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A veteran interview with

Leslie Jenkins

Leslie has shared some wonderful photos from his time onboard. Check them in the gallery.

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About Leslie Jenkins

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.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Amanda Akhuemokhan
Transcribed by:
Megan Hardwick

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

If you would like a version of the transcript that has been transcribed manually by Megan Hardwick, please complete this form or email info@legasee.org.uk.

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Home | Veterans | Leslie Jenkins

A veteran interview with

Leslie Jenkins

Photo-of-Leslie-Jenkins-who-was-the-shop-Manager-on-the-Canberra-during-the-Falklands-War

Leslie has shared some wonderful photos from his time onboard. Check them in the gallery.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Jenkins, Leslie. A Veteran Interview with Leslie Jenkins. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 26 Jan. 2022 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/leslie-jenkins/. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
APA Style:
Jenkins, L. (2022, January 26). A Veteran Interview with Leslie Jenkins [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved November 17, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/leslie-jenkins/
Chicago Style:
Jenkins, Leslie. 2022. A Veteran Interview with Leslie Jenkins. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, January 26. Accessed November 17, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/leslie-jenkins/
Harvard Style:
Jenkins, L. (2022). A Veteran Interview with Leslie Jenkins. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 26 January. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/leslie-jenkins/ (Accessed: 17 November 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Jenkins, L. A Veteran Interview with Leslie Jenkins [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2022 Jan 26 [cited 2025 Nov 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/leslie-jenkins/
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