Military Model Scene

Title: San Carlos to Stanley
Author: Peter Jackson-Lee
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-915070-89-0

It is 40 years now since the Falklands War and this tells the story of 40 Commando during that war. A small-format paperback of 156-pages this makes for interesting reading.
The book is arranged in a sort of diary format. Each day has notes of the main events, including things like the various landings, the loss of the various Royal Navy Warships and other significant events. From the embarkation of the task force, the pause at Ascension Island and the final landings at San Carlos. The bulk of the content is made up from the recollections of individual marines, and their officers, recording what happened to them over the course of the conflict, and after the Argentine surrender. So many personal stories, from the dangers of trying to board landing craft from the larger Canberra cruise liner, the dangers of trench foot as the then standard issue army boots got wet and the wet, peaty ground didn't help. As well as being bombed by Argentine aircraft, targeted by enemy artillery there was also the danger from minefields, such as finding themselves caught in the middle of one, and having to help fellow marines who were unlucky enough to tread on them and lose a foot in the explosion. They had to adapt to changing plans as the war progressed, with 2 companies supporting the Welsh Guards after their losses at Bluff Cove. In the final stages the Marines took part in the one daylight helicopter assault on Sapper Hill, soon followed by the Argentine surrender. Time to start clearing the minefields before settling back on board the Canberra for the journey home, time to wind down after the conflict before returning to friends and families.
As well as the story of events and the individual experiences of so many of the Marines, there was also clearly some rivalry between the various units deployed but overall, they worked hard to help each other out in the circumstances they found themselves caught up in. A very interesting read, with more detail of what it meant to be involved in the foot march across the Falklands. There is also a section of archive photos and a series of 12 appendices with additional detail such as their Roll of Honour, copies of various Operational Orders and so on.
Thanks to Helion & Co for our review copy.

Robin