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NIGEL MORRIS Posts: 23
18/04/2012
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I would Like to see the Goverment of today to at last give the followig ships the RECOGNITION that they they deserve for the part that they played in OPERATION CORPERATE in 1982. The following ships set sail from the UK at the Back end of may and early June as part of the Falklands Task Force. They would arrive of the Ascensions from mid June onwards,then they would head straight down to the Falkland Islands and the TEZ. HMS BIRMINGHAM,DIOMEDE,SOUTHAMPTON, DANE,APOLLO,BACCANTE,BRECON,LEDBURY,ST HELENA,RFA OLWEN, RCT LANDING CRAFT ANTWERP,ARROMANCES RANGTIRA. ALSO many Men & Woeman of the ARMY AND ROYAL AIR FORCE and Merchant Navy. When we left the UK the, War/Conflict had not ended,so we were all exspected to join the already Brave Men and Woeman that had already gone south. They had fought a long hard war and many brave people were sadley lost who showed true professionalism and heroism. They had put the Great back into Great Britain and took the Falklands back. We served along side HMS INVICIBLE,BRISTOL in the TEZ and would return home some four weeks after them. Also the following Ships would arrive later HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,and many others she would take over the duty of Total Air cover from INVINCIBLE untill the runway in Port Stanley was repaired and extended to accommodate the RAF Phantoms who would arrive in October of 82. We did not accure the full 30 days sevice needed after the war but missed out on it by a matter of a few days but would be down for 5 months. Much work still needed to be done, mine fields to be cleared at sea and land runway put back into operation rebuilding of the falklands, and the falklands still needed to be defended and still does to this day. You can not do all of this in 30 days after the fighting has stopped. Conditions remained harsh and equipment was poor along with all the unexploded and mines and ordnance to deal with. This was all achieved with total professionalism and beyond the call of nomal dutie the goverment of the day in 82 and the Top Brass of all three Armed Forces should hang there heads in shame for the total lack of Recognition shown to the people who did not make the 30 days qualifcation period but made 20 days plus of all 3 armed services, IT WAS A WAR!!
We do not ask for a South Atlantic Medal with Rosette, But one without.
This is not in any way to undermine the existing members of the SAM with ROSETTE. The SAM without Rosette was awarded to sevice personel on the Ascensions 4000 miles away and back in the UK. We sailed as OPERATION CORPERATE FALKLANDS TASK FORCE and came home as OPERATION CORPERATE as well as those Army Regiments and also the RAF.
They should make this happen even if its 30 years to late!!!
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NIGEL MORRIS Posts: 23
21/04/2012
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It would be great if we could get support from SAMA 82 on this subject as well as a people who served at the time,and from all 3 Armed sevices who were down south in 82. Many people over the years have spoken to there local MPS and it has been raised in the House of Commons over the years,But the Top Brass say they will not change things because of the 5 year Rule. Its simple this Rule needs to change as well as the criteria.
After the Argentine surrender thing were not concluded in the Falklands, Yes the Fighting had ended but much work was still needed to be done which can not be done in 30 Days. It all boils down to Money!! And lack of will.
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Tony Grindey Posts: 1
25/05/2012
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I Agree , I was on HMS Apollo ,
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John McCourt Posts: 2
23/07/2012
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nice to see the officers in back in london got there medal
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John McCourt Posts: 2
27/07/2012
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NIGEL, I CANT REPLY AS I AM NOT A FULL MEMBER ANYMORE, CONTACT themccourts@shaw.ca
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francis mcginty Posts: 2
06/11/2012
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Typical Mod;all for themselves,just there to fill their own pockets.Should all be ashamed of themselves.bet their families are rather Embarrassed.Give the lads what they deserve....
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NIGEL MORRIS Posts: 23
07/11/2012
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Hi Francis,
Thanks very much for your support this is not just for the above ships, this is also for the Army, RAF, and the RFAS much work still needed to be done. all conflicts after this, were awarded medals along time after they had stopped the fighting stage. Major things still happened after the 14th june..... Southern Thule fell on the 20th June..... Gurkha Rifleman killed at Goose Green 24th June.... A scrambled GR3 caused serious injuries to eleven Welsh Guards from a sidewinder missile on the of 13 July at Stanley Airfield. Ships still going to Action Stations as well as using live ammunition against Subs and AGIS mine fields etc. A safe place was not a place called the Falklands for a long long time after the 141th of June 82. This is for all the People who were part of Operation Corporate!!!
This will is not to undermine the Brave people who were awarded the SAM with Rosette, as this is for the SAM without Rosette, the same as the people on the Ascensions 3300 miles away and further afield.
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Ray Smout Posts: 3
13/01/2013
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The Diomede was detached from the exclusion zone to escort an RFA to Chile, as they had recently bought it and wanted delivery. I believe that the time this took was deducted from our qualifying time for the SMA. I also recall that the Diomede came under fire, albeit briefly, from an Argentine aircraft. We answered this challenge and it went on its merry way. Thats not war then ? Mutual exchange of gunfire ? Shame on you MOD and all the long range snipers in your comfy offices, homes and clubs in London.
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colin mitchell Posts: 3
14/01/2013
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hi,
i served on HMS Glamorgan during the conflict and received my sam with rosette some 10m months later through the mail in a beat up box. i was disgusted with this but at least i got one. we could only do oyr job because of the people behind us and the ones on the way to take over from us. The job was not concluded on the 14th of june. credit is due to all, give the guys and girls thier medals.
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Karen Sell Posts: 1
19/02/2013
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Hi.. My brother was AB (Diver) Mark Sell, who I believe returned from the Falklands on HMS Brecon. He passed away 20yrs ago of Rabies while living in Thailand so I am trying to find out more about his time in the Falklands to pass onto his daughter, who has just arrived from Thailand to visit us.
Any info on him or anyone that knew him would be helpful.
Thanks
sell.karen@googlemail.com
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Ian Removed Posts: 7
22/02/2013
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New evidence has come to light and things have moved on with pace, the medal review team is aware of this new information, if anyone would like this information contact either myself (ianmcvitie@hotmail.com) or Nigel (nigelmorris4@btinternet.com)
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Allen Walker Posts: 1
08/03/2013
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Nigel, I believe the recent decision by the Awards Committee to give recognition to those who served at Suez and on the Russian Convoys clearly indicates that they have taken note of the recommendations made by the Medals Review Team. This must give some hope for campainers of the SAM as clearly the 5 years rule was not applied against these recent decisions. I clearly cannot see any reason at all why this campaign cannot be looked at again, especially after the new evidence was submitted. I believe it would be a travesty of justice if this was not looked at again. Like you I served on the Diomede and believe our trip down South was anything but normal, right up to the time we arrived home at the end of the year.
On a lighter note - one crew member in my mess was so distraught about missing out on the SAM by only a few days that we had our engineers make one for him with the words Not the Falkland Island Medal inscribed. We had our very valued 1st Lt. present it to him along with a pint of beer to cheer him up.
Lets hope they do look seriously at all those campaigns mentioned in the Report and act correctly this time round. They will not open pandoras box. Service Personnel are far too sensible for that.
Allen Walker (Ex CWEM(R) - HMS Diomede)
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NIGEL MORRIS Posts: 23
09/03/2013
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Allen, i could not agree more!! Lads of the Diomede have paid for our ships Logs from the National Archive and had them sent to us, this gives a clear indication of what our ship did in the Falklands. It also puts shame on our Government at the time and the truth which they forgot to tell us all. I am more than willing to send you a copy of this as well as all the Top secret documents they didnt want to come out. Risk and Rigour has been met by our ship and then some. HMS Diomede, Birmingham, and Danae also get mentioned in the United Nations. If you would like a copy contact me on my email. Sir John Holmes has all of the information in his posession. Nigel
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Mark Ellis Posts: 1
11/03/2013
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Nigel, I served on HMS Diomede during the Falklands campaign, Id be interested in a look at the ships logs or any info you have. Regards Mark Ellis
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Ray Smout Posts: 3
18/04/2013
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I was the L/Reg on the Diomede during 82, my Action Station being in the wheelhouse. The "war" was decreed to have finished on June 14th, this being, at the time, the final date for qualifying for the SAM. Yet I clearly remember going to full Action Stations, hearing and feeling ! the turret fire 6 salvos at an approaching Argie aircraft after this date. As we were technically under a "cease fire" agreement, the Rules of Engagement came into play. These, defined by the Oxford Companion of Military History, state "Although they are not fail-safe, these rules ensure that military force is only employed as a last resort, and within the confines of national law. In situations where military forces confront one another, rules of engagement are laid down to prevent escalation of hostilities or their premature commencement, but they must not be so prescriptive as to impinge upon necessary action". These rules now gave us permission to defend ourselves. Also, if the war finished on June 14th, why does the Ships Log state on 10th August "Hands to Action. Not Excercise". There is also evidence that even as late as Oct 82, RAF Stanley was deploying air raid warnings due to their radar detecting enemy air craft approaching the Islands. Following the expiry of the 30 yr secrecy rule, these facts are now in the public domain for all to see. My thanks to Nigel Morris (see above posts) for his tenacity in putting together our case to finally be awarded that which we have earned.
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Arran Fairchild Posts: 1
18/04/2013
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Diomede did go to Action Stations on Aug 10, at approx 13:40. 2 Harriers were scrambled from Port Stanley, i believe contact was assessed as a surveilance aircraft from Rio Grande..
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NIGEL MORRIS Posts: 23
05/06/2013
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Sir John Holmes Medal Review Team:
Sir John Holmes Medal Review Team have now submitted their report on the South Atlantic Medal without Rosette to the Cabinet Office, for the above extension to the criteria set, post July 12Th 1982 for the above Medal. This will then go to the Sub HD Committee and then to the HD Committee as per Sir Johns Medal review Report in July 2012. If anyone would like any more info please contact myself or Ian Mcvitie. Hope this is of help and keeps you all up to speed.
Nigel
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Ian Removed Posts: 7
23/06/2013
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If you wish to email me please do at i.mcvitie@googlemail.com
My old email address ianmcvitie@hotmail.com no longer exists.
Nigels email address remains the same.
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Phil Smith Posts: 3
08/10/2013
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I arrived on the Islands too late too ... Royal Engineer, I extended my contract by 6 months so I could take part in conflict but that did not go to plan ... I personally was disgusted in the decision and left the army. I remember a few latecomers being badly injured by AP mines yet they gave medals to SS in London ... Finally I was looking for reference to a old mate when I found this and another site which hosted a report by a Woolwich Surgeon and it actually list several amputees who received their injuries after the ceasefire. I tarnished my entire 9 year military experience not being acknowledge but imagine how it might feel without a medal or a leg ..... shameful really.
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Phil Smith Posts: 3
08/10/2013
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I arrived on the Islands too late too ... Royal Engineer, I extended my contract by 6 months so I could take part in conflict but that did not go to plan ... I personally was disgusted in the decision and left the army. I remember a few latecomers being badly injured by AP mines yet they gave medals to SS in London ... Finally I was looking for reference to a old mate when I found this and another site which hosted a report by a Woolwich Surgeon and it actually list several amputees who received their injuries after the ceasefire. I tarnished my entire 9 year military experience not being acknowledge but imagine how it might feel without a medal or a leg ..... shameful really.
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