Special Operations.Com

22^ND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT

FALKLANDS HONOURS LIST 1982

By Mr. Ryan Wulfsohn for Special Operations.Com

Note: this is an incomplete list. The extracts from citations are from Tony Geraghty's book Who Dares Wins and the book Falklands Armoury, edited by Mark Dartford, which also contains the full Honours List. John Hamilton's citation is from the South Atlantic Medal Association, www.sama82.org.uk

Distinguished Service Order

Major Cedric Norman George Delves, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

Officer Commanding (OC) D Squadron

" Following the successful establishment of the beachhead at San Carlos Water, Major Delves took his SAS Squadron 40 miles behind the enemy lines and established a position overlooking the main enemy stronghold in Port Stanley where at least 7000 troops were known to be based. By a series of swift operations, skilful concealment and lightning attacks against patrols sent out to find him, he was able to secure a sufficiently firm hold on the area after ten days for the conventional forces to be brought in. "

Military Cross, Posthumous

Captain Gavin John Hamilton, The Green Howards( Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment )

OC 19(Mountain) Troop, D Squadron

" Between 19^th April and 10^th June, when he was killed in action, Captain Hamilton and his SAS Troop were responsible for some of the most successful SAS operations carried out in the campaign in the South Atlantic."

" Having survived two helicopter crashes in appalling weather conditions on the Fortuna Glacier in South Georgia, two days later Captain Hamilton led the advance elements of the forces which captured the main enemy positions in Grytviken. This action resulted in the total surrender of all enemy forces in South Georgia. "

" Ten days later, Captain Hamilton led his troop on the successful and brilliantly executed raid on Pebble Island in the Falklands Islands when eleven enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Acting quickly and decisively and with great courage and coolness, he personally supervised the destruction of seven of the aircraft. "

" Later, even though his Troop had lost half its strength in a helicopter crash the previous day, Captain Hamilton led the remainder of his men on highly successful diversionary raid on Darwin in order to cover the main amphibious landings on East Falkland. That he was able to do this after such losses is an immense testimony to his resilience and leadership qualities. "

" Next, Captain Hamilton deployed with his Squadron to a position 40 miles behind the enemy lines overlooking the main enemy defensive positions in Port Stanley. Again, his leadership and courage proved instrumental over seven days of continuous operations in seizing this vital ground from which the attack on Port Stanley was ultimately launched. On 27 May he identified an enemy probe into the squadron position and in the ensuing battle captured a prisoner of war. The next night he and his troop successfully held of another enemy attack and by doing so enabled 42 Commando Royal Marines to fly in as planned to reinforce the position on 31 May, an important step in the repossession of the Falklands. On the following day he ambushed another enemy patrol, wounding three and capturing all five members of the patrol."

" On 5^th June, he was deployed in command of a four man observation patrol into a hazardous position again behind enemy lines on West Falkland to carry out observation of enemy activities in Port Howard.

He managed to establish himself in a position only 2500 metres from the enemy, from which he sent detailed and accurate reports on the enemy."

" Shortly after dawn on 10 June he realised that he and his radio operator had been surrounded in a forward position. Although heavily outnumbered and with no reinforcements available he gave the order to engage the enemy, telling his signaller that they should both attempt to fight there way out of the encirclement. Since the withdrawal route was completely exposed to enemy observation and fire he initiated the fire fight in order to allow his signaller to move first. After the resulting exchange of fire he was wounded in the back and it became clear to his signaller that Captain Hamilton was only able to move with difficulty. Nevertheless he told his signaller that he could continue to hold off the enemy while the signaller made good his escape, and he then proceeded to give further covering fire. Shortly after that he was killed."

" Captain Hamilton displayed outstanding determination and an extraordinary will to continue the fight in spite of being confronted by hopeless odds and being wounded. He furthermore showed supreme courage and sense of duty by his conscious decision to sacrifice himself on behalf of his signaller. His final, brave and unselfish act will be an inspiration to all who follow in the SAS."

Military Cross

Captain Timothy William Burls, The Parachute Regiment, OC 17(Boat) Troop, D Squadron

Captain Aldwin James Glendinning Wight, Welsh Guards, G Squadron

" Inserted… at a range of 120 miles, he positioned his patrol in close proximity to enemy positions, cut off from any form of rescue should he have been compromised. This position he maintained for 26 days. During this time he produced clear and accurate pictures of enemy activity in the Stanley area, Intelligence available from no other means, which proved vital in the planning of the final assault. On one occasion he reported an enemy helicopter concentration against which an air strike was directed, resulting in the loss of four troop-carrying helicopters essential to the enemy in maintaining flexibility and rapid deployment across the islands; a task complicated by the enemy's changing the location of his helicopter holding area each day. In spite of his exposed position… his Intelligence reports were detailed and regularly updated. The conditions in which he and his men existed were appalling, with little cover from view or the elements. The weather conditions ranged from freezing rain to gale force winds , with few clear days. "

Military Medal

Corporal Trevor Brookes, Royal Corps of Signals, G Squadron

" His position was most vulnerable at all times and the difficulty of achieving observation of the target necessitated his surviving under the main enemy helicopter route between Stanley and Darwin. Frequent enemy air searches and foot patrols were carried out in the area. He fully realised that no support was available to him, in the event of compromise by enemy action. His courage and leadership in this situation was of the highest order. The accuracy of his reporting was such that a successful air strike was carried out on his information against a petrol installation on the airfield at Goose Green."

"His information was of great value during the preparation for the successful attack on Darwin/Goose Green by 2^nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. His performance as an individual and a leader was in the highest traditions of his regiment and the Army as a whole. "

Sergeant Joseph Gordon Mather, Special Air Service Regiment, G Squadron

" In a totally hostile environment, with the only protection from ground and air search provided by the skill and stealth of his patrol, the reporting of Sergeant Mather was both accurate and timely. In order to obtain the detail of the enemy disposition he was required to move his observation position to close and often obvious positions to gain the intelligence required. This he did with great courage and skill knowing that if compromised his patrol could not have been extracted from any predicament caused by enemy action. In addition he communicated his information in an environment where the enemy were known to possess a Direction Finding capability. "

Mention in Despatches

Corporal Raymond Ernest Armstrong, The Royal Green Jackets (Posthumous), Trooper, 19 Troop, D Squadron

Staff Sergeant William Henry Carpenter, Special Air Service Regiment

Staff Sergeant Phillip Preston Currass, QGM, Royal Army Medical Corps (Posthumous), Second In Command(2IC) 19 Troop, D Squadron

Captain (now Major) Euan Henry Houston, MBE, Grenadier Guards, OC G Squadron

Staff Sergeant ( Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 ) Anthony La Frenais, Special Air Service Regiment

Staff Sergeant Clive Dennis Lowther, Special Air Service Regiment

Sergeant Peter Ratcliffe, Special Air Service Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Michael Rose, OBE, Coldstream Guards, CO, 22^nd SAS Regiment

Member of the Order of the British Empire(Military Division)

Warrant Officer Class 2 ( Acting Warrant Officer Class 1) Thomas Haig, Special Air Service Regiment