Royal Navy veteran Barrie at forefront of efforts to honour missing names
THE effort is being spearheaded by Royal Navy veteran Barrie Jones and has the backing of Portsmouth City Council.
It will see almost 140 names of soldiers, airmen and civilians killed during the Falklands War added to the city’s memorial, in Old Portsmouth.
Among those expected to be honoured are members of Britain’s famed SAS killed during the conflict.
The regiment, based in Hereford, suffered one of its most catastrophic losses of life during the conflict when a Seaking helicopter carrying a team of special forces operators crashed on May 19, 1982, killing 20 people.
And the heroism of soldiers from the Parachute Regiment will also be immortalised.
The army unit served with distinction during the 1982 battle to retake the British territory from Argentine invaders, with the 2nd Battalion – also known as 2 Para – being the only land force unit to fight in two major battles during the Falklands War.
Tragically, 42 members of the regiment and attached personnel were killed, with a further 95 personnel from the two battalions wounded.
Two Victoria Crosses – Britain’s highest medal for bravery – were posthumously awarded, with some 71 gallantry awards being presented.
City veterans of the Parachute Regiment were delighted names of their fallen comrades were finally being added to the city’s memorial.
Roger Allen, branch secretary of the Portsmouth wing of the Parachute Regiment Association, said the campaign to honour the rest of Britain’s fallen heroes in Portsmouth was ‘long overdue’ and had been welcomed by local members.
He said: ‘Every serviceman who dies in action or on campaign should be recognised and remembered. It’s an absolute disgrace that they haven’t been so far in this case.
‘If 2 Para weren’t on the Falklands then I don’t think we would have won.
‘The Parachute Regiment is made up of a highly trained, motivated set of people. They do not give in easily.
‘They underwent everything from the cold and wet, and shortage of supplies and helicopters to win. It was an enormous effort on their part.’