THE SOLDIER

GRAHAM Carter was a private with 2 Para, aged just 22, he won the Military Medal for his bravery during the battle of Goose Green. I HAD joined the battalion two days after the Argentinian invasion. As we sailed down to the Falklands I felt anxious on two counts – that we were going to war and that I didn’t know anyone in the company.

Our first proper contact with the enemy was at Goose Green. What was unnerving was that you couldn’t see anything because it was a night attack.

You found yourself falling into enemy trenches and hoping no-one was in there.

Being a new boy, my section corporal took me under his wing and I was with him until he was killed later that day.

My section commander and platoon commander were also killed, right next to me.

I was shot in the helmet so I was inches from being killed myself, but there wasn’t much time for reflection because our aim was to take the position.

We were taking trenches that still had Argentines in them and it was hand-to-hand combat.

Most of the time you don’t know whether you’ve killed someone or not because you are at a distance, but when you are in the trench you know.

If you could you would throw a grenade in the trench and go in shooting and stabbing.

It was the first time I’d killed someone. I didn’t keep count and I don’t think it’s wise to keep count. You do what you need to survive and advance.