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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sir Galahad blast dead remembered | Sir Galahad blast dead remembered |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Welsh Guards veterans of the Falklands War are holding a service to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the troop ship Sir Galahad. | Welsh Guards veterans of the Falklands War are holding a service to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the troop ship Sir Galahad. |
| A total of 48 men, most of them Welsh Guards, were killed when Argentine jets attacked the ship on 8 June 1982. | A total of 48 men, most of them Welsh Guards, were killed when Argentine jets attacked the ship on 8 June 1982. |
| About 25 members of the South Atlantic Medal Association will gather at St Mary's Church in Swansea later. | About 25 members of the South Atlantic Medal Association will gather at St Mary's Church in Swansea later. |
| Meanwhile, it has been announced that Wales' memorial to the war's 255 UK victims will be unveiled in September. | Meanwhile, it has been announced that Wales' memorial to the war's 255 UK victims will be unveiled in September. |
| The destruction of the Sir Galahad by Argentine Skyhawk jets came just six days before the Argentine surrender. | The destruction of the Sir Galahad by Argentine Skyhawk jets came just six days before the Argentine surrender. |
| Five-tonne rock | Five-tonne rock |
| The bombing accounted for one fifth of all British fatalities, many of them Welsh Guardsman preparing to go ashore and join the land war. | The bombing accounted for one fifth of all British fatalities, many of them Welsh Guardsman preparing to go ashore and join the land war. |
| Twenty-five years on, Welsh veterans will attend a remembrance service at St Mary's Church which has a stained glass window depicting the bombing. | Twenty-five years on, Welsh veterans will attend a remembrance service at St Mary's Church which has a stained glass window depicting the bombing. |
| The service, beneath the window at the north end of the church, will include elements of the original 1982 memorial service for victims of the attack. | The service, beneath the window at the north end of the church, will include elements of the original 1982 memorial service for victims of the attack. |
| The stone in the memorial was sourced from a battle site | The stone in the memorial was sourced from a battle site |
| It will include the playing of the Dire Straits song, Brothers in Arms, which has a special significance to the veterans. | It will include the playing of the Dire Straits song, Brothers in Arms, which has a special significance to the veterans. |
| A memorial service will also be held at Fitzroy on the Falklands. | |
| At the same time, it is expected to be announced that a commemoration of the conflict in Cardiff on 30 September will include the unveiling of a Welsh national memorial to the British fallen. | At the same time, it is expected to be announced that a commemoration of the conflict in Cardiff on 30 September will include the unveiling of a Welsh national memorial to the British fallen. |
| A significant part of the memorial will be a five-tonne rock given to the Welsh veterans of the conflict by the people of the Falklands. | A significant part of the memorial will be a five-tonne rock given to the Welsh veterans of the conflict by the people of the Falklands. |
| The stone was brought from Mount Harriet, a battle site where Welsh Guards supported the Royal Marines. | The stone was brought from Mount Harriet, a battle site where Welsh Guards supported the Royal Marines. |
| 'Upsetting date' | 'Upsetting date' |
| The stone was chosen by Andy Jones, secretary of the South Atlantic Medal Association in Wales, who was a 19-year-old Welsh Guardsman on the Sir Galahad on the day of the 1982 attack. | The stone was chosen by Andy Jones, secretary of the South Atlantic Medal Association in Wales, who was a 19-year-old Welsh Guardsman on the Sir Galahad on the day of the 1982 attack. |
| You were picked up and thrown like a feather in the wind Andy Jones | You were picked up and thrown like a feather in the wind Andy Jones |
| He said: "It means an awful lot to all the veterans to see their comrades' names on a national Welsh memorial. | He said: "It means an awful lot to all the veterans to see their comrades' names on a national Welsh memorial. |
| "Most veterans who were aboard or knew people aboard the Sir Galahad mark 8 June in their own way. | "Most veterans who were aboard or knew people aboard the Sir Galahad mark 8 June in their own way. |
| "It's quite an upsetting date in their calendar. Some of them certainly will be suffering today - more so than usual." | "It's quite an upsetting date in their calendar. Some of them certainly will be suffering today - more so than usual." |
| Mr Jones, now a prison officer in Cardiff, said of the bombings: "You were picked up and thrown like a feather in the wind. Every bit of breath was forced out. | Mr Jones, now a prison officer in Cardiff, said of the bombings: "You were picked up and thrown like a feather in the wind. Every bit of breath was forced out. |
| "There was a huge orange flash and the heat was coming through your eyes. It was like needles." | "There was a huge orange flash and the heat was coming through your eyes. It was like needles." |
| The Falklands War cost the lives of more than 650 Argentine and more than 250 British servicemen and women. | The Falklands War cost the lives of more than 650 Argentine and more than 250 British servicemen and women. |