PENAL COMPANY ON THE FALKLANDS
No, not a new posting for Corps malcontents, but the title of a new book by Lieutenant Colonel Phil Neame 2 PARA, who was a RAF Regt officer from 1968-74 before transferring to the Parachute Regiment. He was OC ‘D’ Company 2 PARA during the Falklands Conflict, earning himself a Mention-in-Despatches through his leadership and example. His book covers the prelude, Conflict and aftermath of the campaign and it’s a raw, honest and often self-effacing commentary on the realities of intensive combat and probably the last time that the results were down to old-fashioned infantry tactics and capabilities; technology – such as it was in those days – didn’t win that war! Many will recognise the reported chaos, questionable command decisions, communications ‘snafus’ and the ‘fog of war’ confusion, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat; it was, as they say, a “damn close-run thing”, that could have ended so differently but for the dogged professionalism of the combatants. Take it from me that it’s a great, illuminating read – a cover-to-cover job – that I heartily recommend.
Copies are available from Pen and Sword Books (Click Here) or from Amazon (Click Here) .
Postscript: Captain Dave Wood – adjutant to Colonel ‘H’ Jones VC (CO 2 PARA) – was also a former RAF Regt officer before joining the PARAs. He was KIA with his CO during the battle at Darwin-Goose Green on 28 May 82. An individual Memorial Stone has been commissioned for the Corps Memorial Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum, to honour his memory, The stone was funded from donations collected at the RAF Regt Assoc’s after-party to the Cenotaph Remembrance Parade in Nov 22. It will be dedicated formally at the Annual Corps Memorial Commemoration Service on Armed Forces’ Day, 24 Jun 23.
[Review: Martin Hooker – 8 Jan 23]