Sinking of HMS Sheffield in Falklands War is remembered
Kelly Brown
Members of the crew of HMS Sheffield who lost their lives during the Falklands War were remembered in Portsmouth.
Veterans gathered in Old Portsmouth at the memorial commemorating the sinking of the Type 42 destroyer in Old Portsmouth to remember the 20 members of the crew who losttheirlivesaftertheshipwas hit by a missile off Port Stanley in the South Atlantic on May 4, 1982.
The crew of the Sheffield fought for almost four hours to save the ship before Captain James ‘Sam’ Salt ordered themtoabandonship.Flooding causedSheffieldtorolloverand sink six days later.
ShewasthefirstBritishship tobelostinenemyactionsince theSecondWorldWar,andthe first of four British ships sunk bytheArgentineairforceinthe conflict.
Two Falklands veterans who served on HMS Sheffield also paid tribute to the shipmates they lost at the Standing With Giants art installation at Fort Nelson.
John Galway and David Atkinson were both on the ship when it was hit by an Argentine missile, and 41 years later the pair laid crosses with the namesofthosewhowerekilled in action at the feet of 20 naval silhouettes.
Standing with Giants is an art installation on display at Fort Nelson as a tribute to the 258 military and civilian lives lost during the Falklands conflict.
David Atkinson, 66, who was a Leading Radio Operator
on HMS Sheffield, made the crosses with the names of every man lost 41 years ago on the ship.
Hesaid:‘Wewantedtomake a gesture for my fallen comradesandhavingStandingwith Giants at Fort Nelson gave us a suitable place to do it.’
Chairman of HMS Sheffield Association, John Galway, 63, said: ‘We will always remember them – on this anniversary day and every day.
‘It doesn’t feel like 41 years ago but placing crosses at the feet of Standing with Giants seems a fitting way to remember them on this anniversary.’
Standing With Giants is a community project, set up by artist Dan Barton and a group of volunteers, to mark the 40th anniversary of the conflic.
Admission is free and runs until July 9 with the Victorian fort open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm.
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