HMS Glamorgan Memorial Service

The 15th Feb was the memorial service for HMS Glamorgan.  The ship was hit by an exocet fired from near Surf Bay, and was the last ship to be hit in the war.  It was also one of the first ships on scene in 1982, as it carried Admiral Sandy Woodward to establish the 200 mile exclusion zone ahead of the carrier and land forces arriving.  None of the advance group of ships made it back to the UK unscathed, and some paid the ultimate sacrifice, and still lie in the waters of the Falklands.

Glamorgan had been supporting the assault of Two Sisters by laying down 4.5" shells ahead of the Royal Marines of 45 Commando.  They had stayed for as long as they could to continue fire, right up to the last possible time that they could.  It was as they turned away from teh gun line to head back to the task force location that the exocet battery detected them and fired.  Fortunately the missile struck the helicopter hangar and this saved the ship, but 14 men still lost their lives.

A large stone was carved and polished back in the UK, and was then shipped down on the MOD resupply ship.  The ships crew arrived by plane and spent a week touring the islands.  For many of them, including Captain Barrow, it was the first time they had landed on the islands.  Glamorgan was sent home as the conflict ended for repairs.

Following a service with hymns and prayers, the Last Post was sounded, and then two Typhoons from MPA did a flypast.

As they headed in, the kids were blissfully unaware of the noise about to be unleashed, as the Typhoons thundered over head at 100 feet, followed by one completing a vertical climb on full reheat!

That done, it was up to the FIDF club for a buffet and drinks.  I managed to meet Captain Barrow, now in his 80's.  He was extremely emothional, and still regrets staying until the final minute that he could, as if he had left earlier, his ship may have survived undamaged.  He did say though that being able to visit the Falklands had helped him with his healing process, as he had seen that the conflict had been worth it.

In a few short months, it will be the 29th anniversary........