Blesma has been committed to supporting wounded veterans since World War I, and our work continues today. We are the only national Armed Forces Charity that supports limbless veterans for the duration of their lives.
Meet some of our veteran members who were involved in the Falklands War.
Denzil Connick
Lance Corporal Denzil Connick was 25 when he was deployed to the Falklands with the 3rd Parachute Regiment. As explained by Connick, they were the spearhead battalion during the conflict: “I remember we were called for a briefing and thought it would be Northern Ireland or some Cold War stuff. We had no idea where the Falklands were!”
Shortly after, his regiment set sail aboard the SS Canberra, a converted luxury cruise liner carrying roughly 1,800 troops, including Commandos, Royal Navy personnel, and merchant crews. According to Denzil, morale on the journey was initially relaxed but determined. However, the mood shifted drastically following the sinking of the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano and Britain’s HMS Sheffield – a grim wake-up call that underscored the seriousness and rapid escalation of the conflict.
Once ashore the Falklands, their initial objective was to recapture Mount Longdon. Denzil recalled: “The enemy was dug in well with machine guns, mortars and 106mm recoil-less anti-tank rifles. We got ready for a silent assault to take them by surprise and advanced into contact with rifle, bayonet and grenade.
“I was one of the oldest at 25 – we had lads who were 17 and 18. I was a Lance Corporal so the younger ones were looking up to me. I was no less scared than they were but I had to crack on."
One of our guys stood on a mine which gave the Argentinians vital moments to get out of their sleeping bags and man their positions. Then all hell broke loose. It was dark and it was bedlam; there were explosions, flashes, screaming... You had friends going down and enemy being killed – it was a weird, frightening, out-of-this world experience.
In just a brief window of time, Denzil ’s unit suffered 23 dead and approximately 50 injured. They fought through the losses to reclaim Mount Longdon, but the enemy shelling was relentless. As Connick navigated his way down a sheep track, a 120mm mortar shell struck. The explosion blew off his left leg and left his right leg left severely shredded.
Emergency treatment on the battlefield likely saved his life, but after being rushed to a field hospital at Fitzroy Cove, Denzil suffered a heart attack brought on by severe blood loss. He was later moved to the hospital ship SS Uganda, where he was treated for four weeks before making the long journey home to the UK.
A year later, on the first anniversary of the battle for Mount Longdon, Denzil married his wife, Theresa; a deliberate choice to replace a horrific memory with the joy of a wedding anniversary.
The couple went on to raise two sons. Committed to helping his fellow veterans, Denzil co-founded the South Atlantic Medal Association to foster pride and lifelong comradeship among veterans of the Falklands War. Alongside his advocacy work, he shared a deep passion for motorbikes. Throughout his life after the war, Blesma provided support to Denzil until his passing in 2023.
In an interview with Blesma, Denzel explained: “Over time, the Association has helped with decorating and gardening grants which have been much appreciated, and Blesma helped with a big project to sort out my driveway which was basically a farm track that made access to my house difficult. It meant so much to get that done. But a really important hallmark of Blesma is knowing that support and camaraderie are always there. The help goes way beyond simply offering financial support.”
James O'Connell
Blesma Member James O’Connell was 22 when he was deployed to the Falklands. He also served in the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment and was involved in the Battle of Mount Longdon.
James explained: “The main attack came from the west, but my company was located to the north in the direct line of Argentine fire. All their guns were facing our location so our area was swept with machine gun fire and pounded with artillery.”
I was clipped in the face by a bullet. I lost my right eye and cheekbone, the centre of my nose and my front teeth. Thanks to the expertise of surgeons over a five-year period, my cheekbone was replaced with bone from my hip, and I received a plastic centre to my nose, an artificial eye, and new front teeth.
Following the Falklands War, James married his wife, Maureen, and the couple went on to have two sons.
Looking to honour the fallen, he decided to turn his personal combat experiences and the memories of his comrades into a book entitled “Three Days In June”.
In relation to the book, James explained: “It gave recognition to all the unsung heroes who were there, and to the many acts of bravery that went unseen and unrewarded, such as my colleagues who carried me through a minefield whilst under fire, and Corporal Stewart McLaughlin who was outstanding on the night but was killed near the end of the battle.”
John Phillips
Sergeant Major John Philipps was 39 when he deployed to the Falklands with the 33 Engineer Regiment EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). He and his comrade, Staff Sergeant Jim Prescott, made the journey also aboard the SS Canberra.
John was immediately tasked with defusing unexploded bombs on board HMS Argonaut. It was dangerous work, but it was the next day, Sunday, 23rd May, that would ultimately prove life-changing.
“We boarded HMS Antelope. As we approached, we could see a hole in its side made by the same type of bomb as Argonaut’s.
“The ship was crippled by two bombs which, though they hadn’t exploded, had destroyed the communications and control units.
“We approached the first bomb and deployed the same techniques that we had used on HMS Argonaut. But, when we fired the means to disrupt the bomb, it didn’t work.
We tried again, nothing. After the third time, it exploded as we went to inspect it. Jim was standing right next to me and we had enough time to look each other in the eye. That was the last time I saw Jim alive.
“I remember a bang and a blast, the ship rattled and shook and, Boom! Suddenly I was flying through the air, like in a cartoon. In my mind, it was in slow motion, and I thought I had died because I was floating through the air with no pain.
Both men were struck by a hatchway door torn off by the blast. The catastrophic impact killed Jim instantly and severed John’s left arm, while the resulting explosion set HMS Antelope ablaze. John was rushed to a field hospital, where surgeons amputated the remainder of his arm and saved his life.
In 1985, John became a Member of Blesma, eventually dedicating his time further by becoming a Trustee.
“Being a Member of Blesma is great because you are amongst people who’ve had similar experiences. I felt comfortable with Blesma, I knew the Association had the skills to deal with any problem I might have. There is such a strong camaraderie, and it is an association that always gives you support.”
John retells his firsthand experience of the explosion onboard HMS Antelope:
Our Falklands War veteran members receive vital assistance from Blesma after their injuries and for the rest of their lives.
If you would like to support our work at Blesma, your donation can make a significant difference to improving the lives of veterans.
Support Falklands War Veterans
We can help
We are dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK. Click the link below to find out the different kinds of support we offer.
Get Support