FORTY YEARS AGO Friday July 16, 1982
Home from the south Atlantic
With the Falklands crisis now over, members of the British Task Force will be returning home to warm receptions from the family, friends and from the general public.
Among those who have just returned is Captain Kit Layman RN of Ardfern, whose ship the Frigate HMS Argonaut was badly damaged by Argentinian bombs during the fighting.
The Argonaut sailed into its base at Plymouth on June 26 to a hearty reception from the crowd, and it was there that Captain Layman was reunited with his wife Catherine and his son.
The family arrived back at Ardfern on Sunday to get another reception as neighbours had erected bunting, flags and a welcome back banner around the house.
Speaking from Ardfern on Wednesday, Captain Layman spoke of the situation aboard his ship when it was struck twice at the entrance to San Carlos Bay.
‘While the crew were trying to get rid of the unexploded bombs which had landed in the boiler room and magazine room they had to contend with continued fire from Argentine planes,’ he said.
Captain Layman went on to explain how they dealt with the problem.
‘We had a lot of help from the Fleet Clearance
Diving Team who are experts in explosive ordinance disposal and there were also people there to help with the technical aspect of moving the bombs. We got rid of the bomb in the boiler room easily, but the one in the magazine was more tricky and it took us a week to move that.
‘It was buried under a mountain of metal and was dangerous to defuse. Eventually it had to be lifted out through the holes we drilled in the deck.
‘When we saw it we noted that it had handle with care written on the side. That was just what we did.’
Reports that the Argonaut managed to continue to contribute to the defence of the force after the bombings were correct.
While repair work was being carried out the crew shot down two enemy planes.
It was also necessary to carry out a lot of repairs to the Argonaut as the boiler room had been badly damaged but eventually the frigate sailed back to Plymouth under its own steam.
Captain Layman was particularly impressed by the reception which the task force received on their return.
The people of Plymouth were out in force but their cheering was not only to welcome those returning, but also to show support for the whole operation. His welcome home to Ardfern was equally important to him and he said it was nice to see that the people of the village had given him such a warm welcome.
Captain Layman is a former commander of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
His wife is a daughter of Mrs Ascherson of Soroba, Ardfern.