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Discussion
mfmman said:
shed driver said:
[Enter the Great White Whale, Canberra, at that time cruising the Med with a load of schoolchildren aboard.
She is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Just a minor query on a excellent threadShe is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Wasn't SS Uganda the ship carrying the patriotic school kids?
IIRC it was being used for educational cruises when requisitioned, a party from my school was due to go but the trip was cancelled and they were never re-arranged
SD.
wildcat45 said:
...RAF Wittering was known around the military world as: “The home of the Harrier”...
Thanks for that recollection wildcat.O/T Few years later I worked at the Greatham Inn a few miles down the A1 from Wittering I remember selling stuff to an Italian navigator training in Harriers at Wittering - he used to get the pilot to fly over use and 'say hello'!
Went on the base a few times delivering stuff, always had to have a guy in the passenger seat with a big gun!
skeggysteve said:
O/T Few years later I worked at the Greatham Inn a few miles down the A1 from Wittering I remember selling stuff to an Italian navigator training in Harriers at Wittering - he used to get the pilot to fly over use and 'say hello'!
I think you'll find that (aside from the twin-stick a/c) the Harrier was single-seat; it didn't have a Navigator.You are probably confusing it with the Tornados that operated with the TTTE (Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment) at RAF Cottesmore (a stone's throw from RAF Wittering). TTTE had a mix of UK, German and Italian personnel.
Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Wednesday 5th April 21:31
[quote=skeggysteve]
Thanks for that recollection wildcat.
O/T Few years later I worked at the Greatham Inn a few miles down the A1 from Wittering I remember selling stuff to an Italian navigator training in Harriers at Wittering - he used to get the pilot to fly over use and 'say hello'!
Went on the base a few times delivering stuff, always had to have a guy in the passenger seat with a big gun!
[/quote
My aunt was the base post lady.]
Thanks for that recollection wildcat.
O/T Few years later I worked at the Greatham Inn a few miles down the A1 from Wittering I remember selling stuff to an Italian navigator training in Harriers at Wittering - he used to get the pilot to fly over use and 'say hello'!
Went on the base a few times delivering stuff, always had to have a guy in the passenger seat with a big gun!
[/quote
My aunt was the base post lady.]
nitrodave said:
Very interesting read ! I wasn't around when this happened so it's quite a history lesson reading this.
I was in Patagonia this time last year and they still claim the Malvinas as theirs and we experienced a little hostility in El Calafate and Ushuia when some of the locals realised we were brits!
Here's just a couple of odd signs we noticed there.
I was speaking with an Argentinian friend about this (it was never really a big deal in Australia, so my knowledge is not that great)I was in Patagonia this time last year and they still claim the Malvinas as theirs and we experienced a little hostility in El Calafate and Ushuia when some of the locals realised we were brits!
Here's just a couple of odd signs we noticed there.
He's from Buenos Aires and basically the entire country views the people down there as backwards hicks. It's like someone from Inbred, Missouri coming across a real life Eye-raaki and losing it.
Interesting conversation - very much left wing professional "elite" who just did not care about a desolate island in the middle of nowhere. Which I think is not an unusual sentiment in some parts of the country.
Colonial said:
Interesting conversation - very much left wing professional "elite" who just did not care about a desolate island in the middle of nowhere. Which I think is not an unusual sentiment in some parts of the country.
My understanding is that the majority of Argentina doesn't actually care, it's purely a thing for the occasional bitter politician to throw about. In fact the whole invasion in the first place was purely to distract the people from the miserable failings of the government at the time.ThunderSpook said:
My understanding is that the majority of Argentina doesn't actually care, it's purely a thing for the occasional bitter politician to throw about. In fact the whole invasion in the first place was purely to distract the people from the miserable failings of the government at the time.
This. I was too young, but I doubt that the sovereignty of the Falklands was generally a topic. I bet the majority of the population had forgotten or never known that they were ours!6th April
The 13,000 ton assault ship HMS Fearless sailed from Portsmouth on April 6 after feverish preparations to embark Commodore Michael Clapp (flying his broad pennant as Commodore Amphibious Warfare) and his staff and to load elements of 3 Commando Brigade, including the headquarters of Brigadier Julian Thompson. These elements included 3 Seaking and 3 Scout helicopters of 846 Naval Air Squadron and 3 Commando Brigade.
Landing ships Sir Galahad, Sir Geraint leave Plymouth. Sir Tristram leaves Canada. HMS Antelope (Type 21 frigate) leaves Devonport.
Still relative silence from Argentina and the US.
Over the next few days there is very little happening other than naval movements and the start of Alexander Haig's frantic "shuttle diplomacy." I'll add these in as they occur, there may however be a few days when I omitted very minor details. If anyone has any recollections then please do chip in.
I'll try to keep up with everything but checking hundreds of links and converting videos from .flv to a more current web friendly format is taking a bit of time.
The original project was for a naval webpage, sadly no longer maintained, and the slant was towards the RN and RM, If anyone has any information about the army and RAF at the time it would be immensely helpful.
SD.
The 13,000 ton assault ship HMS Fearless sailed from Portsmouth on April 6 after feverish preparations to embark Commodore Michael Clapp (flying his broad pennant as Commodore Amphibious Warfare) and his staff and to load elements of 3 Commando Brigade, including the headquarters of Brigadier Julian Thompson. These elements included 3 Seaking and 3 Scout helicopters of 846 Naval Air Squadron and 3 Commando Brigade.
Landing ships Sir Galahad, Sir Geraint leave Plymouth. Sir Tristram leaves Canada. HMS Antelope (Type 21 frigate) leaves Devonport.
Still relative silence from Argentina and the US.
Over the next few days there is very little happening other than naval movements and the start of Alexander Haig's frantic "shuttle diplomacy." I'll add these in as they occur, there may however be a few days when I omitted very minor details. If anyone has any recollections then please do chip in.
I'll try to keep up with everything but checking hundreds of links and converting videos from .flv to a more current web friendly format is taking a bit of time.
The original project was for a naval webpage, sadly no longer maintained, and the slant was towards the RN and RM, If anyone has any information about the army and RAF at the time it would be immensely helpful.
SD.
shed driver said:
mfmman said:
shed driver said:
[Enter the Great White Whale, Canberra, at that time cruising the Med with a load of schoolchildren aboard.
She is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Just a minor query on a excellent threadShe is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Wasn't SS Uganda the ship carrying the patriotic school kids?
IIRC it was being used for educational cruises when requisitioned, a party from my school was due to go but the trip was cancelled and they were never re-arranged
SD.
It's funny that when the opportunity to go on the cruise was announced at school, the Uganda was discussed and it's role as a reserve hospital ship for the Armed forces was explained. I don't think anyone thought it would ever happen though. O/T, I think the trip was about £350, about £860 now. Way beyond my families means then, I recall it being popular which surprised me for kids from a suburban comp but there you have it
Edited by mfmman on Thursday 6th April 09:12
shed driver - awesome work & thanks so much for sharing with us all, I too was a school kid at the time, a mates brother was a RM sent down there.
One of my strongest childhood memories is of being on the IoW when the task force sailed back up the Solent - still sends shivers down my spine 35yrs later!
One of my strongest childhood memories is of being on the IoW when the task force sailed back up the Solent - still sends shivers down my spine 35yrs later!
ThunderSpook said:
Colonial said:
Interesting conversation - very much left wing professional "elite" who just did not care about a desolate island in the middle of nowhere. Which I think is not an unusual sentiment in some parts of the country.
My understanding is that the majority of Argentina doesn't actually care, it's purely a thing for the occasional bitter politician to throw about. In fact the whole invasion in the first place was purely to distract the people from the miserable failings of the government at the time.Interesting article here:
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21596582-on...
I was a young teen and I have 2 recollections of the build up to the war.
The first was the ear full from my mum because she had seen the Royal Navy recruiting booklets etc that my dad had given to me a few weeks before when I said I wanted to join.
The second was standing on York stating on platform when the military mobilisation announcement was made - All ranks from the following military units are to report immediately for active service. HMS... and the list just went on and on then came the army and a much smaller list of RAF squadrons. As I walked out ther was a notice bing pinned to the wall All ranks 5 Commando Brigade. Report immediately to depot. It started to feel quite real.
The first was the ear full from my mum because she had seen the Royal Navy recruiting booklets etc that my dad had given to me a few weeks before when I said I wanted to join.
The second was standing on York stating on platform when the military mobilisation announcement was made - All ranks from the following military units are to report immediately for active service. HMS... and the list just went on and on then came the army and a much smaller list of RAF squadrons. As I walked out ther was a notice bing pinned to the wall All ranks 5 Commando Brigade. Report immediately to depot. It started to feel quite real.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
skeggysteve said:
O/T Few years later I worked at the Greatham Inn a few miles down the A1 from Wittering I remember selling stuff to an Italian navigator training in Harriers at Wittering - he used to get the pilot to fly over use and 'say hello'!
I think you'll find that (aside from the twin-stick a/c) the Harrier was single-seat; it didn't have a Navigator.You are probably confusing it with the Tornados that operated with the TTTE (Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment) at RAF Cottesmore (a stone's throw from RAF Wittering). TTTE had a mix of UK, German and Italian personnel.
Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Wednesday 5th April 21:31
OP sorry for the thread interruption.
Starfighter said:
I was a young teen and I have 2 recollections of the build up to the war.
The first was the ear full from my mum because she had seen the Royal Navy recruiting booklets etc that my dad had given to me a few weeks before when I said I wanted to join.
The second was standing on York stating on platform when the military mobilisation announcement was made - All ranks from the following military units are to report immediately for active service. HMS... and the list just went on and on then came the army and a much smaller list of RAF squadrons. As I walked out ther was a notice bing pinned to the wall All ranks 5 Commando Brigade. Report immediately to depot. It started to feel quite real.
Fantastic memories Starfighter - one of those ephemeral episodes that adds colour to those hundred days.The first was the ear full from my mum because she had seen the Royal Navy recruiting booklets etc that my dad had given to me a few weeks before when I said I wanted to join.
The second was standing on York stating on platform when the military mobilisation announcement was made - All ranks from the following military units are to report immediately for active service. HMS... and the list just went on and on then came the army and a much smaller list of RAF squadrons. As I walked out ther was a notice bing pinned to the wall All ranks 5 Commando Brigade. Report immediately to depot. It started to feel quite real.
A story that I received, and sadly I have lost all the references to it concerned a junior sub lieutenant on a very lonely watch receiving the signal "Store for War." Not knowing what to do, he sheepishly woke the captain and he said that he had never seen that signal either.
It turns out that quatermasters (of any arm of the service) are a little like the Scots - only with all the generosity squeezed out of them, but on this occasion it was different. Rather than the usual "Stores are for storing - not issuing" it seems that their largesse knew no bounds.
If I can find the dit I will post it up, or if anyone can remember the incident please let me know.
SD.
shed driver said:
Russia, China, Spain, Poland all abstained. Obtaining the required ten votes on such short notice is considered one of the UK's greatest examples of post-war diplomacy. Ultimately, Guyana was persuaded as it was a good precedent for Venezuela to pay attention to on the issue of land-grabbing. The UN President , who had been somewhat undermined by this whole thing was from Zaire, so the Zairean vote was sort of personal. France brought Togo into line at the UK's request, Uganda was a last-minute addition, mainly on the grounds of 'Argentinian Aggression.' Jordan had initially declared for Britain, then Amman instructed 'not to vote for any colonialist cause.' A personal telephone call from Maggie to King Hussein made the difference. The Argentine ambassador focused on the Soviets to use their veto, but Soviet policy was not to use the veto on anything not directed specifically at their interests. The wording of the resolution also permitted the British under Article 51, to go to the Falklands 'Guns blazing.'
SD.
I understand Russia position given the timesSD.
China has always been similarly uninterested in anything not directly affecting them
Spain obviously had the Gibraltar angle.
Jordan a key ally in that part of the world.
And despite all our rivalries with the French, good on them.
Poland! f
king Poland! (the Government I should add!) After we helped them through WW2 against occupation! Ungrateful wkers! 
nitrodave said:
Very interesting read ! I wasn't around when this happened so it's quite a history lesson reading this.
I was in Patagonia this time last year and they still claim the Malvinas as theirs and we experienced a little hostility in El Calafate and Ushuia when some of the locals realised we were brits!
Here's just a couple of odd signs we noticed there.
Now I await someone to try and pretend Top Gear didn't know they were stirring up a hornets nest. With THAT Porsche and THAT plate.I was in Patagonia this time last year and they still claim the Malvinas as theirs and we experienced a little hostility in El Calafate and Ushuia when some of the locals realised we were brits!
Here's just a couple of odd signs we noticed there.
(for clarity, they bought the car wit the plate on it, but obviously figured they'd use it for something specific in that part of the world)
7th April
President Reagan approves the Haig peace mission. Possibly with one eye on his political future if he can pull it off, Secretary of State Alexander Haig hops in his 707 with Eagleburger and Enders, flying to London, starting his run of Shuttle Diplomacy. Enders believed that for the US to abandon a South American friend, when so many countries down there were on the brink of Marxism, simply for the sake of a bunch of semi-inhabited desolate islands was lunacy. Eagleberger was more of the opinion that standing by a NATO ally was of primary importance. Haig's mission was supported by Argentina, but Thatcher was less enamoured, and agreed to see him only on the understanding that Resolution 502 be honoured.
(Lawrence Eagleburger was Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs.Thomas Enders was Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.)
UK announces a 200 mile Total Exclusion Zone around the islands, effective the following Monday. (Which is when they estimated HMS Spartan, a nuclear attack submarine, would arrive in the area).
The P&O Cruise Liner Canberra is requisitioned at Southampton upon her return from a world cruise;
Britain freezes $1.4 billion in Argentine assets held in British banks.
SD.
President Reagan approves the Haig peace mission. Possibly with one eye on his political future if he can pull it off, Secretary of State Alexander Haig hops in his 707 with Eagleburger and Enders, flying to London, starting his run of Shuttle Diplomacy. Enders believed that for the US to abandon a South American friend, when so many countries down there were on the brink of Marxism, simply for the sake of a bunch of semi-inhabited desolate islands was lunacy. Eagleberger was more of the opinion that standing by a NATO ally was of primary importance. Haig's mission was supported by Argentina, but Thatcher was less enamoured, and agreed to see him only on the understanding that Resolution 502 be honoured.
(Lawrence Eagleburger was Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs.Thomas Enders was Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.)
UK announces a 200 mile Total Exclusion Zone around the islands, effective the following Monday. (Which is when they estimated HMS Spartan, a nuclear attack submarine, would arrive in the area).
The P&O Cruise Liner Canberra is requisitioned at Southampton upon her return from a world cruise;
Britain freezes $1.4 billion in Argentine assets held in British banks.
SD.
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