Page 18 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 60

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Falklands 40 at the National Memorial

Arboretum Tuesday 14th June 2022, by Major Eric Lewis

I think most, if not all of main remembrance event the ACC con-
us can remember back to tingent met at the RLC and Forming
the spring of 1982 when Corps Garden to remember those that
thousands of British Forces served and died in the Falkland Island
travelled to the remote, bleak war. In attendance and supported by the
Falkland Islands off the east partners/wives were John Fitzgerald,
coast of South America in response Keith Powell, Murdoch MacRury,
to the Invasion by Argentine forces. Robin Oliver, Paul Roberts, Matt Bellew
The war lasted 74 days and 255 service and Eric Lewis.
personnel lost their lives during the
Stories from the Falklands war:
conflict with many more injured.
David Stewart served in the Army (ACC/
On the 40th anniversary of the
RLC) for 22 years between 1979 to 2001
Falkland’s war, a service was held on
Tuesday 14th June 2022 at the National David Stewart’s story:
Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. I was a Pte soldier serving with the 2nd
The service was held to honour and Battalion Scots Guards and 20 years old
thank the service of so many, whether at time of the Falkland’s war. We were
they be civilian worker, a Merchant ACC Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum warned to prepare to Gibraltar for a
Seaman, a pilot with the RAF, a sailor or month, with the movement date chang-
marine with the Royal Navy or a soldier by circa 3,000 Falkland Veterans and ing constantly.
with the Army. The event was attended their families, which was covered by
the BBC with a live and joint broadcast
with/to the Falkland Islands.
Many from the Army Catering
Corps deployed to the Falkland Islands
with their parent units, most fulfilling
roles well outside their normal remit,
such as machine gunners, stretcher
bearers and medics etc. Unfortunately,
not all returned, 4 of our brethren lost Young David Stewart with David and Anne Marie
their lives in the Falkland’s war, all on his new bride Anne Marie present
Laying of the Wreath
the 8th June 1982 whilst on board the I also was in process of getting married
RFA Sir Galahad which was attacked at the time and due to the constantly
and bombed by the Argentine Air Force: changing dates and deployment with
l LCpl Barry Charles Buller 5 Infantry Brigade had to cancel and
l Pte Albert Marl Connett rearrange our wedding three times.
The Registrar in Dundee said to my
l Pte Michael Anthony Jones
fiancée that when he gets home, to call
l Pte Richard William Middlewick
him as he would marry us the next day
They will be remembered and this we did. We married on the 6th
The anniversary event was very sombre May 1982 and sailed to the Falkland’s
on the Queen Elisabeth the 2nd on the
and as highlighted attend by c3,000,
ACC gathering 12th May 1982. My wife, Anne Marie
narrated by Sir Max
was there in Southampton to wave me
Hastings which
ended by a speech off – we have now been married for
40 years.
from (the then)
Prime Minster Rt I returned from the Falklands
at the end of July 1982 but missed
Hon Boris Johnson
MP and a fly past all the parades and celebrations as
I was posted to Germany with 35
by helicopters from
the Army Air Engineer Regiment. I returned to the
Falkland’s Islands for an Operational
Corps, The Royal
Airforce and Royal Matt Bellew and wife Tour in 1983 over Christmas –
ACC gathering with partners Navy. Prior to the (also attended) oh lucky me.
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