The Falkland Islands, Operation Corporate 25 years later By Major M R Coreth, formerly The Blues and Royals he trials, tribulations, achievements and stoicism of the Regiment in recent years are fresh in our memories. For those of us who are no longer serving, the quiet respect we have for Household Cavalrymen currently serving, for those who have lost their lives in the service of the Regiment and for their families is extreme.
T
I would like to take you back 25 years to 1982. On the 2nd April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. At the time I was 4 Troop Leader, B Squadron, The Blues and Royals based in Combermere Barracks. Two Troops from B Squadron, 3 and 4 Troops, were placed on immediate standby to join a task force which was rapidly being formed to retake the Islands. A number of the names involved will be recognised even to the most junior soldiers of the Regiment today: 4 Troop Lt M R Coreth CoH P F Stretton LCoH S S Meiklejohn LCoH S A Ward LCpl G Farmer Tpr M J Flynn Tpr P R Fugatt Tpr K Lambert Tpr P G Maxwell Tpr E C Tucker Tpr D C Voyce Tpr A R Widdowson
3 Troop Lt Lord Robin Innes-Ker CoH S Thomson LCoH P Henney LCoH M G Dunkley LCoH J C Fisher LCoH M Brown LCpl M D Mitchell Tpr G W Birch Tpr H Ford Tpr C K Hasting Tpr J Holdsworth Tpr S J Round Tpr J W Pilchowski The Falkland Islands
Maj H St J Holcroft
by my Squadron Leader was “Get me down there”, an order I dismally failed to achieve. The inevitable consequence was a hugely increased workload at all levels. As a Troop Leader I attended all ‘O’ Groups from Brigade down, as well as commanding a Troop in battle and fighting an armoured car. The Corporals of Horse were tasked with all duties as would be expected within the Troop, but also the tricky business of acting as QM and dealing with the logistics, far beyond the norm.
A very noticeable absence in the roll call was the then Major T J Sulivan, B Squadron Leader and indeed the remainder of the Squadron. This absence left the troops sorely lacking not only in command and control, but also in logistical back up. The last order I was given
We set forth with both trepidation and the excitement of youth aboard Canberra to rendezvous with the bulk of the fleet at Ascension Island where we transferred over to HMS Fearless where the war footing became more real. After considerable on-board training and live firing both on
LAD Sgt S C Reid LSgt A Gill LSgt A E Watts LCpl A Lamblein Watchkeeper, 5 Infantry Brigade Capt R A K Field Watchkeeper, C-in-C Land Forces Operations Centre, Northwood, England
3 & 4 Troops and REME LAD B Sqn The Blues and Royals Op Corporate. Standing: Sgt Reid, CoH Stretton, Tpr Fuggat, LCoH Ward, LCoH Dunkley, Tpr Maxwell, Tpr Voyce, LCoH Micklejohn, Tpr Pilchowski, LSgt Watts, Tpr Holdsworth, Tpr Hastings, Tpr Flynn, LCpl Birch, Tpr Round, CoH Thomson, LCoH Brown Sitting: LSgt Gill, LCpl Mitchell, Lt Lord Robin Innes Ker, LCpl Farmer, LCpl Lambert, Lt Coreth, Tpr Ford, LCpl Lamkin, Tpr Widdowson Absent from photograph (getting more Champagne) LCpl Fisher, Tpr Tucker
Household Cavalry News
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