Falklands Memories

Director of Music: Commando Forces Band

My earliest memory of the Falklands campaign is one of feeling surprised; not that the members of the Commando Forces Band, of which I had assumed command some three months earlier, had been recalled for duty, but that we were actually to accompany the Brigade southwards. The main role of the RMBS in war at that time was to act as key point guards and I suppose I had automatically assumed that we would be left to guard and run Stonehouse Barracks in the absence of the fighting troops. I was wrong.

With hindsight it was entirely natural and correct that the Commando Forces Band would be used in its rather specialised role attached to the Medical Squadron of the Commando Logistic Regiment. However, the second surprise was that both Major General Jeremy Moore, commander of Commando Forces, and Brigadier Julian Thompson, commander 3 Commando Brigade, were keen that we should also be able to function as a Band. The one condition was that all our musical paraphernalia: instruments; music stands; music etc. must be 'smuggled' on board SS Canberra unseen, packed in a single chacon, in order not to give the media journalists the wrong image as to what we were about!

What followed was a jumble of busy, even chaotic activity at times, that was to last for the next three months. It has been said that war consists of short periods of hectic activity interspersed with long periods of boredom. That was true of our war but without the boredom! During the following weeks the Commando Forces Band not only functioned anywhere and everywhere in its various musical groups; jazz bands and guitar groups in the lads' canteens; band concerts in the many ships of the fleet and ashore in Ascension Island and later in Port Stanley, but was also very active in training for and practising its medical role as well as taking over almost the complete running of the regimental side of ship's life once the troops had landed. In all I think the musicians counted some 37 different jobs they were required to do during the campaign. This continued right up until the last minute as, of course, even after the fighting was over and the troops were relaxing on the voyage home, the Band was still much in demand for entertainment.

Musn 'Jan' Dale and the boys entertaining the troops

I have far too many memories to recount them all here, but I remember especially the incredulity of Robert Fox, the Daily Express correspondent, when he heard, amongst all the busy military activity two days out from Southampton, the strains of an unaccompanied Bach violin sonata issuing from a Ladies' loo; Musn Andy Clarkson was never one to forego his practice under any circumstances. There was also the amazing evening with 40 Commando at Ascension. They had been dragged, kicking and screaming out of their bars under a three line whip and mustered by Companies on the upper deck to hear a Band concert. Not the most receptive or sophisticated audience on the face of it, but to see and hear 650 plus commandos leaping about and singing to the strains of the Allegro Vivace from the overture to William Tell was bizarre in the extreme. This was the occasion, at the end of which the CO approached me and said that so far were their 'tails up' that if only he could have put them ashore in the Falklands at that moment they would have stomped from one end to the other and nothing would stand in their way! That is the effect that music still has upon the morale of the troops.

Similarly surreal was the finale of a Beating Retreat Ceremony we performed on the way 'up Channel' the evening before entering Southampton. At the finish of our many band concerts during the campaign it had become de riguer to finish with Hootenanny as an encore. We were certainly not expecting to play this during a formal Beating Retreat Ceremony, but after Evening Hymn and Sunset with Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and all the normal patriotic fare, it became very clear that the three thousand or so people watching were not going to let us go before we had performed this piece, and so we did, from memory and to a rising crescendo of clapping, hooting and stamping of feet that shook the very deck underneath.

Suffice it to say that during the Falklands campaign, both RM Bands involved had so endeared themselves to their colleagues, that they were treated often very like pop stars; more than sufficient evidence that the traditional role of bands in the Armed Forces, especially at sea, is as relevant today as it has ever been.

Lt Col JM Ware OBE RM (Retd)

Falklands Memories

GD Marine: 5 Troop B Company 40 Commando Royal Marines

As a Marine who served in the South Atlantic, I find my mind drifting back to the Falkland Islands reminiscing the events of 20 years ago. I remember as an 18 year old in Seaton Barracks, Plymouth, the Sergeant Major addressing B Coy 40 Cdo with his thoughts of the events to come. The words "some of you may not return" brought home the seriousness of the situation and it was time to prepare for the very thing for which I had finished training only 8 months previous.

It wasn't long before we found ourselves sailing south on the SS Canberra. Many days and weeks of arduous training ensued. Mental, physical and military preparation took up the greater part of our days with only minimum time to relax in the evenings. It was this spare time that was spent thinking of what was to come and of our families and homes.

All ranks on the Canberra were privileged to have members of the Band Service on board and although they also had a strenuous training schedule like everyone else they took the time they had to relax by putting on shows for the rest of us. This I have to say is one of my fondest memories of the journey to the South Atlantic. I remember the music so well and how I felt my morale rise and my pride flow, as I know did all others on board.

The band during a display whilst en route 'Down South'

The music lifted the spirits of the men and I remember the cheers and clapping, especially the singing along to songs, some sung by the members of the Band. I also remember the many encores, I know I never wanted the fun to end as it would result in the silence of our bunks and the many thoughts of a war to come that filled our minds. The Band on SS Canberra were not just a bunch of guys tagging along, they were an escape from the reality in which we were involved.

Thinking back now I realise that the Band Service also had a difficult task ahead and probably saw more disturbing sights, thoughts and suffered the same fears as everyone else, but on the nights they played to the men this did not show and I don't feel I need to ask if they enjoyed themselves as much as we did. It was plain to see.

So, what did the Band Service ever do for us? More than they probably know is the answer. As field Medics and 'stretcher bearers' they were responsible for saving many lives, but on the Canberra in 1982 they were without a doubt lifesavers.

Cpl Bruce Gill RM: Stores Accountant HQBSRM

Falklands Memories

Band Corporal: Commando Forces Band

As Plymouth Band prepared to go on Easter leave 2002 with the knowledge that 30 of us were on 5 days notice to go to Afghanistan in support of Medical Squadron, I could not help but cast my memory back 20 years and recall the events of Easter 1982.

The Commando Forces Band, who at that time were serving in Stonehouse Barracks Plymouth went on leave, blissfully unaware of the events unfolding in the South Atlantic. It was only after listening to the news, reading the newspapers, and finally receiving a call from the Drum Major telling me to report back to the bandroom that I began to think that something major was about to happen.

"Don't worry love, we will probably have to guard the barracks whilst the rest of the Unit go away" were the words to my wife as I made my way back to work.
The whole band (minus Musician Don Lloyd, who was trekking in Outer Mongolia at the time) sat in the bandroom and waited for the Director of Music, Captain John Ware to brief us on the situation, and explain our role in the scenario. Three days later with all our kit, we made our way to Southampton and boarded the SS Canberra, which was to be our home for the next three months. At 2000hrs on Good Friday 9th April 1982 we sailed off towards the Falkland Islands.

If you have to go to war, a P&O cruise liner is the way to go, but it took all of us about 2 weeks to really get to know our way around, and then we had to think of a different excuse for being late in the mornings. The band slipped into a good working routine. We would rehearse in the mornings and in the afternoons we would brush up on our medical and military skills. Most evenings would see different combinations going round the ship to entertain the embarked forces. At that precise time I am sure none of us actually thought we were going to war, all of us believing the situation would be resolved by diplomatic means. How wrong we all were!

After a refuelling stop in Sierra Leone (alas no shore leave) our next port of call was Ascension Island where the whole Task Force anchored and stores were transferred from ship to ship. The band worked particularly hard during this period unloading and offloading tons of ammunition and rations, but we eventually managed a couple of days ashore and gave a Concert and Beat Retreat for the local school. Our stay at Ascension Island lasted for 17 days and then the Task Force finally made passage for The Falkland Islands.

The whole attitude of the ship suddenly changed. News that HMS Sheffield had been hit by an Exocet missile meant that everybody on board was now taking life very seriously. The ship was thoroughly darkened at night and all responded efficiently to the emergency station drills. The doctors called for volunteer blood donors and I think I am right in saying that all members of the band donated a pint of their precious fluid. Despite all the frantic activity, the band still found time to do what we do best, and gave several concerts, whipping the Embarked Force into a frenzy before unleashing them against the Argentinians.

Some band members were given another task to fulfil, that of acting as guides for the troops cross-decking from Canberra to the assault ships Fearless and Intrepid. This required us to lead men of 40 Cdo with all their combat gear, bergans and rifles from the Promenade Deck, down through stairwells and passageways and through the gunport doors to the waiting LCUs. I had never seen a sniper before (I suppose that's the whole point) but these boys were so well camouflaged and so professional it impressed me immensely and I felt very proud to be a part of this Operation.

2200hrs on 20th May 'D' Day - 1, everyone on board went to General Emergency Stations. The final approach to the Islands was to be done at the highest state of readiness, some people dozed, others kept themselves to themselves, but most of the band were kept amused by percussionist Brian Short and his endless supply of wit throughout the whole night.

21st May in San Carlos Water the band were doing what they were trained for, receiving casualties from the helicopters and delivering them to the medical teams. We had devised a ramp system to carry the stretchers from the flight deck to the promenade deck and this was working very well, as were the teams who were operating it. On one occasion we had a patient halfway down the ramp when the guns started firing and the Argentinian Mirages came into view. Musician George Latham, the oldest member of the band, was on the lowering rope at the time and continued to lower the patient while everyone else was diving for cover. Not amusing at the time, but we all saw the funny side later on.

After the surrender on 14th June the band helped with the processing and searching of 4000 prisoners who embarked onto Canberra before their transfer back to Argentina. In stark contrast to our homecoming, we docked at Puerto Madryn where their welcoming party consisted of a large Red Cross delegation and military presence, no crowds, families or well wishers were permitted into the Naval Base.

23rd June the band gave a concert at the Cathedral in Port Stanley, and then we met up with FOF3 Band on board the SS Uganda and celebrated in true Royal Marines Band fashion.

Magazine space prevents me from going further into detail, but suffice to say that I have many memories of our time on SS Canberra, from the very solemn and sad occasion when the band played for the burial of four Royal Marines at sea, especially the playing of Last Post by Buglers Phil Smith and Geoff Naylor, to the amusing grand 'Duff Eating Competition' between Musns George Tate and Ron Turner; after a fierce battle, the eventual winner being George consuming 13 helpings plus two mouthfuls of steam pudding.

Musn George Tate during the pudding eating competition

Twenty years have flown by, we took on a multitude of tasks ranging from stretcher bearing, assault station guides, armed sentries, working parties for the endless transfer of stores and ammunition, and of course our primary role as musicians. Royal Marines Bands have been involved in various conflicts around the globe since, and I believe that it is our ability to remain cheerful and resolute whenever we are placed in difficult situations, that enable us to do all that is asked of us so well. Long may that continue. I am very proud of what Commando Forces Band achieved in The Falkland Islands Campaign and feel very privileged to have taken part.
PS Our homecoming was fantastic!

WO1 Gary Pumford RM: Bandmaster RM Band Plymouth

Falklands Memories

Musician: Commando Forces Band

For my Easter leave in April 1982 I had planned to visit Scotland to meet up with the lads from the FOSNI band and another half a dozen or so musicians from the FOF3 band who had not long been drafted out of Scotland. I had served for the past year with the Commando Forces band based at Stonehouse Barracks. The main reason for our reunion was to bid a surprise farewell to an incredibly gifted Director of Music, Lt Ron Kempton RM, who was sadly due to prematurely leave the Band Service. The Saturday night had been a great success and Sunday lunchtime at our old local in Limekilns was just beginning to become lively.

Never underestimate the power of Big Brother, (not the Channel 4 version). Somehow, someone somewhere discovered the telephone number of the Ship Inn at Limekilns and all members of FOF3 Band were recalled to Portsmouth. Oh how we laughed, in ignorance! Everyone had been vaguely aware of a situation in the Falkland Islands but that was miles away and after all, we were musicians.

How quickly situations can change. By 6pm that same day I'd lost an argument with my Band Secretary about the necessity of recalling me all the way back to Plymouth, collected a rail warrant from Dunfermline police station and was on an overnight train to Devon from Edinburgh.

By the time I actually got to Stonehouse Barracks the band had already been to Coypool and drawn what appeared to me to be mountains of military kit. My small hillock's worth was waiting for me in a corner of the concert hall and while I was staring at it and wondering what it all was, my bass playing colleague, Graham Smith, informed me that I needed to put a bass guitar in the chacon outside the bandroom. I'd often played Holst's Suite in Eb but I never realised that chacons were really those green containers that appeared to be used as spare equipment stores in the Barracks. And if I was being sent to war why on earth did I need a tuba and a bass guitar?

We spent the next few days speculating, complaining about lost leave, trying to put together webbing, wondering what to pack or not to pack, a bit of panic, (to the point where one musician rushed out and got married) and I deliberated over disconnecting the battery on my motorbike.

However, we left for Southampton, eventually joined SS Canberra and on 9th April FOF3 Band had the last laugh as they played us out of the port. They later flew out to Gibraltar and joined SS Uganda which was converted into a hospital ship. They spent the whole campaign onboard carrying out invaluable work within the medical facility.

After leaving Southampton and listening to news reports of the worsening situation I started to wonder what I was doing there when there must have been Royal Marine Commandos back in the UK who would be better equipped to go into this environment and would probably have preferred to swap places with me. I could have guarded Stonehouse Barracks. I was good at standing on gate duty; I'd had some training at Deal!

My involvement over the following three months ensured my views had changed quite substantially by the time Operation Corporate was completed. The experiences I gained during the whole operation were both memorable and profound and while some were obviously unpleasant there were occasional high points.
Life appeared to be spent surreally in two very different worlds. We were part of a Task Force being sent on a military operation but I was living onboard a cruise ship! I remember laughing with my stretcher team while we watched a Gene Wilder film and being quite indignant and annoyed as we were called out of the cinema. Then embarrassment, humility and sadness as we realised we were not required to move stores, darken ship or any of the other mundane, essential tasks, but to attend to fatalities. Another day saw us performing a Service for the burial at sea of four Royal Marines and later that evening having to entertain casualties in the hospital.

When HMS Ardent was attacked the survivors were brought on to the Canberra. An impromptu pudding eating competition seemed inappropriate but members of their ship's company insisted that it took place and joined the band in the junior rates' dining room to witness the event. This was not callous or irreverent but more a positive response to the tragic circumstances in which we all found ourselves. It was a justification of one of the Marines' principles and proved to us that the more serious the adversity the more essential is the requirement for humour.

We had several Argentine casualties transferred onboard by helicopter during the campaign, some of them were members of their Special Forces. While these soldiers looked extremely healthy and fit and tried their best to look threatening, the conscripts on the other side of the hospital ward were very scared, positively malnourished and definitely defeated.

We trained for our medical role every day and in the evening played music in the ship's ballrooms and bars that had been allocated to the various units of the embarked force. I was part of a jazz group with Martin (Jan) Dale on saxophone, Brian Short on drums and Trevor (Bruno) Brown on piano. Although we played mostly jazz/funk/pop music, we always seemed to end up backing one or more of the various cabaret artists that every Unit possesses. 'Oi bandy, give us six verses of Cliff's Summer Holiday - its okay, I've written me own words!' While I thought he had been to war he'd obviously been training to become the Corps' very own Tim Rice!

The appreciation shown by every Marine or Para on board each time we performed made me realise that our musical role was just as important as our medical role.
And a weird fact, realised by everyone onboard but rarely mentioned, was that we were entertaining and training alongside our prospective patients!
Once the hostilities had ended the Canberra was used to transport over 4000 Argentine prisoners back to Argentina. The band alternated between armed guards and searchers and I thought I would get a photograph to record the moment. I gave my camera to one of the band and with an armed sentry standing alert and deadly serious beside me, the POW stood with his hands behind his head while I carried on with my thorough search. When my film was developed weeks later, the dramatic picture I'd envisaged had been ruined as the Argentine prisoner had the most posed, cheesiest grin.

Argentinian POWs on board the Canberra

The processing of the prisoners took some time and gradually a huge queue formed which snaked round the ship. A dirty smear appeared on the walls in their wake were they had leaned patiently waiting for registration and the ship was filled with the stench of peat and dirty bodies, they had been living in the field for ten weeks after all. It was an interesting role to be part of their repatriation delivering them back to Puerto Madryn but I was not looking forward to the prospect of another similar trip into an enemy harbour where we didn't know exactly what was waiting for us. A last minute change of plan saw us embark Commando Units and return home. Of course I hadn't thought that when our own troops returned on board they would be in a similar state. However a lasting memory for me was the sight of 42 Cdo who, having come onboard in exactly the same state as their enemy, were now gathered in the Peacock Room to be entertained by our jazz group, scrubbed, glowing and pink, dressed immaculately in shirt-sleeve order looking as though they had just come off CO's parade.

The searching and processing involved all members of the band and took over thirty-six hours to complete. At the end of this time we were able to grab some short rest periods in between guard duties. The rest period was not really long enough to sleep but it was good to just lie on a bunk for an hour. During one such break the door of our cabin opened and a six foot four prisoner, (which was unusually tall for an Argentine conscript) entered the cabin with a sub-machine gun. Unsure of whether or not I was dreaming I remember considering my options and course of action when Musn Taff Higgins, laden with tins of beer, appeared behind the prisoner assuring me everything was okay and proceeded to introduce me to 'George' who played rugby for Argentina's Pumas.

On 10 July we performed our final concert to crew members and embarked forces. The RN Supply Officer onboard Canberra, Lt Cdr Muxworthy, made the following observation in his subsequent book 'The Great White Whale': 'Two thousand voices acclaimed the band; two thousand cheered them to the echo. For all of us the band personified what we had done, where we had been and what we had achieved'.

WO1 George Tate RM: Bandmaster Portsmouth Band

Falklands Memories

Musician: FOF3 Band

I left Training in Easter 1982 with a draft to FOF 3 Band and for my leave I had arranged to go on a pleasure boat trip with some mates on the River Thames. I heard on the radio news that HMS Fearless, in which the Band was currently embarked, had just sailed for the Falklands and so I phoned my Mum to see if she had heard anything. She had already received a phone call from my new Drum Major and so at the rush I left my 5 mates in a boat on the river, to join FOF 3 Band at HMS Nelson.

The first day as a trained rank I filled in a last will and testament form. The fourth day I flew on my first plane, by the second week I had done my first Jazz gig (it was disastrous) and by the end of the month I could drink 10 pints, while playing the trombone at 250 decibels (it had to be this loud to balance up with Smudge's trumpet!) The first month completed in my Service life, and my career was right on track… or not as the case might be.

The first medical experience came two weeks after sailing from Gibraltar. The Captain of SS Uganda needed a life saving operation and four members of the band assisted by carrying him into and out of the operating theatre. It was to be a remarkably prophetic prelude to what lay ahead.

The most ironic gig of the whole conflict was a Jazz concert for the survivors of HMS Sheffield on one side of the dining hall and captured Argentinian sailors on the other. George Morrison played a sax solo by an Argentinian sax legend Gato Barbieri and the Argentinean side of the hall erupted, the strangest concert I have ever given.

During the night the band had to guard the drug store from the civilian crew, who were less than reliable, and as if that wasn't bad enough the crew were going to go on strike over cabin sharing (a long dit over a beer sometime). Strange what sticks in your mind 20 years on.

Everyone on board gave blood to help boost our supplies but one member of the band must have lost too much. A nurse picked him up by the feet and dangled him over the bed, it was either that or the kiss of life to bring him around.

Our duties were numerous mainly revolving around receiving, processing and moving casualties around the ship, into the Operating Theatre, into Intensive Care and even assisting with minor operations such as dressing wounds after surgery. In all I think we handled 850 casualties of which 150 were Argentinian and 700 were British. I remember a young Marine of 17 and a half had received over fifty pints of blood and was being kept alive by manual respiration (performed by members of the band during our watches). I had spent over two hours with him, the Padre had given him the Last Rites when he passed away. There is not one day goes by when I don't think of him.

Injured POWs being repatriated... one of the many tasks undertaken
by the Royal Marines Band Service during the Falklands

The homecoming was special, my parents travelled to Southampton to meet the ship. The band did a Procedure Alpha on the flight deck and then we grounded instruments and hung over the side to see our families. That feeling has only ever been repeated when my children were born.

BdSgt Gary Halsey RM: CTCRM Band

Falklands Memories

Musician: Commando Forces Band

The Falklands conflict is a part of my life I will not forget, not because I went with the expeditionary force from the UK… but because I didn't.

I was 21 at the time, and the Band of HM Royal Marines Stonehouse was my first draft away from Deal. Life was great, with a much more relaxed atmosphere than I had previously experienced. Easter leave was on the horizon and Leave Passes were issued and although the impending crisis was in the news I never once thought we could be involved, so my then wife and I set off on leave, first to the north of England, then on to Edinburgh for Musician Neil Tipping's wedding. For a number of reasons we arrived a week earlier than originally planned and we set about entertaining ourselves in the Scottish capital totally unaware that a general recall for the band had been issued. As I was not at the address on my leave pass (we were in Scotland a week early) I was officially declared AWOL and a Warrant was issued for my arrest! When contact was eventually made I realised the gravity of the situation and set about returning to Plymouth as soon as possible. It was to be an overnight drive, stopping off for a couple of hours' sleep en route, arriving in Plymouth just as all the various sub-units were leaving via the A38. I reached RM Stonehouse to find a near deserted barracks, with the only people left being a skeleton guard, support staff, and me.

In the bandroom there were two other people, the Band Secretary BdSgt Dick Ward and Drum Major Joe Davis, a lovely man normally, but not this time. He was due for imminent release and had not gone with the main body. My interrogation consisted of a half hour roasting (to put it mildly) finding out where the hell I had been. After that I was told I was on open arrest, so could return to my married quarter but was on no account to leave the Plymouth area. Despite this, one thing I seriously did consider was to collect the required equipment and drive to Southampton as the Canberra was not due to sail for 48 hours, but no, I was told "the whole place is now shut and it's bank holiday weekend so there is no chance of Stores being opened before she sails".

I returned home not knowing what the future held for me. Would all the members of the band come back? If so would they be alive - or injured? And if so should it have been me? All this and so, so much more was constantly going through my mind and would continue to do so until they returned.

I attended COs Orderly Room and was fully expecting a spell in DQs, but instead received a fine. Even today, I am firmly of the opinion that the CO was advised that the whole incident was a mistake made by a naïve and short-sighted young man (rather than a malicious AWOL) who would be much more use to all kept in the barracks on the guard staff completing any and every other duty that needed fulfilling. I am convinced this saved me from being locked up.

The next big hurdle was the wives of the band. They were understandably angry with me. Some understood after they heard all the facts, and some did not. We held many coffee mornings at which the Band Secretary tried to keep them informed before the national press did, and handed out mail and provided a shoulder to cry on. Those days in particular were difficult for reasons already stated, but were helped by two events.

The first was an encounter with the wife of the Commander of the Land Forces Major General JJ Moore - she was invited to attended one of our coffee mornings. About half way through the morning she noticed me and said, "You must be the poor fellow who was is Scotland, how are you? You must feel terrible." I was initially horrified that she knew about what had happened, but I will always be grateful to her for the compassion and understanding she showed. The other helpful event was the arrival from Training of new personnel - Bugler James Whitwham, Musicians Richard Porter (French Horn) and Paul Overton (Solo Clarinet). They were a welcome relief from the solitude and great practical help during the next few months.

A brief respite at Ascension Island en route home where the band entertained the troops

The conflict continued and came to its well documented close, and so the long wait for the band to return home began. The day the Canberra returned home I was so relieved and is one I shall never forget. The commentator spotted the band and the camera picked them out, I cried like a baby. The Band were all home safe and sound. To this day any mention of the conflict, particularly repeats of that day's news footage, still stirs emotions in me of overwhelming relief for their safe return, and massive guilt that I should have been there with them. It has taken twenty years to say that!

The final part was the homecoming to Plymouth. The bandroom library was made into a bar, the coaches arrived and I waited… not much was said. The Boss, Captain John Ware, called me into his office as soon as he could and said that he knew what had happened, and he understood, and as far as he was concerned I would always be a member of his band. All I could say was "thank you, sir". Then I had to face everyone in the bar. To his eternal credit BdCpl Tich Richardson broke the ice when he shouted, "Come on then big ears, tell us what happened!". To a hushed bar I explained, as much as I could, the events leading to me missing the coach. His reply, entirely without malice, was priceless: "W*****!" The Band erupted and the ice was well and truly broken. Ninety nine per cent of the band forgave me instantly, some took a little longer.

Time is a great healer and very forgiving, as are the members of Commando Forces Band of that time. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Much water has now flown under the bridge but I if I could turn the clock back I would still want to be with the rest of the band. Until now, there were only a few people who knew what really happened, but there was a lot of hearsay. Perhaps now I can draw a line under a part of my life where I wish I could have done things rather differently.

Twenty years on after much soul searching I still wish I had had the presence of mind to phone in my change of plans. It is as simple as that.

BdCSgt Don Lloyd RM: Bandmasters' Class

Falklands Memories

GD Marine: 3 Troop A Company 40 Commando Royal Marines

I was asked by the Editor to write a 'dit' on my memories of the RM Band Service on board the SS Canberra during the Falkland conflict. Yes, I thought, no problem. Close copy date being the 8 July gave loads of time. It's now 6 July and I'm feeling the pressure!

We left Southampton Docks to the sound of 'A Life on the Ocean Wave' played by a large contingent of the Band. Up until this point I had become cocooned, withdrawn, by myself; did I really join the Royal Marines? Do they really expect me (a seventeen year old kid, who joined the Corps to make his parents proud and make his mates sit up and listen) to go to War? I listened to the tunes, I watched Band, I saw the send off and thought to myself "Yes Pess, they are proud of me, time to be proud of myself!".

We sailed off amongst a flotilla of small sailing boats, the occupants of which were waving union flags patriotically. You know, it was actually the sound of the Band that started those flags waving. It was the sound of the Band that woke us all from our own little worlds.

We sailed out of British waters, we trained hard every day, we practised air raid warning routines, we maintained a gun watch on the upper decks, we ran around the ship dozens of times in order to complete a 4 miler - Heartbreak Lane - I love it! We longed for the evenings, especially the evenings when the small RM Band detachment were entertaining! I forget the name of the Great Room where the whole contingent of the ship gathered to hear the Band play. I do remember that it was the one, and perhaps the only time that 'Royal' and Paras have happily sat together, friendly rivalry being what it is! The Band played every style of music from rock numbers to ballads as well as the more traditional fare. They brought tears to the most wizened old '3 badger's' eyes. They gelled us together and transformed us into the most formidable, patriotic bunch of men I have ever witnessed. Did they play the Regimental March of the Parachute Regiment? Probably, the Band were like that! I remember above all a saxophone player amongst the Band. He was superb, a favourite amongst his audience. At the time I didn't know his name, but his face stuck with me over the years. I was to find out that his name was Martin 'Jan' Dale. He left the Corps not long after I joined HQBSRM. I never spoke to him, preferring to remember him as he was.

The RMBS were involved in every aspect of life during the conflict

We went, we saw, we conquered, we sailed home. Did the Band play? - can't remember. We got to Southampton. Was there a Band playing? - maybe, can't remember but looking back to those days, I do remember that it was the Royal Marines Band that generated such team spirit on that ship. It was and still is, the Royal Marines Band that instils pride and comradeship in all that we do. If there are any young Bootnecks out there that have read this dit without falling asleep, go to a concert, disguised if you must, take a look around you, feel the atmosphere, and feel the same pride and comradeship as I do! Oh, and by the way, if Bandy reads this I made it all up - honest!

Cpl Andy Pessol RM: HQBSRM Registry

Falklands Memories

Musician: FOF3 Band

It was a cold winters night in 2001 when Roy O'Connor and I, semi seriously, discussed the idea of an ex FOF 3/SS Uganda reunion, as in April 2002 it would be the twentieth anniversary of our sailing to the Falklands Islands from Gibraltar. Over the next few days I thought it over and decided to set about organising the "Informal Get Together". The result was a fantastic and unforgettable day. Sixteen out of twenty three were there at the Home Club, Portsmouth.

Friends reunited!

A room filled with memories, photographs, stories old and new, and sixteen old friends who had experienced a special and unforgettable time together twenty years before. A few beers, an excellent meal, and as we walked through Portsmouth, taking in a couple of old haunts, the "Three Crowns" and the "Dorchester" it was as though we had stepped back twenty years, in fact we all felt that we should be going back to the ship, after another beer of course. It was a day that I shall never forget. We have decided to meet again in 2007, and I look forward to it very much, and hopefully next time bringing together all twenty three of us.

Mr George Morrison: ex RMBS

Plymouth Band in the Falkland Islands during the 20 year memorial events