Our Falklands War. A Frontline Story
Discussion
Wow…
A very powerful programme, and the BBC at its best.
In 1982 I was just very lucky. I had just left trade training and went in to Buccaneers. If I’d been posted on to Chinooks or Harriers, my life would’ve been very different, but probably nothing like the lives of those in this programme. Watch it if you can, and absorb the personal stories shown.
A very powerful programme, and the BBC at its best.
In 1982 I was just very lucky. I had just left trade training and went in to Buccaneers. If I’d been posted on to Chinooks or Harriers, my life would’ve been very different, but probably nothing like the lives of those in this programme. Watch it if you can, and absorb the personal stories shown.
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2022/24/o...
A stunning film, I'd implore everyone to watch. These soldiers are now approaching the age some of our grandfathers were when we were kids in the 80s, looking back on WW2.
A stunning film, I'd implore everyone to watch. These soldiers are now approaching the age some of our grandfathers were when we were kids in the 80s, looking back on WW2.
I still work with guys who were there in the conflict stage. None of them had to do what those Paras did, thankfully. But I know some who were on the Atlantic Conveyer, one who was shot down in a helicopter, but all ‘seem’ perfectly ok.
Argentina doesn’t look in any fit state to attack again for a very long time.
Argentina doesn’t look in any fit state to attack again for a very long time.
Watched this with Mrs J4 last night. She's usually totally disinterested in anything associated with war or conflict (other than the latest news updates) and will doze off within minutes.
We both sat there totally mesmerised by this programme and I've been thinking about it ever since.
What utterly brilliant TV and what a terrible toll those chaps have paid for the last 40 years. Huge respect to them for being able to talk about how they feel on camera, as some of what is said is very upsetting.
Anyone who has not seen this should sit down in front of the TV, turn off the phone and try to take it all in.
I'm surprised that there hasn't been a film made about the conflict (maybe I missed it if there has been) while there are those still around to tell them how it really was.
I've recorded it as my 14-year-old wants to watch it, too.
Which is a positive, for, despite his relative winning one of the two VCs, he has no real knowledge of the war. And yes, I have explained it to him.
It doesn't seem to feature in any school curriculum - even in passing.
Of course, we rightly should continue to teach the First and Second World War stuff, but to not bring children up to date regarding more modern conflicts we have been engaged in, seems remiss.
Which is a positive, for, despite his relative winning one of the two VCs, he has no real knowledge of the war. And yes, I have explained it to him.
It doesn't seem to feature in any school curriculum - even in passing.
Of course, we rightly should continue to teach the First and Second World War stuff, but to not bring children up to date regarding more modern conflicts we have been engaged in, seems remiss.
One of my first memories is the fear of being at war. Being a Westcountry boy, many of my schoolfriends had fathers sailing away from Plymouth and Portsmouth off the the south Atlantic. I had an Uncle. We lived on the coast just to the south of Yeovil so we had regular flights leaving Yeovilton and heading south. I was taken to the FAA museum to see all the war bounty just after the conflict ended. I grew up with Sea Harriers, Hawks, Lynx and Sea Kings overhead, as well as the Hunters and Canberras of the FRADU units. Later my Engineering degree was sponsored by the RN and I spent some short time working on various Falkland veteran "cabs" at Yeovilton myself. My username should indicate which Squadron I was attached to, and the significance it had in my life. I had a lovely girlfriend whose father had taken his own life after returning from serving during the war. Also two school mates in my village lost their father to postwar suicide. The next generation after the war will also carry much of the burden to the end of their days. I believe that more servicemen died after the war from suicide than were killed in the conflict itself. Ten years ago I got bumped into in a bar in Dar-Es Salaam and almost started a brawl with the guy until I was overcome with curiosity about his strong Westcountry accent. Turned out he had served on Sheffield. We spent many an evening bonding over our shared memories, safe in the sensation of being so far from home. The Falklands War has been a recurring theme in the background of my entire life, and I have since read everything I can on the subject and have a decent library of books on the war.
Now that I live in Finland, I'm not able to see this immediately, but look forward to catching it in the future.
Now that I live in Finland, I'm not able to see this immediately, but look forward to catching it in the future.
Edited by Jake899 on Monday 13th June 10:12
I think we all wonder how we would perform in that situation. For the most part these were normal men sent into a situation about as far from normal as you can imagine. Very brave men living with some bad memories.
That particular land battle was something for which the British Army was extremely well trained. Platoon, Company and Battalion attacks were the bed-rock of infantry training and something we are pretty good at. The ground was also familiar to anyone who'd been on excercise in the more mountainous parts of the UK.
But how many of them ever thought they'd be doing it for real.
That particular land battle was something for which the British Army was extremely well trained. Platoon, Company and Battalion attacks were the bed-rock of infantry training and something we are pretty good at. The ground was also familiar to anyone who'd been on excercise in the more mountainous parts of the UK.
But how many of them ever thought they'd be doing it for real.
And, sadly, despite all the media coverage, our veterans are still forgotten, left to just get on with it. I work with quite a few ex-army, and a couple of them have issues. All the promises in the world are made, but eventually they’ve just given up asking, given up trying, and just try to make their own way through life while carrying the nightmares with them.
I was 10 when the war started. I remember the feeling of fear when seeing the news reporter reporting from one of the battles as ordnance was landing on the hill tops nearby, and of our ships getting attacked from the air like sitting ducks. But then excitement at the now famous scene of our marines moving across the countryside in single file formation.
I'd love to go there and do the battlefield tours, but that would be quite a trip.
I'd love to go there and do the battlefield tours, but that would be quite a trip.
Very powerful and moving.
I joined the army a few years after the Falklands and a lot of my instructors were Falklands veterans including from 2 Para. They said they bloody loved it. I guess it might have been bravado, or perhaps they were still young enough not to reflect too much.
Anyway, I hope the veterans get the support they need.
I joined the army a few years after the Falklands and a lot of my instructors were Falklands veterans including from 2 Para. They said they bloody loved it. I guess it might have been bravado, or perhaps they were still young enough not to reflect too much.
Anyway, I hope the veterans get the support they need.
Ayahuasca said:
Very powerful and moving.
I joined the army a few years after the Falklands and a lot of my instructors were Falklands veterans including from 2 Para. They said they bloody loved it. I guess it might have been bravado, or perhaps they were still young enough not to reflect too much.
Anyway, I hope the veterans get the support they need.
One image of the war has remained in my mind ever since seeing it on the news back then...two soldiers carrying an injured soldier on a stretcher, with the injured soldier having half his leg missing and with flesh hanging off.I joined the army a few years after the Falklands and a lot of my instructors were Falklands veterans including from 2 Para. They said they bloody loved it. I guess it might have been bravado, or perhaps they were still young enough not to reflect too much.
Anyway, I hope the veterans get the support they need.
I joined the forces in 1989, one of my instructors at Catterick told us that he was often shown on the news clips, being one of the soldiers carrying that stretcher. I still think of that image now whenever the Falklands War is mentioned.
Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 14th June 09:56
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff