Falklands Special Charity Bottles

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, this month we will be auctioning 255 bottles of a Glen Moray 2008 13 Year Old Pauillac Single Cask with all proceeds going to The Falklands Veterans Association and The South Atlantic Medal Association. All bottles are individually signed by Nigel Phillips CBE (Governor of The Falkland Islands and High Commissioner of South Georgia & Sandwich Islands) and Major General Julian Thompson (CB, OBE– Commander 3 Commando Brigade). A number of bottles also have additional signatures signed by key figures in the engagement

BOTTLE NUMBERS

Every bottle has been personally signed by Nigel Phillips CBE – Governor of Falkland Islands & High Commissioner of South Georgia & Sandwich Islands AND Major General Julian Thompson CB, OBE –Commander 3 Commando Brigade

Additional signatures are -

001 – Sara Jones in Memory of Lt.Col. H Jones VC CO 2 Para, died 28^th May 1982

Jones' battalion was attached, alongside 3 PARA, to reinforce 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, the first major infantry formation to be sent south. During the Battle of Goose Green, an attack against entrenched Argentinian positions, with his unit pinned down by heavy fire from MAG machine guns and FAL automatic rifles, he led a charge against the nearest position.He was killed while doing so but the Argentinian unit surrendered shortly afterwards. For his actions he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross

002 – Commander David Baston – 848 NA Squadron - SS Atlantic Conveyor

003 – In Memory of Susan Whitley, Doreen Bonner and Mary Goodwin – 3 civilian casualties on the final assault on Stanley. Killed by friendly fire.

004 Commander Raif Wykes-Sneyd AFC – 820 NA Squadron- HMS Invincible

005 – Sq Leader Bob Iveson No.1 Squadron -

Squadron Leader ‘Big Bob’ Iveson was a Harrier pilot from RAF Wittering who having been the first pilot to be shot down spent three days behind Argentine lines before making his escape by helicopter

006 – Major David Collett MC – 3 PARA

Battle of Mount Longdon – 11/12 June 1982. The Paras could not move any further without taking unacceptable losses and so were pulled back to the western end of Mount Longdon, with the orders for Major David Collett's A Company to move through B Company and assault, from the west, the eastern objective of 'Full Back', a heavily defended position, with covering fire being given from Support Company.

007 – Commodore Michael Clapp CB, ADC – Commander Amphibious Task Force

He commanded the amphibious assault group, Task Group 317.0, in the Falklands War.[19] He served under the Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, who was the overall Task Force commander, CTF-317. Task Group 317.0 contained the amphibious ships which launched the actual invasion with Task Group 317.1 being the landing force itself initially consisting of 3 Commando Brigade led by Brigadier Julian Thompson and attached units

008 – Colonel John Crosland MC – CO 2 Para

Major Crosland was in command of B Company 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment during operations in the Falklands.

In the battle for Port Darwin and Goose Green on 28th/29th May 1982 his company was ordered to attack a number of subsidiary positions, and then to capture the high ground overlooking Goose Green. Throughout all the engagements against a vastly numerically stronger enemy he demonstrated remarkable control and steadiness of command, despite the constant artillery, anti-aircraft and small arms fire directed against his men.

010 – Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB, ADC – HMS Fearless (Amphibious Assault ship)

He saw active service in the South Atlantic in the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless in 1982 during the war.

011 – Lt. General Sir Cedric Delves – 22 Special Air Service Regiment

Delves distinguished himself on 21 April 1982 when, as Officer Commanding D Squadron 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, he captured Grytviken on South Georgia without a single loss of life. He followed this up on 15 May when his squadron destroyed eleven Argentine aircraft at Pebble Island, on 21 May when he led a deceptive raid on Darwin, and again on 31 May at Mount Kent in the Falkland Islands where he took his squadron 40 miles behind enemy lines and secured a firm hold on the area allowing conventional forces to be brought in

017 Lt. Commander Simon Thornwill – 846 Squadron –HMS Hermes

018 – Major David Collett MC – 3 Para

020 – Sq. Leader Jerry Pook DFC – No.1 (F) Squadron

During the war Jerry Pook, flew air interdiction, armed recce, close-air-support and airfield attack as well as pure photo-recce missions. Most weapons were delivered from extreme low-level attacks because of the lack of navigation aids and in the absence of Smart weapons.

021 – Col. John Crossland MC – CO 2 Para

Major Crosland was in command of B Company 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment during operations in the Falklands.

022 – General Michael Rose DSO, QGM – CO 22 SAS

Rose commanded Special Service operations in-theatre during the Falklands War, following which he was promoted to colonel on 30 June 1982, and Mentioned in Dispatches. He conducted negotiations with the Argentine forces to arrange their surrender deploying some of the skills that he had learnt from the Iranian Embassy siege

023 – General Michael Rose DSO, QGM – CO 22 SAS

025 – Admiral Lord West DSC – HMS Ardent - Type 21 Frigate

On 21 May 1982, whilst lying in Falkland Sound and supporting Operation Sutton by bombarding the Argentine airstrip at Goose Green, Ardent was attacked by at least three waves of Argentine aircraft. The air strikes caused Ardent to sink the next day.

027 – Sq. Leader Bob Iveson RAF – No.1 Squadron

030 – Lt. General Sir Cedric Delves DSO - D Squadron 22 SAS

031 – Commodore Micheal Clapp CB, ADC – Commander Amphibious Task Force

037 – Commodore Michael Clapp CB, ADC – Commander Amphibious Task Force

he commanded the amphibious assault group, Task Group 317.0, in the Falklands War.[19] He served under the Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, who was the overall Task Force commander, CTF-317. Task Group 317.0 contained the amphibious ships which launched the actual invasion with Task Group 317.1 being the landing force itself initially consisting of 3 Commando Brigade led by Brigadier Julian Thompson and attached units

039 – Lt. General Sir Cedric Delves - D Squadron DSO 22 Special Air Service Regiment

040 – Sgt. Gordon Mather MM – SAS (Royal Signals)

Commanded a four-man SAS patrol which was inserted into East Falkland by helicopter from the Naval Task Force at a distance of 120 miles from the islands. Mather maintained observations of the enemy movement and dispositions in the Bluff Cove, West Stanley areas for a period of 28 days

042 – Major General Nick Vaux DSO - 42 Commando RM

In 1982, following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, Vaux deployed to the Islands as part of 3 Commando Brigade, commanding 42 Commando during combat operations and taking part in the Battle of Mount Harriet.

044 – Lt. General Sir John Kiszley MC – 2 Scots Guards

Kiszely was awarded the Military Cross for an action during the Battle of Mount Tumbledown during the Falklands War, where he led an attack in close quarter battle against determined resistance through the Argentine position which drove them from the summit.

045 – Lt. Commander Martin Holloway – HMS Cordella

Civilian trawler converted to Extra-Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) with some extempore acoustic and sonar equipment. They were manned by Royal Naval personnel, mainly from 1st MCM Squadron based at Rosyth. All five minesweepers were involved in clearing two minefields off Port Stanley.

048 – Guardsman Simon Weston CBE – 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards

Weston was the most seriously injured serviceman to survive when his ship, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Sir Galahad, was hit by three Argentine bombs.

054 – General Sir Cedric Delves DSO – D Squadron 22 SAS

055 – Sq. Leader Bob Tuxford AFC – 55 Squadron XL189 – Mk.1 Victors

During the Falklands Campaign, Bob was involved with many of the acclaimed long-range refueling missions flown from Ascension Island, which included the early MRR and subsequent bombing raids in particular Black Buck 1 – the first bombing mission by the Vulcan against the runway at Port Stanley.

056 – Admiral Lord West DSC – HMS Ardent

057 – Sq. Leader Bob Tuxford AFC – 55 Squadron XL189 – Mk.1 Victors

066 – Lt. General Sir John Kiszely MC – 2 Scots Guards

070 – Sgt. Gordon Mather MM – SAS (Royal Signals)

076 – Group Captain Jeremy Price CBE – Commander Ascension Islands

077 – Sq. Leader Martin Withers DFC – Black Buck 1 – Vulcan 607

He piloted the Vulcan XM607 in Operation Black Buck carrying out the longest bombing raid in British history, an 8,000 mile,16 hour round-trip from their base on Ascension Island.

079 – Group Captain Jeremy Price CBE – Commander Ascension Island

080 – Lt. General Sir John Kiszely MC – 2 Scots Guards

082 – Sq. Leader Bob Iveson – No.1 Squadron

089 - Lt. Commander R Warden – CO 845 NAS

090 – Lt.General Sir Cedric Delves DSO D Squadron 22 SAS

092 – Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB, ADC – HMS Fearless

He saw active service in the South Atlantic in the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless in 1982 during the war.

096 – Guardsman Simon Weston CBE – 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards

Weston was the most seriously injured serviceman to survive when his ship, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Sir Galahad, was hit by three Argentine bombs.

098 – Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB, ADC – HMS Fearless

He saw active service in the South Atlantic in the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless in 1982 during the war.

100 – Lt.General Sir Cedric Delves DSO – D Squadron 22 SAS

109 – Commodore Michael Clapp CB, ADC – Commander Amphibious Task Group

115 – Lt. Chris Palmer (Observer) & Lt. Barber (Pilot) – HMS Arrow Flight 815 NA Squadron

117 – In Memory of Lt. Richard Nunn DFC KIA – 28^th May 1982 – signed by Lt. Colonel C P Nunn OBE

On 28^th May 1982, he was flying his Scout ‘Delta Romeo’ in support of 2^nd Parachute Battalion’s attack on Darwin & Goose Green with munitions & casualty extractions. An urgent call came in requesting the evacuation of Lt. Col H Jones VC so Lt. Nunn did not hesitate. His aircraft came under attack by an Argentine Pucara aircraft and he was killed instantly.

His Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for his actions that day was the first ever that Her Majesty the Queen approved posthumously.

Lt. Colonel C J Nunn RM, OC M Company Group, 42 Commando RM 1982

121 – Colonel John Crosland MC – 2 Para

Major Crosland was in command of B Company 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment during operations in the Falklands.

130 – Commander Peter Mosse – HMS Ambuscade – Type 21 Frigate

On 25 May Ambuscade was targeted by two Exocet missiles fired by Argentine Super Étendard strike fighter aircraft. Ambuscade detected the aircraft at 30 miles and the missile launch at 22 miles, first with radar then visually, and fired chaff in an attempt to confuse the missiles' seekers. Both missiles then locked on to SS Atlantic Conveyor impacting her port quarter, and she sank whilst under tow on 28 May

142 – Major General Nick Vaux DSO – 42 Commando RM

150 – Major David Collett MC – 3 Para

161 – Sgt. Gordon Mather MM – SAS (Royal Signals)

172 – Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks – HMS Ambuscade

Wilcocks served in the frigate HMS Ambuscade, which included service in the Falklands War in 1982, when he was actively involved in directing naval fire support to land forces including the attack by the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment along Wireless Ridge just prior to the Argentinean surrender.His ship survived an Exocet missile attack

174 – Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB, ADC – HMS Fearless

He saw active service in the South Atlantic in the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless in 1982 during the war.

177 Sq. Leader Martin Withers DFC – Black Buck 1 – Vulcan 607

he piloted the Vulcan XM607 in Operation Black Buck carrying out the longest bombing raid in British history, an 8,000 mile,16 hour round-trip from their base on Ascension Island.

190 – Major General Tim Chicken – 1^st Assault Squadron

200 – General Michael Rose DSO, QGM – CO 22 SAS

Rose commanded Special Service operations in-theatre during the Falklands War, following which he was promoted to colonel on 30 June 1982,[15] and Mentioned in Despatches.[16] He conducted negotiations with the Argentine forces to arrange their surrender deploying some of the skills that he had learnt from the Iranian Embassy siege

208 – Sq. Leader Jerry Pook AFC 1 (F) Squadron

During the Falklands war he flew air interdiction, armed recce, close-air-support and airfield attack as well as pure photo-recce missions. Most weapons were delivered from extreme low-level attacks because of the lack of navigation aids and in the absence of Smart weapons

212 – Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks – HMS Ambuscade

221 – Admiral Lord West DSC – HMS Ardent

228 – Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks – HMS Ambuscade

232 – Sq. Leader Bob Tuxford AFC – 55 Squadron XL189 – Mk.1 Victors

233 – Sq. Leader Jerry Pook AFC 1 (F) Squadron

During the Falklands war Jerry flew air interdiction, armed recce, close-air-support and airfield attack as well as pure photo-recce missions. Most weapons were delivered from extreme low-level attacks because of the lack of navigation aids and in the absence of Smart weapons

250 – CPO (D) Graham ‘Piggy’ Trotter DSM – Clearance Diving Team 3

On 28th May 1982, Chief Petty Officer (Diver) Trotter and Fleet Clearance Diving Team 3 were tasked to deal with an unexploded bomb on board RFA SIR LANCELOT. The bomb was awkwardly located in the film store amongst a great deal of debris which had to be cleared before removal operations could take place. The removal operation was further complicated by the need to cut away metal, the lack of strong points in the superstructure, lack of craneage and in the final stage by fierce squalls which hindered sheer-leg maneuvering. Notwithstanding these major problems, this difficult and complex operation was completed by 1000Z on 29th May when the bomb was lowered to the sea-bed.

323 – Commander Chris Wreford-Brown HMS Conqueror and Rear Admiral Roger Lane-Nott CB HMS Splendid

On 2 May Conqueror became the first nuclear-powered submarine to sink an enemy surface ship using torpedoes, launching three Mark 8 torpedoes at General Belgrano, two of which struck the ship and exploded. A total of 323 men were killed.

HMS Splendid did not fire in anger during the Falklands War, but did provide valuable reconnaissance to the British Task Force on Argentine aircraft movements and the submarines' presence effectively restricted the freedom of action of the Argentine Navy which spent most of the war confined to port.