Scroll down for Falkland Islanders Resistance Memorial, Civilian Casualties and 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers.
Click here to visit the Falklands 40th Anniversary Map page.
Click here to visit the Falklands Liberation Memorial
The Falkland Islanders Resistance Memorial
15th December 2011.
August 2023 Twelve years on……..
The Falkland Islanders Resistance Memorial
The Falkland Islanders formed the very first British Resistance Force since the Second World War.
The Falkland Islanders Resistance Memorial Interpretation plaque
- Memorial Text
- Memorial Interpretation
- This memorial depicts three Upland/Magellan geese (Chloephaga picta) in flight heading south. These geese rarely leave the Falkland Islands as they choose to roam free as did the British citizens of the Islands during the invasion in 1982.
- However during the occupation the Islanders basic freedom was interrupted with restrictions, curfews and the incarceration of whole communities in cramped dirty conditions. Many were placed under house arrest and were not allowed to carry out their professional assistance to the population and they virtually became prisoners in their own lands.
- Undaunted by the massive enemy force trying to control them, many set about covert means of resistance at the risk of their own lives prior to the task force arriving and then went onto help British troops after their successful landings as the conflict raged. Some fought alongside our troops and others acted as guides and provided vital intelligence.
- No conflict is without civilian casualties. Three women lost their lives as the battles intensified around Port Stanley in the closing days of the conflict, before the enemy surrendered on the 14th June 1982.
- The artist/blacksmith Bromley O’Hare felt that the 3 flying geese would be a fitting tribute to ensure that Doreen Bonner, Mary Goodwin and Susan Whitley as well as the 255 members of the armed forces and those civilians employed on our Naval Vessels who lost their lives would not be forgotten.
- The three geese in flight represent Lightness, Movement and Freedom.
- Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher April 3rd 1982. “They are few in number, but they have the right to live in peace, To choose their own way of life and to determine their own allegiance”
- The Falkland Islanders Resistance Memorial consists of seven elements.
- The Falklands Memorial Way plaque was unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Mr Ian Dudson CBE on the 14th June 2014.
- The Falkland Islanders Resistance memorial plaque was unveiled on the 14th June 2014 by the Hon. Michael Poole MLA.
- The memorial plaques honouring Doreen Bonner, Mary Goodwin and Susan Whitley were established in 2013 beside trees facing south and were dedicated in 2014.
- The eight trees set on the ordinal and cardinal points of the compass consist of 5 Cider Apple and 3 Perry trees.
- The Falkland Islanders Resistance Memorial consists of 3 steel geese designed to represent the native Magellan (Chloephaga picta) goose in flight.
- The Maquette/Model consisting of one of the geese in flight is destined to be flown to the Falkland Islands.
- The 11 small garden areas are planted extensively with grasses to represent the Islands natural habitat. Each goose or CHLOE’s as they are known have been established on a mound of different grasses.
- Memorial Text.
- This orchard of five Cider and three Perry Apple trees is dedicated to the men, women and children of the Falkland Islands who refused to be subjected to the rule of an enemy force after their Islands were invaded on the 2nd April 1982.
- The Islanders were liberated by British Forces on the 14th June 1982 but not before the loss of over 250 men and women.
- What is not well-known is the “Spirit of Resistance” that the Falkland Islanders adopted, marking the first British Resistance Movement since the second world war. This is something that they and future Islanders should be very proud of.
- These brave Islanders spied on, sabotaged, and disrupted enemy activities before the British Task Force landed. Islanders then helped our troops by fighting with and alongside them, supplying vehicles, food and clothing, gathering vital intelligence and offering comfort to injured troops, all often under fire.
The Falklands Memorial Way
- Memorial Text
- This Horse Chestnut tree was planted in honour of the military and civilian personnel who helped liberate the Falkland Islands between April 2nd and the 14th June 1982.
- This memorial way was opened by the Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire Mr. Ian Dudson MBE on the 14th June 2014.
Extract from Penguin News Falkland Islands – 30th June 1982
- The Inevitable Tragedy
- In Stanley the British Barrage from the frigates and destroyers was the worst we had experienced, and the inevitable tragedy occured late that night.
- A number of civilians were sheltering in the concrete constructed home of John and Veronica Fowler when misdirected shells began landing very near the house, which in itself just slightly west of the 1914 Battle Memorial.
- A shell badly damaged the front of the house and thinking it would be safer, the families inside moved to the back of the building.
- However the next shell landed behind the house, and Sue Whitley and Doreen Bonner were killed. A few others were wounded, Mary Goodwin seriously so. She died a few days later.
- The full horror of the situation was now brought home to everyone in Stanley, many of whom had been dwelling under a false sense of security.
- The Civilian Casualties
- Remembering the three civilians who lost their lives on the 12th June 1982.
- hree trees facing South are dedicated to Mrs Doreen Bonner, Mrs Mary Goodwin and Mrs Susan Whitley. These memorials were installed in 2013 and dedicated on the 14th June 2014.
59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers
- Memorial Text
- 59 commanded by Major Roderick MacDonald RE, were part of 3 Commando Brigade RM, during the conflict in 1982. Sappers from 59, and with others under command, provided combat engineer support to the Royal Navy and the Parachute Battalions. Members of the Squadron participated in all main assaults including minefield clearance operations, losing 5 “Sappers” killed in action and 3 seriously wounded by anti-personnel mines.
- SSgt. James Prescott – 33 Engineer Regiment E.O.D – KIA HMS Antelope 23rd May 1982 (Aged 37 yrs).
- Known as Jim, he was an EOD specialist under the command of 59 and provided valuable training to personnel during the journey South. 3 Commando Brigade afloat entered San Carlos water (later referred to as ‘Bomb Alley’) on Friday 21st May 1982 to carrying out the assault landings and soon came under continuous attack by enemy aircraft. Jim was tasked with defusing 2 unexploded bombs on HMS Antelope and, whilst carrying out this extremely difficult operation, an explosion occurred, killing Jim and resulting in the loss of HMS Antelope.
- Sapper Pradeep Gandhi – 2 Troop 59 – KIA San Carlos 27th May 1982 (Aged 24 yrs).
- Known as ‘Goosey’ he was the only Hindu to be killed during the conflict. He became well known and popular on the LSL’s Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot during the long journey South for entertaining embarked troops in his role as film projectionist. “Roll em, Roll em Gandhi, the man who drove the Lancelot projector!” is still sung today at Commando Engineer reunions.
- Goosey landed on “Blue Beach” at San Carlos with 40 Commando RM who were tasked with securing the Beach Head. It was during this operation that Goosey was killed when the defensive position came under attack by enemy aircraft.
- Cpl. Michael Melia – Recce Troop 59 – KIA Goose Green 28th May 1982 (Aged 30 yrs).
- Known as Mick he was a parachute trained commando and the Squadron football team captain. Soon after landing on ‘Blue Beach’ at San Carlos along with other members of the Squadron Recce Troop, he was attached to 2 Para in advance of the planned attack to liberate Goose Green Settlement. It was during the battle for Goose Green that Mick was killed by Argentine machine gun fire.
- Sapper Christopher Jones – Condor Troop 59 – KIA ‘Two Sisters’ 12th June 1982 (Aged 19 yrs).
- Known as Chris, he was a team player who always was the first to volunteer when help was required. Condor Troop landed on Red Beach at Ajax Bay with 45 Commando RM and then moved by landing craft to Port San Carlos. There followed an epic ‘Yomp’ across East Falklands towards Argentinian positions on ‘Two Sisters’. It was during the night attack on ‘Two Sisters’ that Chris was killed as a result of heavy mortar and artillery fire.
- Cpl. Scott Wilson – 2 Troop 9 Parachute Squadron RE – KIA Mount Longdon 13th June 1982 (Aged 25 yrs).
- Known as Scotty, he was a popular NCO in 2 Troop 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers who were under the commando of 59 during the fighting. Scotty landed on ‘Green Beach’ at Port San Carlos Settlement with 3 Para and then moved to Teal Inlet and prepared for an attack on the Argentine held Mount Longdon. He was fondly remembered by the locals of Estancia House as he passed through to the objective.
- In the aftermath of the fierce night fighting to take Mount Longdon, Scotty was assisting in securing the mountain when he was killed by Argentine Artillery fire.
UNITED WE CONQUER
This commemorative plaque was commissioned by the Commando Engineer Branch of the REA and dedicated on the 15th October 2016. It was unveiled by Major General Geoffrey Field – Commander Royal Engineers – Falklands Conflict 1982.
Page Updated 18th March 2024.
“Operation Loyton 1944”
E-mail Philippe direct in France 213get@gmail.com
We have the best vital, essential universal and lightweight tool that every Firefighter should have and all Police and Security vehicles should carry.
The Ultimate Tool is now available to Fire & Rescue, Police, Ambulance and Military Services.
Contact Tony at https://ria-rescue.com
The Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove 