DEDICATION OF HMS GLAMORGAN MEMORIAL AT HOOKERS POINT,
FALKLAND ISLANDS – FEBRUARY 2011
Background
HMS GLAMORGAN, a County Class guided missile destroyer, was based in
Portsmouth for all of its service. On 2nd April 1982, the day Argentina invaded the
Falkland Islands, GLAMORGAN and a number of other ships were diverted south
from Gibraltar and were amongst the first to reach the Islands. The ship was active
throughout the campaign frequently providing naval gunfire support for troops
ashore and survived three attacks from enemy aircraft and missiles. However, on
12th June 1982 GLAMORGAN remained late on station to assist 45 Commando
Royal Marines capture Two Sisters near Stanley and was hit by a shore based
Exocet missile. Although the ship’s company extinguished the resultant fires
thirteen men died and, in keeping with the Royal Navy’s tradition, were buried at
sea that night. A fourteenth died later in 1982.
The HMS GLAMORGAN Falklands Association remains in contact with over 300 of
the 1982 ship’s company and meets every five years in Portsmouth for a reunion
and remembrance service at the window it installed in Portsmouth Cathedral in
1997. Following the SAMA pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands in 2007 a number of
members suggested the Association approach the Falkland Islands Government
and SAMA Falkland Islands (FI) to investigate whether a permanent GLAMORGAN
memorial to those buried at sea could be installed near Stanley. This was
welcomed and a granite stone was commissioned, quarried and engraved in North
Wales in early 2010 and then shipped to the Falklands that June.
Installation work by Morrisons (Falkands) was carried out at Hookers Point during
December and January to make best use of the summer weather. The memorial
was sited at Hookers Point facing the spot where the ship was hit and, by a fitting
quirk of its design, it seems to point almost directly at Two Sisters.
In early February 2011 a team of 36 GLAMORGANs including two of the surviving
sisters of Cook Brian Easton who died onboard set off via Ascension Island or
Chile for a week of commemorative events.
The Memorial Wood.
The first event saw Captain
Mike
Barrow,
the
Commanding
Officer
in
1982, plant a cross at a new
tree dedicated to David
McCann in the Memorial
Wood in Stanley.
David
died in 1982 soon after the
ship’s return to the UK and
the Association has always
included him amongst the
fallen.
Captain Barrow was ably
assisted with this task by
one of the Stanley Cubs who
became “partners” in the
memorial project to increase
awareness amongst the next
generation.
The
Cub
leaders, Jan & Tim Miller,
have been stalwart supporters of the project from its inception and were made
honorary GLAMORGANs during the visit.
Crosses were then planted at the other 13 GLAMORGAN trees in the Memorial
Wood with a break by Kelvin McCallum’s tree for a tot of rum from a bottle that
Kelvin bought in Gibraltar before sailing south. As was widely reported in the UK
media, Kelvin’s mother asked the team to have a tot in his memory during the visit
and this was fulfilled willingly!
The Dedication
The highlight of the visit was a dedication service attended by around 200 people
including the 36 GLAMORGANs. Prior to the Service Ian Inskip, the ship’s
Navigating Officer in 1982, had given a talk to the students in the Falkland Islands
Community School, again as part of the engagement with the next generation and
a number of students attended the dedication later. During the service conducted
by the Reverend Dr Richard Hines, Dean of Stanley’s Christ Church Cathedral, the
lesson was read by Shirley Chapman, sister of Brian Easton, and wreaths were
laid including one by His Excellency the Governor on behalf of Her Majesty the
Queen. A moving but beautiful service ended with a low (very low!) fly past by two
RAF Typhoons against a backdrop of HMS CLYDE which anchored off Hookers
Point during the service.
The GLAMORGANs and SAMA FI then hosted a reception at which Captain
Barrow thanked the Falklands community for their invaluable support and HE the
Governor thanked GLAMORGAN for providing such a fitting memorial which had
received unanimous local acclaim for both design and location.
The Service at Sea
Next day a service was conducted onboard HMS
CLYDE by the Reverend (Squadron Leader) Ruth
Hake from HQBF South Atlantic Islands at the spot
where the ship was hit in 1982 and this included the
laying of wreaths and tributes. The weather was
superb in stark contrast to that encountered during
most of those fateful days in May and June 1982.
Once safely back ashore the day was rounded off
with a reception at Government House attended by
the full GLAMORGAN team, their hosts and all who
had assisted with the project locally.
Other Activities
The remaining days were spent on tours of East Falkland organised by SAMA FI
team and success was assured when everyone saw at least one penguin.
And Finally…
The hospitality in the Falkland Islands was beyond every expectation. The local
community still feels a huge debt of gratitude to the 1982 veterans and have a
special place in their hearts for GLAMORGAN which they remember for its regular
bombardments that gave them hope of liberation throughout the conflict. The
amazingly resourceful and helpful SAMA Fl team arranged for the majority of
GLAMORGAN team to live with families in Stanley and this enhanced the whole
experience. Others were accommodated in Liberty Lodge which is a large and
exceedingly well appointed and fitted out four bedroom bungalow, purpose-built for
visiting 1982 veterans. It proved a perfect focal point for the trip and is strongly
recommended to any veterans contemplating a visit to the Islands.
The project took over two years to deliver and cost more than £15,000, raised
largely from within the membership. It would be wrong to single out individuals
from the many people who saw it through to completion under the careful direction
of Mike Croxford and his working group, aided by SAMA, SAMA FI, CBF SAI, the
FVF, the Millers and the wider Falklands community. They know who they are and
it was thanks enough to see the 36 GLAMORGANs standing at Hookers Point
having fulfilled their pledge to provide a permanent memorial in the South Atlantic
to 14 shipmates who did not return.
We will remember them
Alan Watt, Chairman, HMS GLAMORGAN Falklands Association, T: 01786 821353, e: alan@cecascotland.co.uk,
w: www.hmsglamorgan.co.uk