Remembering The Falklands Conflict

Station History REMEMBERING THE FALKLANDS CONFLICT

FALKLANDS MEMORIAL

Sqn Ldr Dean Gibson, HQ Air Cmd

Summer 2021, RAF Halton received an enquiry about plans to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War, at the Memorial at the Officers’ Mess. Unfortunately, with the rotation of personnel, the location of the Memorial had become a bit of a mystery. The Dep Gardens’ Member, Mrs Ali Gibson and her ‘assistant’, her husband, Sqn Ldr Dean ‘Gibbo’ Gibson, volunteered to search the

grounds; after an hour one evening the Memorial was found in ‘plain sight’. The Memorial is a small ‘copse’ located near the Officers’ Mess Dining room, and after searching the ‘undergrowth’ the Memorial Plaque was discovered. Plaque and had it restored by Station Workshops personnel, who did a marvellous job, thank you. In April, a group of SATTS worked with ‘the Gibbos’ to trim and tidy the Copse and clear the area immediately around where the Plaque would be returned to. In recognition of the SATTS hard work, they were treated to a tour of the Mess, led by the Mess Archivist, Mrs Trixie Brabner. In early June, the Gibbos purchased plants, that, with a little ‘poetic licence’ resembled the ‘Joint’ BFSAI flag. These were planted over the Jubilee weekend and visited several times to ensure the rabbits had not taken a fancy to them!

Falklands Memorial Copse, before restoration.

Falklands Memorial Copse, part finished. Falklands Memorial Plaque, before restoration.

Falklands Memorial Plaque – restored.

Before the Falklands 40 Dining In Night, held 9 Jun, a short service of remembrance was held, with Padre Ashley Mitchell leading the Service and the Stn Cdr taking the salute for the Last Post.

Thank you to Sqn Ldr Gibson for the photos of the restoration project, and Sgt Thapa, JIAG, for the photos of the service and flypast.

Sqn Ldr Gibson with the SATTs who helped to restore the Memorial area.

FALKLANDS MEMORIAL DINNER

Lt Cdr Samuel Balmond, JIAG

Halton House Officers’ Mess hosted military personnel and veterans from all over

Buckinghamshire and the

South of England for a dinner to remember the 40th Anniversary of the conclusion of the Falklands

Conflict (OP CORPORATE).

Unlike previous remembrance dinners, all three Services of the Armed

Forces and civilian support from the broader MOD were represented by veteran speakers from the conflict.

Mr Stephen Balmond, Assistant Supply and Transport Officer Navy (ASTON(N)) from the Royal Navy Supply and Transport Service (RNSTS) on RFA Stromness represented the RFA, merchant and civilian navy and the importance of the supply chain and UK air power to successful operations at range. Flt Lt Andrew Rigsby (Cadets), formerly Royal Marine Rigsby from 40 Commando during the conflict, spoke on the initial landings at San Carlos, early reconnaissance of Argentine positions and the impact of Argentine air power on the landings. Lt Col (Rtd) Sulle Alhaji spoke of his frontline role in the assault on Mount Longdon as a paratrooper of 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, and of the horrors, chaos and realities of close engagements with hostile forces. The three speeches were neatly interwoven by