Page 17 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

THE GAZETTE QARANC 15
Captain M E Barclay QARANC – myself, aboard the TEV Rangatira, approach to Ascension Island, Ascension Island in background early morning, 30th June 1982.
Aboard the TEV Rangatira, arrival Stanley Harbour, Port Stanley, 11th July 1982.
down. Some of my colleagues suffered from seasickness but I was fortunate to escape this malady. And to cap it all the reverse osmosis plant that sterilised the water had broken down as well, so we had to brush our teeth with salty water and drink salty tasting tea!
Our arrival in Port Stanley on the 11th July was greeted with enthusiasm. There had been a fresh fall of snow and the temperature at sea was 18c below zero. Matron was allowed off the ship that day to visit the hospital in order to assess the situation at the hospital. The rest of us disembarked the following day with a precarious descent via a rope ladder down the side of the ship and a short boat journey to the public jetty. We walked along Ross Road to the King Edward V11 Memorial Hospital. The military medical wing was to be set up in the old part of the hospital, which on inspection required cleaning, re-organising, and re-equipping with some urgency. The Argentinians had left Stanley in an indescribably filthy state, the hospital included. Evidence of the results of fighting all around with bomb and fire damage to the houses and other buildings; garden fences destroyed and used as firewood, livestock killed for food; Argentinian firearms, ammunition, human excrement and rubbish lying around indiscriminately. There was a phalanx of khaki clad troops everywhere, some employed in Operation “Clean Up”, the remainder waiting for their instructions for their departure home. Road, air and sea traffic were equally busy. All this activity, combined with the smell of the bitterly cold sea air blowing in from the harbour, smoke from peat fires and the vapour trails from the Royal Navy Sea Harriers and helicopters, contributed to a distinctly atmospheric post-war scene of destruction and chaos.
and “dog tags” at all times unless allowed otherwise.
Our living conditions were located in a small corridor, port side in the bow of the ship. The cabin that I shared with Matron, Major Margaret Nesbitt QARANC, was gloomy, basic and cramped; but we were fortunate to have a hand basin and a scuttle (porthole) in our cabin so at least we were blessed with “a room with a view”!
As we journeyed south towards the equator the weather improved, the sun shone and the sea stayed calm, although this was to be short lived! On our first day at sea there was an ecumenical Sunday morning service, held at 11am in a dark eerie space below decks, conducted by a Royal Navy Officer. The service was well attended, and for me personally proved spiritually reassuring. With a renewed infusion of the Holy Spirit any lingering fears of this unusual deployment had evaporated. Those of us in attendance were presented with a copy of the New Testament, given by the Gideons International in the British Isles, which I kept safely in my black uniform handbag until I returned to UK the following year.
Our daily routine consisted of breakfast at 0800hrs, physical training for both men and women every morning and weapon training for designated male personnel on appointed days. The QA’s PT was held on the helicopter landing pad away from view at 1100hrs every morning - put through our paces by the army PTI. Lunch was served from 1230hrs to 1330hrs. At 1400hrs every day there was compulsory training for life jacket drill, life boat drill and familiarisation with muster stations. There was afternoon tea at 1600hrs and dinner at 1900hrs. The rest of the evening was
free and usually occupied with card games, board games, dominoes and videos. There were often impromptu parties and “sing-songs” in the bar. Extract from my diary:- 22.06.82. ‘Received news of the birth of HRH Prince William of Wales who was born on the 21st June 1982. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 ordered The Royal Navy to “splice the main brace”. The QAs were not allowed to partake in this tradition so Matron opened the three bottles of champagne presented to us by Brigadier Vera Rooke, our Matron-in Chief, before our departure. We toasted and celebrated Prince William’s birth, which was a unique, enjoyable and memorable occasion.’
The days seemed to pass by very quickly and after eleven days at sea on the 30th June, Ascension Island was in sight at 07.45hrs. As we approached the island several RAF Sea King helicopters in swift succession flew out to the ship with fresh supplies and our long awaited mail from home. More military personnel who had flown out from UK joined the ship. Rangatira was refuelled. The following morning we were on our way again and by the 7th July the weather had considerably deteriorated. As Rangatira continued her voyage she rocked and rolled through a tunnel of dark grey heavy clouds above, a black inky ocean below and mountainous waves crashing all around her. Force 10 gales became the norm.
Extract from my diary:- 08. 07. 82.
‘Action Stations called, enemy aircraft sighted on the radar screen forcing Rangatira to change course.’
Our journey had now become less comfortable and more hazardous. We were all suffering from heavy colds and feeling cold as well because the ship’s central heating system had broken