1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders    Falkland Islands and South Georgia 1986 to 1987

All photographs are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without permission from RHQ Argylls.

            24th October 1986 the battalion advance party moved to the Falkland Islands and began the take over of equipment and stores from 1 Kings. Early November the main body arrived in the Falklands, HQ, HQ Coy and A Coy were located at Stanley (Boxer bridge), D Coy at Mount Pleasant and B Coy at Fox Bay. A glance at the accompanying map shows the far flung locations where the battalion was located. To aid the reader in putting the Falkland Islands into perspective from the blob off the coast of South America in your school atlas; try to imagine the islands superimposed on a map of Southern Britain, they would stretch from Wales to East Anglia. Outside of Port Stanley there is only one road, most of it un-surfaced, which goes from Stanley to Mount Pleasant Airfield — the approximate equivalent of London to Reading; it's big and it's remote!

The Battalion's major modes of transport are foot and helicopters, much of the latter in civilian contracted helicopters owned and flown by Bristows, the so called 'Erics', all companies have the Swedish BV 206 (BV standing for Bandvagen or tracked vehicle) and a few 4 tonners and Land Rovers including the jumbo tyred, 'Bog Frogs'. Once the Jock is loaded with survival gear, Arctic sleeping bag and mat, bivvybag (mini-tent), rations and ammo his bergen weighs around 110 lb. Foot patrols are of 3-5 days duration and are the main link with the civilians in Camp (the local term for the country outside Port Stanley) as routes are selected to take the patrols to as many settlements as possible. Most locals are delighted to see the troops and are very hospitable, offering food and often shelter. The Jocks repay in kind offering to help with manual labour and, if available, leave fruit and onions both of which are much sought after following severance of the link with Argentina. The islands, although almost treeless and superficially barren, are a haven for wildlife particularly penguins of which there are six types around the coasts, a wealth of sea birds and seals. The wildlife is extremely tame and not shy of humankind; it is surprising and amusing to hear soldiers who would scarcely recognise the difference between a domestic hen and a blackcock intently discussing whether a bird is an Upland or a Kelp Goose.

 The Falkland Islands and South Georgia were an operational posting and the Battalion was at a high state of readiness to react to any incident. The air of 'west Highland normality' pervading the Islands was at odds with the degree of readiness-to-move. However the nearest Argentinean military airbase was less than one hour's flying time away and it behoved all ranks to remain vigilant. The companies had plans for patrolling to deter landings by small parties of enemy whilst at the same time reassuring the populace, provided Quick Reaction Forces, guards and also managed to fit in much valuable training. The detachment on South Georgia was formed around the Reconnaissance Platoon with some specialist reinforcements.

Click on picture to enlarge

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The Falklands offered much scope for training and the battalion ran two Junior Non Commissioned Officer Cadres, a Mortar and Anti tank Cadre and a GPMG (SF) Cadre for the Pipes and Drums. All companies used the rugged, wild terrain for training, ranging from individual through to company on subjects as diverse as field tiring, tickling trout and coaxing mullet from the sea with bacon on a bent pin! Sgt Henderson, Ptes Carter, Kelly and Richardson spent a week on Beaver Island, the western-most island of the Falklands. Tony Felton, the farmer, had asked for assistance after losing 50% of his lambs. The team killed 23 foxes and were very well looked after. This item caught the notice of the media and there were reports in the National Press plus a BFBS interview which went out world wide. Individual Weapons Sights were used at night to great effect against the silvery Patagonian foxes which are smaller than red foxes. Pte Richardson, a Jura man, shot a running fox at 350m. The Battalion were responsible for providing advice and training assistance to the Falkland Islands Defence Force and C/Sgt Workman, assisted by NCOs and men of A Company, forged strong mutually beneficial links with FIDF. The Force, though all part time, was very keen, valued the link with the Regular Army and in time of crisis would provide an invaluable part of the defence plan for the islands.

The Falklands is very much a tri-service theatre and links with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were strong and very friendly. Whilst casting a slightly envious eye over our shoulders at our affiliated ship, HMS Beaver on her 'Global 86' round the World deployment, we have enjoyed excellent relations with HMS Dumbarton Castle and HMS Ambuscade. A party of officers and men sailed home on HMS Ambuscade when she handed over to another frigate in February. Some of those disappointed at not getting berth managed to get on one of the exchanges with HMS Beaver and HMS Rothesay. D Company, who co-habited with the Royal Air Force at Mount Pleasant throughout the tour, started walking sideways and it was rumoured that the OC was measured for his Squadron Leader's uniform! Sailors and airmen joined the Jocks on patrol and members of the battalion had many trips to sea in return. There was no doubt that one of the most popular phases of B Company's roulement was the half platoon deployments to the RAF Radar Sites at Byron Heights and Mount Alice on West Falkland. 

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As the hot sun beamed down on 25th December it was hard to feel 'Christmasy', however an excellent traditional lunch was served to the Jocks at all locations by the officers and SNCOs and with a little help from that other kind of spirit the Christmas spirit pervaded the land. In South Georgia the Christmas tree was donated by a visiting Soviet ship. New Year was seen-in in a variety of styles dependant on place and task. The most unusual must have been the CO and A Company who celebrated "the bells" on RFA Sir Lancelot, stepping ashore on South Georgia to 'First Foot' the Recconnaissance Platoon on 1 January. Admiral Kit Layman, Commander British Forces, was a guest at the Officers Mess Reel Party on Coastel 3 in Stanley and toasted the Jocks and the New Year at their ceilidh; it was an excellent night but all are hoping for the next one 8000 miles closer to home.

Sporting activities were limited by operational commitments and the logistic problems of time and space. However, teams were entered in all activities and did well in cross country, indoor hockey, badminton, volley ball and particularly indoor football with a team from 3 Platoon, A Company narrowly defeating a composite Mortar/Anti tank team — nice to have an A. and S.H. clean sweep. One falling plate which didn't, 'robbed' the HQ Company team in the British Forces Falkland Island March and Shoot Competition — but that is what it was all about!

            As on the recent Northern Ireland deployment, the battalion have had outstanding coverage in the local press and also in Soldier Magazine, making the front cover of the latter twice since being in the Falklands. The highlight of the tour has been the visit of the Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Honourable George Younger MP. The Secretary of State spent the better part of two days with the Battalion in January in what was for us a relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable visit, a feeling Mr Younger clearly shared. Members of 3rd (County Down) Bn The Ulster Defence Regiment served on attachment with the battalion; 3 UDR was the battalion affiliated to the Scottish Division. It was a pleasure to be able to repay some of the hospitality the battalion enjoyed on Northern Ireland tours, to give members of 3 UDR a chance to enjoy a different type of soldiering and most importantly a break from the unending tension of service in Northern Ireland.

Ex ‘Ice Pick’ - South Georgia 1986-87

Just after dinner on 29th January the CO was rung up by BFFI and appointed Incident Commander for a civilian emergency. The emergency was 240 stranded elderly passengers from the cruise liner SS Rotterdam which had been forced to leave the outer harbour off Stanley by near hurricane force winds. Meals, cabins, bedding and extra seating in the Officers and Sgts Messes were speedily arranged and preparations well underway when our very grateful elderly guests began to arrive. Many of the old folk had tears in their eyes as they were piped onboard Coastel 3, 240 men and women were allocated their bunks and we then discovered a further 'undeclared' 84 still to be accommodated! With the ingenuity and compassion of the British soldier all were eventually tucked up and many of the Jocks settled down to a night on the Gym floor. The morn of the 30th dawned fair and our guests were piped off and ferried out to "Rotterdam". Apart from expressions of gratitude, the best comments, were, "Colonel, if we ever need an invasion, we'll come to you." And reported by a highly amused lady passenger the following from the Jock who helped her into the back of, a Land Rover, "I'll bet you're glad you're rich enough to afford this!"

            A detachment of 3/51 Highland Volunteers served with the battalion for a fortnight in February. They spent most of the time on West Falkland with B Company, carrying out exactly the same tasks as their Regular counterparts before returning to Stanley for sightseeing, battlefield tours and an evening with the FIDF. 

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 SOUTH GEORGIA DETACHMENT

            The first sight of the Island is unforgettable — "Gob smacked", is the colloquial expression for the impression it makes on everybody. The platoon sailed into King Edward Cove on 22nd October to take over from 1 Kings: sadly 12 men had to be left in Stanley for 5 weeks as space was tight in the garrison, the quid pro quo being the presence of 2 Gazelle helicopters on the island and under command for 5 weeks. Cpl Frank Higgins did an excellent job with the unfortunate 12, as the first Argylls in Coastel 3 they were very much "under the eye" and set an excellent standard, arriving very fit and raring to go. South Georgia came under Argyll command on 24 October 1986, and by Balaclava Day the platoon had had its first excitement when a 1/2 ton bull elephant seal crept up on unsuspecting BAS scientist in Husvik and put its head on his shoulder. He suffered severe bruising and shock and became the platoon’s first guest. The garrison consists of 19 members of the Recce Platoon, 10 Garrison Headquarters personnel of various cap — badges (A and SH, RM, ACC, RAPC) and an RE and R Signals Det totalling 14 men. Exceptionally, there was a troop of Royal Engineers at King Edward Point building a new jetty (known as OP JURAL), the old one having been nudged once too often by a visiting RFA or RN ship. In addition to the basic process of settling in, the Recce Platoon were learning the basics of mountain and arctic safety, survival and movement under Sgt Dave Cunnington of the M and AW Cadre Royal marines, OP JURAL were landing enough plant and stores to complete the M 25 and 5 ships, visited us, with CBF aboard several of them at one time or another.

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            The tour was marred by the fatal accident of Signaller Green who fell to his death within sight of King Edward Point, in the first week of the tour. Since that hectic and tragic start the tour bowled along and kept everyone well occupied; the Recce Platoon patrolling and mountain work became more testing, and was enjoyed by everybody, OP JURAL completed the new jetty, taking 4 weeks less than even the most optimistic planners allowed, and the day to day maintenance and administration of the garrison, the buildings and essential services have kept the Headquarters and RE and R Signals Detachments busy.

            The island itself was quite overwhelming, with a mixture of mountains, glaciers, cliffs and bays, whaling stations and wildlife. King Edward Point lies on the sea, with Grytviken at the head of the cove, 2000 foot mountains towering above and 9000 foot Mt Paget in the distance. The Point is home to more Elephant seals than soldiers, and since arrival the platoon have lived among bulls fighting for their harems, cows giving birth, and adults going back to the sea leaving the calves and juveniles to frolic in the water or lie dozing on the pebbles. Now the penguins have arrived, Kings and Gentoos are common visitors, and many of the platoon have had the unforgettable opportunity to go to St Andrew's Bay where the mass of seals and King Penguins stretches as far as the eye can see. Then there's the weather, snow and high winds, one minute, sun - shine and clear blue skies the next - all four seasons were had every day for the first 12 days of December. Quite a number of jocks have been sunburnt on patrol, yet Norwegian shirts and windproof smocks are always close to hand.

            The platoon only gets visitors when ships call in to King Edward Cove. Most regular, and vital for mail, rations and the main re-supply, was the monthly LSL whose passengers have included the CO, 2I/C, QM, A Company group and attachments, senior and less senior staff officers from BFFI and plenty of 'specialists' whose vital inspections seemed to require 3 men to complete, but only last a British road-man's working day, with the mandatory tea-breaks. The support from the crews of SIR BEDIVERE and SIR LANCELOT was very much appreciated: it fun to get to know them over the months. Other more fleeting visitors have included HMS Ambuscade, HMS Arrow, HMS Dumbarton Castle, HMS Herald and RFAs Green Rover, Blue Rover and Diligence. The Russian Scientific ship Baikal stayed for 24 hours and a football match between the garrison and crew, on a pitch that was more puddle and snow than grass, ended in a diplomatic 2-2 draw. 20 members of the garrison went aboard for a disco, a revealing experience much enjoyed by all. MV World Discoverer, a cruse ship carrying old-age pensioners on 'Adventure Holidays' called for a night and generously entertained 8 to dinner and 15 to drinks afterwards, at the cost of an off-the-cuff 10 minutes talk on Regimental History by OC troops, for the benefit of the Americans. RRS John Biscoe shared Christmas with the garrison, and again everyone was looked after very hospitably and generously by her friendly crew. The visiting ships were a welcome change to the routine and all their visits were very much enjoyed.

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If anyone can put names to faces with rank, company, date and location. Please e-mail with page name, row number and picture letter to

ayoung287@msn.com

            OC Troops has a number of civilian hats in the absence of any civilian presence on the Island, and visiting ships give him the chance to exercise his role of Harbourmaster and Deputy Postmaster. The former duty involves boarding all foreign ships, completing the statutory forms and immigration procedures and raising harbour and water dues, while running the Post Office was time consuming, as the South Georgia stamps are very profitable for the Falklands Government. The Post Office building itself suffered fire damage when the boat shed burnt down and most business is done on board visiting ships. The garrison Doctor (Capt Julian Smith relieved by Capt Bruce Baker) was the chief stamp-licker and assistant Post Master, and both were a tremendous help. The service was not entirely trouble free, on one occasion the entire stock went into the sea so the garrison offices were decorated for days with sheets of tacky and crinkly stamps. The OC was also the local Magistrate, a duty never exercised but he looked hard for offenders, fines of up to £100 or jail for a year were allowed. Mention must be made of those in the Falklands who supported the garrison and kept it provided with all its stores, rations, equipment and goodies. The QM and all members of his Department, and particularly Sgt McLaughlin who ran the South Georgia desk; he managed a trip down with A Company during Exercise Ice Pick, even if he was dragged up and down the mountains to complete a video film of the Exercise. 1312 Flight RAF provided the airdrops, the only way that mail and essential small items could reach South Georgia between the monthly visits by the LSL. Everyone was very grateful to them for what they did; few realised how much of a boost to morale mail from home can be. Beyond a free three - minute phone call home at New Year provided by the MOD, fortnightly deliveries of mail in and 50-word 'famgrams' each week were the only link with home. The enormous variety of things that the garrison did during the tour, was endless: cross country ski-ing, helicopter trips, quiz nights, abseiling, rock crushing, berthing parties for ships, Highland Games, top-roping and ice-climbing, boat work, repairs to the Church organ, driving dumper trucks, HF training, NBC, football, ceilidhs, to name but a few.

The battalion had an excellent tour in the Falkland Islands which culminated in leaving Coastel 3 abandoned with all its memories of separation, boredom and the inevitable fish served up in the cookhouse (or galley on board as it was called). Those who lived on the coastel will always remember it for many years, to assist you in this task, I have reproduced some of the famous Coastel 3 song which was written by Chief Petty Officer (Clubs) Phil Richards RN who was attached to the Argylls, the song is sung to the tune "My Bonnie lies over the Ocean". It has been reproduced exactly as it was sung at a band concert and I do not apologise for any colourful lyrics . . . 

            For the sake of History it must be explained about certain things about some of the verses in the song. The Coastel was one of three floating "hotels" moved to the Falkland Islands for the job of containing and accommodating in a certain amount of comfort, all the three services that were mostly stationed around Stanley (the Island's capital). It had a total of five floors and was capable of holding a Battalion including attached units and other personnel from the RAF and Navy plus a few others as was shown when 300 American tourists were stranded in Stanley.

Early March 1987 the battalion moved back to Roman Bks, Colchester, handing over to 2 Royal Irish Rangers and then going on some well earned leave. The only blight to the end of the tour was having to clear out Coastel 3 following 4 years of military inhabitation, and handing it back to Bibby Line. The move up to Lookout Camp was not as big a problem as had first been thought, and it put everyone nearer the night lights of Port Stanley! The flights home went smoothly apart from, cold gale force winds and driving rain which delayed A Coys flight by 24 hours. The chalk were notified 10 minutes after the CSM had handed out the Jocks duty free! It is a tribute to them that there were no disciplinary problems in that 24 hours.

Falkland Islands Pictures

Colchester

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Updated: 11 October 2014