Page 95 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Captured Personnel. There was comparison
how Captured Personnel are categorised
now and how they were treated 34 years
ago. Once the team decided how they
would have dealt with the situation (over
11,000 Argentina Prisoners of War walking
around a desolate and destroyed town,
still fully armed), they were able to discuss
with Allan how he actually managed the
situation.

“I explained how with the help of
the Royal Marines and the Parachute
Regiment, I co-ordinated the clearance of
the town, the clearance of many booby
traps and was able to point out where
disarming, searching and documentation
was completed before the prisoners
Allan Barley with a penguin
were placed on ships for repatriation to Above: Sarah Welch posing with penguins
Argentina. I also explained how the safety Below: The view at Mount Harriet
of my men and the safety of the Falklands
After visiting more of the island, the Islands populace was paramount in my
next day began with a visit to Fitzroy thinking, alongside ensuring all prisoners’ made the team’s experience more vivid
and a service at the Welsh Guards needs were addressed, be it medical or and real to be able to discuss with someone
memorial, overlooking the site where the otherwise.” with first hand experience what life was
Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram were badly like at the time. The experience is one that
damaged and set on fire by attacking Other Visits the team is unlikely to have again and one
Argentinian aircraft. Despite the weather, they will certainly treasure for many years
the team went down on to the beach On Sunday the team took a three hour to come.
where the casualties from the stricken trip to Volunteer Point in the north of East
ships were pulled ashore, for a stand Island, in order to see the island’s famous
delivered by Captain Kieth Sparkes and penguins. The penguins were certainly
Sergeant Andrew Wise on ‘the realities worth it and the sun even managed to
of war’. Listening to the harrowing tales make sporadic appearances between the
of casualties coming ashore from the rain clouds; at times it almost felt like it
ships, as well as learning about the bleak could be summer.
reality of what the British task force met
on arrival in the South Atlantic was an The final day was spent exploring Mount
eye-opening experience for the team. Harriet and the exploits of 42 Commando,
However, the morning was also tinged by Royal Marines. The team took the exact
a nostalgic sense of déjà-vu for Allan, who same route up the mountain as that taken
found the very sheep shearing sheds that by L and K Companies on the morning
he commandeered for holding Prisoners of of the attack. The engagement at Mount
War all those years ago. Harriet was a five hour deliberate attack
that climbed 200 metres of rocky outcrops
In the afternoon, the team returned onto a summit. Atop the summit the
to Stanley in order to visit the Royal team were treated to a taste of high wind
Falklands Islands Police Station, located speeds, which would pale in comparison to
in the centre of the town. Dave Street, what would have been experienced by 42
from the constabulary, gave an in- Commando on that morning in 1982. The
depth presentation on the roles and team took pictures with gun positions still
responsibilities of the police force, coupled in place and found discarded clothes and
with the difficulties they face providing a plimsolls which have remained on the hill
police service throughout the Falklands. since the Argentine surrender.

Treatment of Captured The whole trip was a homage to all those
Personnel that took part in the campaign, both
British and Argentine forces. It was a real
honour and pleasure for the team to have
On Friday, the team ventured back into been able to take Allan back to sites he
Stanley for the stand on the treatment of
never thought he would visit again, and

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