In 1982, Rupert Ballantine experienced a unique journey that he will always remember. He went from traveling the seas between the UK and the US aboard the renowned cruise ship the QE2 to embarking on a mission towards a conflict zone. When the military requisitioned the ship, Rupert immediately volunteered his services. It took approximately half a day for 3,000 troops and their equipment to be loaded onto the ship. The voyage began with the ship limping out of Southampton, briefly stopping behind the Isle of Wight, where a closed stopcock was found to be the culprit. The QE2 achieved speeds of 27 knots, outpacing the accompanying warships as it navigated across the oceans in a zigzag pattern. Throughout the journey, troops utilised every available space for training, and Rupert had the opportunity to sample a Gurkha curry, which is still the best he has ever tasted. Sadly, Rupert did not set foot on land when they reached their destination, but he takes pride in having contributed to the safe arrival of the British troops, enabling them to reclaim the land. The return journey included 700 injured service personnel from three British vessels that had been sunk.

Philip Roberts started out in the naval section of the combined cadet force then joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. He had just turned 17. As Philip puts it, you start out as the “lowest of the low” and work your way up. He began as a deck apprentice and by 1982 was in command of his own ship, the Sir Galahad. Philip transports men and vehicles to the Norwegian fjords which was an indispensable time for learning the ship’s capabilities and handling, especially when it came to getting stuck in ice. From there, the Sir Galahad is called back to Plymouth ahead of the invasion of the Falklands Islands. Philip recalls in detail the make up and responsibilities of his crew and their feelings heading towards conflict. At one point they encounter such bad weather that the bow doors are damaged and need to be immediately repaired to prevent flooding. Philip is grateful for the team around him and their action, support and counsel. As well as bad weather, submarines and mines were real threats. Philip remembers a shocking encounter when a bomb lands on his ship very near to their ammunition but, incredibly, fails to explode. He manages to get everyone off the ship and the bomb is removed packed by Kellogg’s cornflakes before being sunk. The race is then on to ensure the Sir Galahad is watertight. After previously having been displeased at being taken to war, it is the Chinese crew who really muck in to bring the repaired ship back up to scratch and ready for service. Once back in action, Philip recalls another terrible attack when they come under fire from the airforce just as they were about to discharge a number of Welsh Guards at Fitzroy. Philip describes events in blistering detail. Tragically, 50 men lost their lives and many were injured. Philip returned to the Falklands in the early 1990s on the Grey Rover patrolling the islands. He reflects that the Falklands has been a big part of his life.

In his youth, Martyn was an army cadet and in the territorials but didn’t land a commission. Instead he went into hotel work which then led to cruise ships. He started out as assistant purser and in the 1980s was onboard the SS Uganda which Martyn calls the “naughty boys ship” because it was full of rogues! They were being used by schools as an educational ship and were at Egypt when they were requisitioned for the Falklands. It was a nerve wracking journey to Naples at night and avoiding the wrecks from the Six Day War. There the children and passengers disembarked, military personnel boarded and the ship was kitted out as a floating hospital. Martyn recalls in detail the total transformation the ship underwent. To start with, the journey south felt like an adventure and morale was high, they had the Royal Marine Band onboard who helped meld together the Merchant and Royal Navy, but reality hit home when they heard about the sinking of HMS Sheffield and the General Belgrano. One of the biggest challenges they faced was ensuring water supply and their priority upon arrival became engineering this. Meanwhile, Martyn became a stretcher bearer on top of his other responsibilities as well as volunteering to help in the hospital wards. He recalls some of the casualties who came his way, including three men he knew from his days in the TA. Of all the casualties who came on board, only three died. Martyn also vividly recalls coming incredibly close to two Phantom jets and their ship unwittingly sailing through a minefield, thankfully without damage. Upon return, it was Martyn’s responsibility to look after the supply of souvenirs. He was based on his own in the Matron’s office which meant he couldn’t see the welcome home fanfare. Eventually, sure he was missing out, he abandoned the souvenirs to find his family! Martyn says he wouldn’t wear his medal for a long time because he didn’t directly experience the war but a captain told him to wear it with pride, if it hadn’t been for the support of vessels like the Uganda they would not have succeeded.

Chris Clarke shares an inspiring account of his time at sea, contributing to the Royal Navy during the Falklands War. Though born in the depths of the countryside, Chris dreamed of going to sea and commanding his own ship from the age of four. After training at HMS Conway in Wales, he joined the P&O company where he worked aboard cargo and passenger ships in the far east. However, after his marriage, he wished to stay closer to home so he moved to ferries. Eventually, his dream of commanding a ship would come to fruition when he became Master of the MS Europic Ferry. When war in the Falklands erupted, the Europic was requisitioned as part of the War effort. Chris describes the conversion of his ship from a passenger vessel to a military vessel after the inclusion of naval and paras troops. Certain configurations were required such as, clearing storerooms to accommodate the troops and the installation of naval radio communications. It also supported in storing artillery from machine guns to military aircrafts which was impressive considering it was not the largest ship. His voyage would take him from Ascension Island, all the way to San Carlos in the Falklands where they offloaded the troops and their artillery. Even from the outside, Chris was close to the action and vulnerable to attacks where there was a fifty percent survival rate. He recalls one incident involving a large splash near the ship, indicating a possible bomb. Despite the adversity, he managed to maintain a sense of calm while keeping his crew under control, a feeling he would always cherish. After the War, Chris continued with the P&O company for another fifteen years before leaving to become a teacher at Warsash Academy in Southampton. Chris's interview offers a comprehensive look into the experiences of a sea captain who was not used to seeing military action before the Falklands War and the bravery men like him demonstrated while risking their lives for the troops they supported.

John Ramage was born in Bromley, South East London, and spent his childhood in Gravesend, North Kent. He attended King's School Rochester and was encouraged by his parents to pursue a career in medicine, despite having no doctors in the family. He attended medical school at Westminster Hospital in King's College, qualifying in 1978. He joined the Navy, initially serving with the Marines from 1979 to 1982. As the only doctor in a Commando unit (and later on a fighting ship), John faced significant responsibilities, making critical decisions without external support. His deployment to Northern Ireland was particularly challenging, involving high-risk situations such as responding to bombings and shootings. John joined HMS Antelope in 1982, a relatively new ship with a well-stocked sickbay. Despite having no prior experience with warships, his previous combat and trauma experience proved invaluable. Antelope’s deployment to the Falklands was initially thought to be brief. However, the sinking of sister ships and the reality of combat made it clear they were in an increasingly dangerous situation. During the conflict, HMS Antelope was hit by several bombs, leading to severe injuries and fatalities among the crew and to her eventual dramatic sinking.  John and his team provided critical medical care under extremely challenging conditions whilst the ship was heavily on fire. They were amongst the last to leave Antelope before she exploded. After leaving the service, John reflects on his training and the challenges faced during the Falklands conflict, acknowledging the inadequacies in preparation for such intense situations. During his further career, he specialised in gastrointestinal and liver diseases, continuing in various hospitals and furthering his abilities and medical knowledge. Rising to become a Professor and senior medical expert.

Graeme Golightly attended a merchant navy boarding school before passing the Royal Marines entrance tests at sixteen. He was proud to complete the gruelling thirty-week training, one of fourteen to pass from a group of fifty-two. Posted to 40 Commando in Plymouth, he was deployed to the Falklands with Bravo Company and despite hopes for diplomacy, recalls the poignant moment the company prepared for war and secured Port San Carlos, stepping into freezing water weighed down with heavy kit and ammunition. Graeme remembers hearing there were white flags flying over Stanley and being tasked to take the surrender of the Argentinean military force. He went on to serve in Northern Ireland until illness ended his frontline role, moving to a desk position before transitioning to civilian life. Graeme remained deeply proud of his green beret, the perspective gained through service, and the lifelong camaraderie of the Royal Marines family.

Leslie Jenkins was a shop manager on a P&O cruise ship that was returning to Southampton to conclude its world cruise. An unexpected detour to Gibraltar brought the SS Canberra into the Falklands war as a requisitioned troopship. Now a volunteer in the war, Leslie, travelled to the South Atlantic Ocean and recalls what it was like to adjust to being a shop manager servicing British troops, Gurkhas, Argentines and reporters. He recalls the Canberra led by Captain Burne travelling to Ascension Island and offloading troops and supplies in San Carlos. Leslie remembers hearing the bombs dropped by aircrafts in San Carlos and the Canberra making it safely out of the foray to later meet the QE2 in South Georgia to take on more troops and stores. Leslie recounts his time in the heart of the conflict, being very busy and having notable visits from Prince Andrew and when the war was declared over, the Canberra continued to provide its service and transported nearly 4,200 prisoners back to Argentina. Leslie fondly recalls also being visited by the Prince of Wales on board the vessel on its voyage home to Southampton where they were greeted by a grateful crowd. His story unveils an untold personal history of the experience of non-uniformed volunteers in The Falklands War.

Tim Macmahon, was Flight Commander and pilot of a Lynx helicopter aboard HMS Antelope during the Falklands War. He recalls his sudden deployment to the South Atlantic in April 1982 where initially he performed routine duties including transporting the Argentinian POW Alfredo Astiz and British Antarctic Survey members.  The mood shifted after the sinking of the Belgrano and HMS Sheffield, leading to a mission on May 23rd, where Tim and his crew fired Skua missiles at an enemy supply ship. While away, HMS Antelope was severely damaged by bombs. Tim evacuated casualties and assisted bomb disposal efforts by hovering with floodlights above the ship. He returned to the UK onboard the QE2. Reflecting on the war, Tim shares experiences of refuelling without modern technology and the emotional weight of attacking an Argentine carrier once crewed by his father.

Paul Dilks began his maritime career in 1970 with P&O as a navigating cadet and attended Nautical College at Warsash, later qualifying as a Deck Officer in 1974. In 1982, Paul was serving on Uganda, which was conducting educational cruises for school children when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence to serve as a hospital ship during the Falklands War. Uganda underwent significant modifications in Gibraltar to become a hospital ship, including the creation of hospital wards, an intensive care unit, and a helicopter platform. The crew faced numerous challenges, including water rationing, misunderstandings with Royal Navy colleagues, and the need to perform fresh water replenishments at sea under extreme conditions. Uganda operated alongside other vessels such as survey ships and ambulance ships, and there were amicable interactions with the Argentine hospital ship Bahia Paraiso. The crew learned of the Argentine surrender on June 14, 1982, and subsequently prepared for the journey home, including repainting the ship and discharging patients. Notable incidents included a visit from Prince Andrew, a tragic accident involving the Welsh Guards, and the emotional homecoming reception in Southampton. After the war, Uganda transported the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Gurkhas back to England, and Paul describes his revisiting the Falklands the following year. Paul ends with reflections on the lasting impact of the Falklands campaign on his life and possible challenges faced by the British government in requisitioning merchant ships in any future conflicts.