Falklands veterans complete 8,000 mile expedition
A team of veterans have completed an expedition to commemorate fallen comrades of the Falklands War.Former Royal Marine Tom Rendell, from Bristol, has led 11 men as they follow different actions the 3 Commando Brigade made during 1982 - from landing to freeing the capital Port Stanley.The team completed expedition, from the Falkland Island's Mount Pleasant Airfield to Port Stanley, on the 20 February. Mr Rendell told the BBC the experience has been "emotional" for those who left good friends behind.
"It's been an emotional return," he said. "We went and visited the cemetery where many of those guys are buried, some of them killed directly alongside some of our team members."The 11-man unit, who have kayaked and trekked the route, consists of eight Falklands veterans and a four-man Royal Marine support team.
The challenge has been funded by the Cockleshell Veteran Expeditions organisation which aims to help improve physical and mental health of veterans through expeditions. Mr Rendell said the voyage, which has seen the team survive a hurricane, has also commemorated the bombing of landing craft RFA Sir Galahad at Fitzroy in June 1982. This became one of the defining images of the war and cost the lives of 32 Welsh Guards, 11 other soldiers and five civilian crew.
A member of the Cockleshell expedition, Jez O'Shea, was a 19-year-old landing craftsman in the Royal Marines at the time of the attack on Sir Galahad. "It just so happened that his landing boat was just next to Sir Galahad when she was hit," Mr Rendell said. "He saw the bomb come over his head and into the side of Sir Galahad."His duty then was to get badly injured guardsman off the ship - some of them with burning flesh falling off them - and get them to the shores."That was what was happening in June 1982 and that's why we've come here today."The marine said the veterans have been touched by how welcomed they have been on the island since their arrival.Mr Randell said: "When they come and see the way of life down here, in all honesty the guys feel their service in 1982 was all worth it."Over the expedition, the veterans have been raising money for the Stephen Jaffray memorial fund to help islanders who need medical treatment abroad.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Live
4 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Antiques Roadshow guest gushes 'I can't believe that' as value of inherited item unveiled
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A guest on Antiques Roadshow was utterly astounded by the hefty valuation given to his Rolex watch by expert Richard Price. During a rerun of the much-loved BBC show, which aired on Sunday 8th June, Brodie Castle served as the backdrop for a host of valuable discoveries. The episode showcased a man who presented Richard with a 1960s Rolex GMT-Master that once belonged to his uncle. Richard, examining the timepiece closely, told the owner: "All Rolex collectors refer to these things by their reference number," and "You know as well as I do because it says so on the dial that it's a GMT-Master." The owner shared that he had held onto the watch for about 32 years after inheriting it from his uncle, reports the Express. (Image: BBC) He guessed that the watch might have been a present to his uncle in the 1960s, leading Richard to investigate its provenance further. Richard clarified: "It's the reference 1675, which is the classic GMT-Master when you said 60s, I think we could fairly safely say 1960 to 1961, so that all fits in." Upon closer examination, Richard was delighted to discover the watch was unmodified, pointing out that many watches are often altered during servicing, which can disappoint collectors. He detailed: "They would've changed the bezel and they would've changed the dial with an upgrade," and then remarked: "You would've had it back thinking, 'Oh, it looks like new'. Collectors hate that, it's absolutely original, spot-on." The expert was then left a tad disappointed after inspecting the watch further, noting that it sported a jubilee bracelet rather than the original oyster type. He informed the downcast owner: "It's a Rolex product of course, but it says 'Made in the USA'. So perhaps he specified that he did not want the oyster bracelet, he wanted a jubilee bracelet and they put this one on for him. "Which sort of detracts from it a little bit, probably detracts from it by a couple of thousand pounds." (Image: BBC) The guest's spirits dipped further when Richard valued the watch at what would have been £300 to £350 in the early 60s. Reacting to the valuation, the guest said ruefully: "Wish he bought more." However, Richard had some uplifting news, announcing that the Rolex is likely worth £12,000 to £15,000. The guest was left utterly gobsmacked as applause erupted around him. Visibly moved, he uttered: "I can't believe that, can't believe that." Antiques Roadshow is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Fire breaks out at fish and chips shop in Brown Edge
Fire crews have been battling a blaze at a fish and chip shop. Flames broke out at Sandy Lane Fish and Chips in Brown Edge, Staffordshire, on Sunday a post on X shortly after 15:30 BST, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said four crews were sent to the scene on Sandy Lane, and urged people to avoid the area.A fire service spokesperson told the BBC nobody was hurt and it was believed the blaze started accidentally, although a cause had not been identified. Firefighters had since left the scene, the spokesperson added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Trump deploys National Guard after clashes in LA
Manage consent settings on AMP pages These settings apply to AMP pages only. You may be asked to set these preferences again when you visit non-AMP BBC pages. The lightweight mobile page you have visited has been built using Google AMP technology. Strictly necessary data collection To make our web pages work, we store some limited information on your device without your consent. Read more about the essential information we store on your device to make our web pages work. We use local storage to store your consent preferences on your device. Optional data collection When you consent to data collection on AMP pages you are consenting to allow us to display personalised ads that are relevant to you when you are outside of the UK. Read more about how we personalise ads in the BBC and our advertising partners. You can choose not to receive personalised ads by clicking 'Reject data collection and continue' below. Please note that you will still see advertising, but it will not be personalised to you. You can change these settings by clicking 'Ad Choices / Do not sell my info' in the footer at any time.
