Marines take a pop at record of the SAS
A WARTS-and-all book by a former major has sparked a row between former SAS and Royal Marines commanders about their roles in the Falklands war.
It has even led to an argument over which of the elite regiments was behind one of the more embarrassing episodes – the shooting of elephant seals mistaken for the enemy.
The book’s author, Lt Gen Cedric Delves, led D Squadron SAS in the 1982 retaking of South Georgia from Argentine forces, the conflict’s first military action.
Across An Angry Sea has been highly praised for its honest account but senior Royal Marines say it eclipses the role they played.
Lt Col Guy Sheridan, who led the South Georgia mission, went so far as to publish his account of the action in regimental magazine, Globe & Laurel, to correct “over 35 years of misrepresentation...
FALKLANDS CONFLICT: Marines say the SAS stole their glory
about how South Georgia was recaptured”.
And Maj Gen Nick Vaux, who led 42 Commando, in a searing review of the book, said “claims of SAS actions and achievements do not always comply with recollections of others present”.
This follows the Marines successfully objecting three months ago to the Welsh Guards putting up a memorial plaque on Sapper Hill, south of Port Stanley, stating they had seized the enemy position – even though the troops were attached to them from 40 Commando.
Gen Delves’s role is already controversial. He ignored orders not to drop soldiers on Fortuna Glacier, South Georgia, in bad weather. That decision led to the crashing of two Wessex helicopters and the rescuing of 16 SAS soldiers by the last remaining helicopter.
Gen Delves’s claim that he formulated plans has received the most criticism, with Gen Vaux stating: “A number of those involved... consider this is not a balanced account.”
He, with Col Sheridan, contradicts Gen Delves’s claims that it was the Royal Marines who shot the elephant seals. “A number of officers observed the SAS engage illusionary targets... Those targeted were later confirmed as the unfortunate elephant seals.”
Admiral Chris Parry, mentioned in dispatches for flying the helicopter which rescued the SAS soldiers from the glacier, said: “I was there and to my mind Delves’s account of South Georgia is entirely credible.”
He added: “The problem is that reputations have been established on the basis of certain narratives and Delves has thrown a brick into them.”