A friend of mind who survived being shot in the head during the Falklands War received the following message yesterday from an Argentine soldier. Its honourable and respectful and I thought, worth sharing.

“ Gentlemen,
I’m the one who in 1982 served as the 4th platoon leader / nacar company / 5th Batallion, Argentinian Marines during the battle in the West end of Tumbledown.

In 1982, I was a Lieutenant , the second officer rank and I had 40 soldiers and NCOs at my position.
Like most of you, I am a professional soldier, and after the war I continued my career until last year, when I retired from the Navy Argentina, after 38 years of service with the rank of Captain.
Going back to the Battle of Tumbledown, I must say that I was surprised how the fight started, so close that we can not open fire on you at a greater distance. This led you and us, to a melee infantry fighting that lasted between 2310 hours on 13 June until 0815 uhours of June 14 when you took my foxhole which was the last one to fall. It was a battle in which both of us were fighting for our lives, but also for our honor as soldiers.

I never gave more importance if the reasons of the war were right or wrong. That belongs to a level, that was not my responsibility as a Lieutenant to be analyzed. But rightly or wrongly, we both fight in just doing what we have to do like soldiers.

In this battle, 17 of my soldiers were killed, and only 6 finished the battle without any wounds. I think these numbers speak louder than words, to describe what was that. I am proud to have commanded those 40 soldiers on that night. But I am proud to have fought against you too. On that night you showed professionalism, discipline, courage and chivalry.

After the battle, my men and I have received the treatment of men by all of you, despite the bloody combat and emotions that we both had for our fallen and wounded comrades. That sets the tone for who you are. True soldiers. Each did his duty, and both have put into play the same, our lives and our honour together. So I feel you are true brothers in arms, that circumstances have led us to be faced.

In the years that have passed from the war, I received more recognition and satisfaction by the British military, than that of my own comrades and citizens. I value it above all things. When my son, Lieutenant Carlos Horacio Vazquez, told me to write this letter, it meant for me a great joy to be able to reach you with these words that many years ago I wanted to tell you.

Gentlemen, receive in my name as head of the 4th Platoon, my respect for you, my recognition of your value as soldiers, and especially my tribute to your fallen, for whom every year I order a Mass as for my soldiers, on this anniversary.

You have my utmost respect, and it will be until the last of my days. God Keep You, and our comrades killed in combat.

Captain Carlos Daniel Vazquez
Argentine Marine Corps

All I can say is pure respect.

As far as I can remember, no Falkland Islands civilians were casualties in the fighting in 1982. That makes it an incredible rarity in the modern era, when counter-insurgency and 'collateral damage' among civilian populations is the name of the game. If only the poor bloody infantry (and paratroops, and marines) could do all their fighting on remote islands mainly inhabited by penguins.

I wonder how our young volunteers joining up are prepared for coming face to face with dead and maimed women and children? Not to mention the possibility that they could be prosecuted decades after the event for following orders? Best stick to a branch of service that does all its killing remotely. Like the government.

Ironic how one of few English conflicts to involve no civilian deaths also didn't involve the yanks...I'm sure that's just a coincidence and the Americans are wonderful people who don't get off on blowing up children, Dresden, Nagasaki, Vietnam? Never heard of those places mate.

funny how there is never war criminals for the victors.

There were three civilian casualties due to a wayward artillery shell.

It was the time i was taking my Accountancy final exams and on the morning i was watched the TV and an announcement was made that one of our ships had been lost.
Like all students i had been previously stressed and worried about exams but in an instant i thought "what the hell have i got to worry about". It put everything into perspective.
Later i found out one of the sailors who was killed was a lad my age from Hartlepool.
I have great respect for the people on both sides who put themselves at risk on both sides but like all wars it was a failure of the diplomatic and political process.

That'll have been HMS Coventry. Today is the anniversary of its sinking, the lad killed was Ian Turnbull.

https://sama82.org.uk/turnbullie/

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45171&p=527936

Meat on the bones of the three civilian casualties.

Sue Whitely:
https://falklands35blog.wordpress.com/2 ... n-whitley/


Doreen Bonner - one of the unsung and unspoken heroes - think WW2 SOE
https://www.militaryimages.net/media/mr ... ner.93855/


Mary Goodwin
https://sama82.org.uk/goodwinm/

Thanks for that Mr I.

Sad to hear that 3 Falklands women lost their lives in the conflict. Interesting that one of them is described as a member of the Resistance.

There was a lot of resistance from the population ranging from passive (not driving on the right and cutting communication lines all the way through to patrolling in amongst the enemy and hand to hand fighting in the main battles (Vernon Steen and Terry Peck).