th...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Glossary and Abbreviations
• Battery History
• Battery Composition
• Chapter 1 The Build Up and Deployment to the Falklands
• Chapter 2 Sailing South
• Chapter 3 Orders
• Chapter 4 War Diary
• Chapter 5 Going Ashore
• Chapter 6 ‘Air Raid Warning – Red’
• Chapter 7 Sheep Stew in a Dustbin
• Chapter 8 Bluff Cove position
• Chapter 9 Wether Ground - The Last Position
• Chapter 10 Surrender: The Immediate Aftermath
• Chapter 11 The Return Home
• Chapter 12 Epilogue
• Appendix I Letters
• Appendix II D+12,646: Falklands Revisited 2017
• Bibliography