Don's 2001 (Falklands Trip) Diary
Don's recollections of Slade's trip to The Falklands... Included are some of Don's personal snaps of the trip.
For some reason, I don’t have the diary for 2001,,,,,,,, BUT, I’m sure it was, July or August of that year that we went to the Falkland Islands.....
We all met at RAF Brize Norton....... We did the usual check in, security, etc., and then boarded a specially converted Jumbo Jet (to get more people on...) for the 18 hour journey to the Falklands.....
Instead of stewardess’s (that wouldn’t have been a good idea) serving us, we had squaddies serving us food and drink....... Can’t remember how long it was before we landed on The Ascension Islands to re-fuel and stretch our legs.... We were greeted fantastically by officers and squaddies BEFORE boarding another (smaller) plane for the short flight to Port Stanley on the Falkland Isles..... Another great welcome by everyone.
We were herded into this ‘briefing’ room for a ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t do’s’...... We were told we could have as much food and (soft) drink any time we wanted. They now have ‘motorway’ style facilities open 24 hrs. for whoever.....
We were told never to leave the specially made ‘footpaths’ as most of the Island was still ‘mined’...... Apparently, before the ‘Argies’ left (20 years ago) they ‘mined’ the Islands and never mapped where they had planted explosives. They said that occasionally they would hear a loud bang and see ‘bit’ of sheep flying through the air !.....
Before I go any further REMEMBER, I said 20 years ago, that’s how long it’s been since the war..... The reason our guys are still there is because the ‘Argies’ want the ‘off-shore’ OIL that is in abundance around the Islands...
For some reason, I don’t have the diary for 2001,,,,,,,, BUT, I’m sure it was, July or August of that year that we went to the Falkland Islands.....
We all met at RAF Brize Norton....... We did the usual check in, security, etc., and then boarded a specially converted Jumbo Jet (to get more people on...) for the 18 hour journey to the Falklands.....
Instead of stewardess’s (that wouldn’t have been a good idea) serving us, we had squaddies serving us food and drink....... Can’t remember how long it was before we landed on The Ascension Islands to re-fuel and stretch our legs.... We were greeted fantastically by officers and squaddies BEFORE boarding another (smaller) plane for the short flight to Port Stanley on the Falkland Isles..... Another great welcome by everyone.
We were herded into this ‘briefing’ room for a ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t do’s’...... We were told we could have as much food and (soft) drink any time we wanted. They now have ‘motorway’ style facilities open 24 hrs. for whoever.....
We were told never to leave the specially made ‘footpaths’ as most of the Island was still ‘mined’...... Apparently, before the ‘Argies’ left (20 years ago) they ‘mined’ the Islands and never mapped where they had planted explosives. They said that occasionally they would hear a loud bang and see ‘bit’ of sheep flying through the air !.....
Before I go any further REMEMBER, I said 20 years ago, that’s how long it’s been since the war..... The reason our guys are still there is because the ‘Argies’ want the ‘off-shore’ OIL that is in abundance around the Islands...
Our living quarters were very basic to say the least - much to the dismay of H..... (more later).
Our rooms consisted of a single bed, a small cupboard and a small sink... no carpets..... We were told that "down the corridor were the communal showers and toilets" (I could see H was getting whiter and smaller when we were told)!
However, despite all this in the camp there was a great atmosphere between ‘officers’ and ‘squaddies’.....
When we were told of this gig we had been asked to do, we were told to take smart trousers and shirt.... (more later).
We were having a great first day with the guys in their canteen. They were telling us stories about the war (all passed down). One was that, would you believe, an excorcet missile costs £500,000, AND the Arabs have them all!!!!!!!
So, when a war ‘kicks off' the Arabs just sit back rubbing their hands waiting for the highest bidders.....
ANYWAY, come the first night, we were all finally ‘tucked’ up in bed, I was awoken to hear a gang of ‘squaddies’ walking up and down the corridor singing ‘Merry Xmas’..... THEN I heard H go out of his room to tell them to be quiet. I was laughing to myself, when I heard the ‘squaddies’ shout to him "Fuck off, you little cunt". (The next day, he moved to the quieter 'married' quarters on the base), while the rest of the band all stayed and continued to have a great time in the regular digs.
Our rooms consisted of a single bed, a small cupboard and a small sink... no carpets..... We were told that "down the corridor were the communal showers and toilets" (I could see H was getting whiter and smaller when we were told)!
However, despite all this in the camp there was a great atmosphere between ‘officers’ and ‘squaddies’.....
When we were told of this gig we had been asked to do, we were told to take smart trousers and shirt.... (more later).
We were having a great first day with the guys in their canteen. They were telling us stories about the war (all passed down). One was that, would you believe, an excorcet missile costs £500,000, AND the Arabs have them all!!!!!!!
So, when a war ‘kicks off' the Arabs just sit back rubbing their hands waiting for the highest bidders.....
ANYWAY, come the first night, we were all finally ‘tucked’ up in bed, I was awoken to hear a gang of ‘squaddies’ walking up and down the corridor singing ‘Merry Xmas’..... THEN I heard H go out of his room to tell them to be quiet. I was laughing to myself, when I heard the ‘squaddies’ shout to him "Fuck off, you little cunt". (The next day, he moved to the quieter 'married' quarters on the base), while the rest of the band all stayed and continued to have a great time in the regular digs.
The gigs we had to do were in their canteen area.... really it was like a big party every night..... We did one show in Port Stanley Town Hall and 3 or 4 shows in the Mount Pleasant camp canteen.
Everyday, we were taken up in helicopters all around the Islands and were shown where different battles had taken place.
One story was that 'our guys' were trying to take this one mountain that the ‘Argies’ were in control of. They kept control as they just kept rolling hand-grenades down at our guys when they tried to scale it.... It was then that the ‘Ghurkhas’ landed on the Island. They are just killers - and nothing frightens them. (To them to die is an honour). ANYWAY, the English officer in command took a megaphone and shouted to the ‘Argies': “ If you don’t give up, we’re sending the Ghurkhas in". IMMEDIATELY the 'Argies' rifles were thrown to the ground, and their arms went straight in the air!......
Another story was about when the ‘Argie’ air force were attacking our ships..... An excorcet was heading for one of our boats. We were told that when this happens there is a shout of ‘INCOMING’ broadcast all around the ship. Everyone ‘crouches’ on the floor in a little ball - hopefully for protection.... Apparently the said missile hit the ship and amazingly didn’t detonate. It went right through the wall of the ship and out the other side. There was a deathly silent pause on board, before all the guys jumped up and started hugging each other, not believing their luck......
Everyday, we were taken up in helicopters all around the Islands and were shown where different battles had taken place.
One story was that 'our guys' were trying to take this one mountain that the ‘Argies’ were in control of. They kept control as they just kept rolling hand-grenades down at our guys when they tried to scale it.... It was then that the ‘Ghurkhas’ landed on the Island. They are just killers - and nothing frightens them. (To them to die is an honour). ANYWAY, the English officer in command took a megaphone and shouted to the ‘Argies': “ If you don’t give up, we’re sending the Ghurkhas in". IMMEDIATELY the 'Argies' rifles were thrown to the ground, and their arms went straight in the air!......
Another story was about when the ‘Argie’ air force were attacking our ships..... An excorcet was heading for one of our boats. We were told that when this happens there is a shout of ‘INCOMING’ broadcast all around the ship. Everyone ‘crouches’ on the floor in a little ball - hopefully for protection.... Apparently the said missile hit the ship and amazingly didn’t detonate. It went right through the wall of the ship and out the other side. There was a deathly silent pause on board, before all the guys jumped up and started hugging each other, not believing their luck......
One day we were invited into the Officer's ‘Mess’ (hence the request we bring trousers and shirt... ONLY ENGLAND eh)!
Now these quarters were like being in the Hilton... Plush furniture, carpets, paintings on the wall. Curtains up the windows, chandeliers, I think...... All the officers were in dress uniform and we were being waited on by servants......THIS COULD ONLY HAPPEN ‘CAUSE OF ENGLAND....SO TYPICALLY THE, BRITISH ‘STIFF’ UPPER LIP!!!
One time in the cafe a F1-11 fighter pilot was trying to get me to go up with him on a flight. I WAS SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING IT..... BUT, there was this squaddie standing behind the pilot, waving his arms, shaking his head and mouthing "NO" to me! I took his advice and declined. When the pilot left, the guy waving at me told me: "You can’t believe the speed they take off at... Then they go vertically straight up and you ‘lose your face’.... They can only be controlled by computer because of the speed they go".... He continued "Only a certain type of person flies those machines"....
BUT, ALL IN ALL, I HAD THE, MOST FANTASTIC TIME OUT THERE.........Don’t know about H..... Ha.
Now these quarters were like being in the Hilton... Plush furniture, carpets, paintings on the wall. Curtains up the windows, chandeliers, I think...... All the officers were in dress uniform and we were being waited on by servants......THIS COULD ONLY HAPPEN ‘CAUSE OF ENGLAND....SO TYPICALLY THE, BRITISH ‘STIFF’ UPPER LIP!!!
One time in the cafe a F1-11 fighter pilot was trying to get me to go up with him on a flight. I WAS SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING IT..... BUT, there was this squaddie standing behind the pilot, waving his arms, shaking his head and mouthing "NO" to me! I took his advice and declined. When the pilot left, the guy waving at me told me: "You can’t believe the speed they take off at... Then they go vertically straight up and you ‘lose your face’.... They can only be controlled by computer because of the speed they go".... He continued "Only a certain type of person flies those machines"....
BUT, ALL IN ALL, I HAD THE, MOST FANTASTIC TIME OUT THERE.........Don’t know about H..... Ha.