Heroes still at war 40yrs on

IT’S been 40 years since the Falklands Conflict, but for the combatants the memories never fade.

Ten ex-soldiers, most from 2 Para, were interviewed on Our Falklands War: A Frontline Story.

The terrible savagery of combat was recalled calmly but honestly by men who’d lived through hell.

They spoke of kill-or-be-killed encounters, of bayoneting the enemy at close quarters, and of the stench of trenches caped in crap, guts and blood.

These were things they’d never told their families but needed to tell someone.

Nigel “Spud” Ely – ex-2 Para and ex-SAS – said no British military engagement since “can compare to what we did at Goose Green”.

Liberating the Falklands came at a heavy price. PTSD hung over the BBC documentary like a fog that never cleared.

When Sir Galahad survivor Michael “Iddy” Iddon came home, he lived in a trench in his garden for months.

Terry Wood recalled comforting the Argentine soldier he’d killed as he lay dying in his arms.

Former Royal Marine Kevin Woodford spoke about losing his leg, unlocking memories of the day he nearly died that he’d buried at the back of his mind.

Fellow marine Chris White thought he’d left Kevin to die and had contemplated suicide. Others still do.

But there was humour too. Former Scots Guard Robert Lawrence, whose story was told in Tumbledown, had been shot through the skull. “What was going through your mind?” asked the interviewer. “A 7.62 high velocity bullet,” he replied.

They was no glory on the battlefield. Just grim determination.

Corporal Tom Harley coped by deciding “I’m dead already”, but he’d lived with the consequences of never feeling fully alive since.

Shamefully, there are still exservicemen sleeping rough on British streets. And men like them in Ukraine right now making similar sacrifices.