Remembering the Falklands War: Cedric Delves

Former Blesma Chairman Sir Cedric Delves was a 35-year-old Major leading D Squadron 22 SAS when the Falklands War began 40 years ago.

Gathering his kit and unit together, he embarked with the Task Force heading 7,864 miles south for the 74-day conflict that resulted in the Islands being liberated on 14 June 1982.

His unit was involved in critical early strikes on South Georgia and operated throughout the campaign. It also had to contend with the Regiment’s heaviest loss of life when 20 members were killed as a Sea King helicopter plunged into the freezing seas on 19 May.

The war saw the loss of 225 British Service personnel and 649 Argentinians. Forty years on, Sir Cedric reflects n the conflict, how it shaped a prosperous future for the Falklands, and how it allowed Argentina to break free from its ruinous military dictatorship…

The early 1980s were a difficult time for Britain with unemployment and unrest. Was the nation ready for Argentinian invasion?

It was quite unexpected and came at a time when the country seemed to be somewhat on its uppers. As it turned out, we were certainly not ready to be pushed around by Argentina – or anyone else, come to that.

Indeed, I recall feeling really angry; a people’s right to self determination had been disregarded shamelessly, our people simply trampled on. It was too bad and had to be put right. Just about the whole country saw it the same way. I think there are parallels to what we are seeing today in Eastern Europe, a similarly shared sense of disbelief and anger.

How did you and your unit react to being deployed? 

Along with the strong sense of national purpose there was excitement. We were all much younger then. With age and experience you gain in wisdom, and you realise these things cost dearly; we went on to lose many friends and close colleagues. It turned out to be a short, sharp war with heavy losses and much hurt on both sides.

We should never forget that, nor those we lost. But at the outset we, along with most others, were swept up in the excitement and transitioned to war pretty effortlessly.

Did that confidence endure?

I remember clearly a distinct mood change in the Royal Navy after HMS Sheffield got hit (20 crew members died and another 26 were injured when it was hit by an Exocet missile on 04 May). We’d not worked with the Navy before. They were very, very impressive and confident. If anything, after Sheffield that high confidence moved on, became more firmly grounded in a steely, quieter determination.

I believe we all realised at that moment that there was going to be a lot of pain. At the same time, we all got better at calculating the risks of our particular war, upping our skills. Of course, one’s enemy also gets better, but we kept our edge and few of us, if any, doubted the eventual outcome.

After it was all over, it came as a surprise to learn that it had been close run.

You suffered setbacks and tragedies during the campaign. How did you deal with them?

The simple answer is by getting on, activity being a form of therapy in itself. We stayed in the fight as best we could, still at it on the very last night, in fact. When my friend Colonel H Jones was killed commanding 2 PARA at Darwin I got really angry; not with the Argentinians, not with the conduct of the war, but with the war itself.

We’d just lost 20 people ourselves, in a helicopter lost at sea. So I felt rage. We had to put a stop to the bloody thing, get on and win, and quickly, before more people got hurt.

Ironically, it wasn’t until the morning after that last night, standing on Murrell Heights looking down into Stanley, having a quiet smoke, that the full cost of our war hit home. I had unconsciously looked around for Lawrence, my Squadron Sergeant Major, before realising that he wouldn’t ever be there again. He had been lost in the helicopter.

How did British Forces perform in the Falklands?

Some time in the late 80s a piece of Army doctrine was produced that defined military power as comprising three parts: ‘physical’ stuff, the hardware; ‘conceptual’, the business of how that stuff gets used; and ‘moral’, what used to be called the ‘fighting spirit’ of the people involved. In the Falklands, the Argentinians had more of most things, and they were closer to home, better able to sustain their things and people.

But I believe it was one of those rare instances when stronger spirit and better know-how were able to trump an opponent’s more considerable quantities of ‘stuff ’. On this occasion that could only be achieved by the whole Task Force pulling together and giving of their very best.

What were the decisive elements of the campaign?

As said, it was a whole team effort. We made the best use of the available hardware, and I wouldn’t wish to be misunderstood; we had some first-rate equipment, albeit not always in the quantities we would have liked.

And we had self-belief; I would underscore that by citing 2 PARA. I don’t think we ever doubted ourselves, but after 2 PARA took Darwin and Goose Green that confidence translated into near certainty; there would be more battles to fight, more hurt to endure, but it felt as though we had just won. And again, on land, I would single out 3 Commando Brigade, everything a Brigade should be: skilled, knowledgeable, cohesive and yet readily able to absorb other combat and combat support elements. They underpinned our success on land and provided superb leadership.

What are your reflections on the war, 40 years on?

It was a historic event, a short war fought without hatred and, by us, in a just cause. The UK achieved what it set out to do: liberate its own and uphold the right of people to self-determination. And, ironically, it brought Argentina back to a better place, helping to re-establish democracy. I feel privileged to have been part of all that, a member of the Task Force.

I am also deeply conscious of the cost. We lost many people, many friends. I miss them. We were close.

Did your experiences affect you?

I’m not quite sure. There must have been some impact; the addition of more experience that adds to that already accumulated, that informs one’s approach to things. We were back on operations almost as soon as we got back home, so there was not a lot of time for reflection. And as far as I’m aware, we suffered very little or no severe traumatic stress disorder, at least not until years later.

Have you returned to the Falklands?

Yes, many times; to see friends and as part of my previous duties as a trustee of the New Island Conservation Trust. New Island must be one of the most beautiful places; full of wildlife, including that most endearing penguin; the Rock Hopper. And on every visit to the Islands I am struck by what the islanders have achieved over the years with their freedom. The Falklands is a most successful country in its own right, thriving.

The islanders are ever mindful of what it took to secure their freedom, and what it takes to hold it safe. I believe it informs their approach to life, and they are the stronger for it. This is the legacy of those days.

How did you enjoy your time at Blesma, and did it play a role helping those injured in the Falklands War?

I really enjoyed my time as Chairman. It’s invigorating being with Blesma Members, and I think that is the point: our Members know the costs of war, the acute and long-lasting consequences that have to be endured and managed. Blesma helps with that, and it is good at it: reliably there, skilled, knowledgeable.

I was always struck by our Members’ enthusiasm, their optimism, their humour and positive approach to life. Perhaps that is part of the natural make-up of people from the Armed Services; the genius of Blesma is that it knows how to nurture the positives, knows how to help people. To be honest, I was not all that aware of Blesma until I became membership ‘compliant’ myself one day. And then there it was – big time – with just what was needed.

As we all know, it’s more a club than a charity, although not one you might go out of your way to join, with membership requirements being what they are. Even so…

Sir Cedric’s book Across An Angry Sea: The SAS In The Falklands War is published by Hurst Publishers.
The paperback edition costs £12.99 and can be ordered online from www.hurstpublishers.com