Andrew Gudgeon
Bravely pulled survivors from the sea during Falklands conflict
ANDREW GUDGEON, who has died aged 58, was a Chief Officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary who showed great courage during the Falklands war in risking his life in order to save others.
In April 1982 the landing ship Sir Galahad, manned by Merchant Navy personnel, had returned from exercises with the Royal Marines in Norway and was discharging her stores in Plymouth, when the Argentines invaded the Falklands. Gudgeon, who as third officer was due to be relieved, immediately volunteered to stay. The ship sailed from Devonport on April 6 with 350 Royal Marines and entered San Carlos Water on May 21.
On May 23 the frigate Antelope was hit by two bombs which failed to explode, but while attempts were being made to render them safe, one blew up tearing the frigate open and starting major fires in both engine rooms which spread quickly. Her commanding officer, Commander Nick Tobin, gave the order to abandon ship and was the last to leave a few minutes before the missile magazines began exploding.
Despite knowing that there was a second unexploded bomb in Antelope, Gudgeon took one of Sir Galahad’s lifeboats into the maelstrom of fire and falling debris and pulled survivors from the water.
The next day Sir Galahad was strafed and also struck by a bomb which passed close to the bridge wing, and disappeared into the ship’s innards. There was no explosion but smoke was seen coming from the forecastle and Gudgeon led the fire-and-repair party to survey the damage.
He reported back that there was no fire but an unexploded 1,000lb bomb was lying in the battery charging room. Gudgeon calmly carried out his duties while experts removed the bomb.
On June 8 Sir Galahad was again bombed, at Port Pleasant, Fitzroy Creek, and seriously damaged. One bomb went through the open upper-deck hatch, causing a massive fireball which swept through the tank deck, causing heavy casualties among the embarked Welsh Guards; the second exploded in the galley area; and the third burst in the engine room, which filled with thick, acrid smoke. Gudgeon donned breathing apparatus and entered the area.
He found one man trapped under mangled debris but still alive, and struggled for some minutes to free him, until forced to seek help. As there were no more sets of breathing apparatus, however, he returned alone into the smoke. Unfortunately the man died.
Gudgeon was found to have placed his concern for others above his own safety and carried out his tasks with great courage and determination. He was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Gallantry.
Andrew David Gudgeon, the eldest of three children of a bank manager, was born at Shipley on May 2 1959. He went to a school at Burghfield Common, Reading, where, after a teacher had shouted at him, he planted a conker under the classroom hoping it would grow and tip it over. Later, at a Nottingham comprehensive, he joined the Sea Cadets and rose to be a petty officer.
In 1977 Gudgeon started a sandwich course at Riversdale Technical College, Liverpool, and went to sea as cadet in the ammunition-carrier Regent. For the next 29 years he served mostly at sea and in every type of fleet auxiliary craft – from stores ship to tanker. A comrade recalled him as “one of the kindest gentleman I have ever had the pleasure of sailing with; mild mannered, honest, calm, helpful and the most selfless person I have ever met”. In 2016, however, a brain tumour was diagnosed and he was invalided out of the RFA.
Andy Gudgeon bore his illness stoically and he and his wife, Lesley Cowan, a neonatal nurse whom he married in 1986, travelled widely in his last year. She survives him with their two children.
Andrew Gudgeon, born May 2 1959, died December 3 2017