Don Bonner, Falklands chauffeur - obituary

Butler and chauffeur to Rex Hunt, governor of the Falkland Islands at the time of the Argentine invasion
Don Bonner, who has died aged 87, was the butler and chauffeur to Rex Hunt, governor of the Falkland Islands when the Argentines invaded on April 2 1982.
As the sun set on Government House, the fiercely patriotic Bonner lowered the flag as usual, but then raised it again on the flagpole, saying: “I’ll shoot any Argie b------ who tries to take it down.” The only remaining member of the staff at the residence, he sat for hours with Hunt’s 12-bore shotgun until the Royal Marines’ commanding officer politely remarked that he seemed very tired and suggested he return to his cottage across the road.
The next day Bonner donned his chauffeur’s cap and declared that if the governor and his family were to be expelled he would drive them to the airport in the maroon taxi that served as the official car, rather than in the Land Rover proposed by an Argentine officer. Hoisting the governor’s pennant on the bonnet as Hunt (resplendent in full dress uniform) climbed in, Bonner deviated from the approved route to call at the radio station so that Hunt could record his farewell message. They then drove past tearful, silent islanders to the airport, where Bonner assured him: “Don’t you worry, sir, I’ll make sure them fellers don’t use the taxi or 'Fifi’ [Mrs Hunt’s Fiesta]. And I’ll pop in every day to see your kit is OK until you’re back.” He then set off back to Stanley.
During the 10-week occupation Bonner refused to work with General Menendes, the Argentine commander, declining to wait on him at table. But he was a daily presence at Government House, protecting the family’s possessions, supervising the Argentines brought in to fill in the many bullet holes and repair the plumbing, and ensuring that the civilian staff were treated correctly. When a young maid showed signs of undue friendliness to an Argentine conscript, he had her sent home.Read More   HERE  R.I.P.

Admiral Sir Hugo White - obituary

Admiral Sir Hugo White was an officer who repelled Exocet attacks in the Falklands and later became Governor of Gibraltar Admiral Sir Hugo White, who has died aged 74, overcame repeated attacks by Exocet missiles during the Falklands War and rose to be Governor of Gibraltar. In the Spring of 1982 White was Captain of the 4th Frigate Squadron, known as the “Fighting Fourth”, a flotilla of fast well-armed frigates which were urgently needed in the South Atlantic to combat the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. When the war started in early April, White’s own ship, Avenger, was being worked on in the dockyards. He hurried the work forward and sailed on May 10, to make the 8,000 mile passage through seas at an average 28 knots. Collectively the captains of the ships in his squadron were known as the “Boy Racers” and when White arrived on May 25, shortly after two Types 21s, Ardent and Antelope, had been sunk, he was greeted with a signal: “Blimey, that was Formula One.”Read more HERE R.I.P.

Falklands Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward dies aged 81

Admiral Sir John “Sandy” Woodward, who led the Navy task force to retake the Falkland Islands, has died aged 81.Admiral Woodward commanded the naval force sent by Margaret Thatcher to the islands after they were invaded by Argentina in 1982. Later he was an outspoken opponent of Government cuts to the Navy and warned Britain no longer had a large enough fleet to launch a similar operation.His daughter said he died after a long illness. Read More HERE   R.I.P.

SLEEP WELL SIR.

R.I.P. Rear-Admiral Linley Middleton

Rear-Admiral Linley Middleton, who has died aged 83, was the last captain of the strike carrier Hermes, flagship of the Task Force which won the Falklands conflict 30 years ago.Middleton was appointed in 1980, while she was being refitted at Portsmouth with a 12-degree ski-jump to operate Sea Harriers . But in June 1981, a few months after she had emerged from the dockyard, Middleton learned that under the 1982 Defence Review his ship was to be scrapped. It required all Middleton’s leadership skills to reconcile his crew to this development, and he had just sent the ship’s company and the aircrew on Easter leave when Argentina invaded the Falklands. Middleton returned from his holiday in the Mediterranean, and in the course of a single weekend recalled his crew and stored his ship so that she was ready to sail three days later, on April 5 1982.Read More HERE

Stand at ease Sir R.I.P.