"The Bomb exploded, and took my arm off." 

Take your arm and hold it behind your back. Now imagine that you are buttering a piece of toast, or putting toothpaste on your toothbrush.

We cannot ever appreciate the struggles that John Phillips has gone though, but this has been his life for 40 years. A constant reminder of his trauma in the Falklands war. This is his story.

John was a Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Officer. He joined up as engineering technician straight after he left school. His left arm was instantly amputated in 1982, when a bomb he was defusing on HMS Antelope exploded. It also killed his comrade Staff Sergeant Jim Prescott.

Earlier that year, John was on Easter leave when he received a call from his officer commanding. The call was to say he had managed to get two Falklands bomb disposal men onto the Naval Task Force. John was 39 at the time and volunteered immediately.

At first the Officer Commanding told John he couldn’t deploy as he was the Sergeant Major. Yet, he managed to persuade his superior otherwise.

“I told him I’d had been waiting for this for 20 years and that this was my chance,” says John.

John would go on to receive the Distinguished Service Cross for his role on the HMS Antelope. His partner, Staff Sergeant Jim Prescott, was posthumously awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

John is now 79 years old and has since worked for Blesma, SSAFA and various local charities. He told us his story, as he looks back on the conflict which would change his life forever.

Help Veterans like John, injured in the Falklands War.

 

Had you always wanted to join the Army?

I was a very keen Boy Scout and loved weekends in the woods and mountains, the Army seemed the best way to continue that.

You could just walk away from school at 15 in those days. But you could get a trade through the Army Apprentice Scheme. I did a three-year apprenticeship as an engine fitter, then joined the corps of Royal Engineers.

What were some of your early postings?

I had a variety, including postings to Canada and Australia. I worked on generators at atomic weapons testing grounds. I also worked on the beaches of Norfolk clearing World War II sea defences and mines.

I wasn’t trained in bomb disposal then - I was only the shovel man! I must admit that I would take a couple of steps back whenever we uncovered a mine.

When did you first start on bomb disposal?

I was posted to bomb disposal as a Sergeant and had further training. We went to the scene of unexploded bombs around the country. We also cleared military training areas after the use of live ammunition.

We dealt with a huge range of bombs and mines, and they all had a genuine threat level. Then we started to get called out to deal with IRA improvised explosive devices.

Tell us about the journey to the Falklands...

We travelled on board SS Canberra down to Ascension Island - there was a real holiday atmosphere at first. The bars were still open and there were waiters with silver service every night. It was hardly conducive to going to war!

We had several days to sort our kit out at Ascension Island, then we transferred to the Sir Lancelot. We came under the command of 59 Commando Royal Engineers so we were back with our own. No-one knew what weapons the Argentines had. We took two tonnes of equipment with us to meet every contingency.

What greeted you at San Carlos Bay?

I remember it was a beautiful day, but within a few hours Argentine aircraft attacked. Their pilots were brave and skilled. They had to approach at sea level, go over the tops of surrounding hills.

Because they came in low their bombs had little time to arm before hitting the target. That’s why many of them didn’t detonate – it would have been a different story had they all gone off!

 What was your first assignment?

 We started on the HMS Argonaut, which had been hit by two bombs that hadn’t gone off. The next day, Sunday 23 May, 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 controls units.

Can you talk us through what happened?

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.

I remember thinking: ‘If this is death, it isn’t so bad’. Then I hit the metal bulkhead which brought me back to my senses!

What were the extent of your injuries?

I now know Jim and I were both hit by one of the hatchway doors flying off. It killed Jim instantly and severed my left arm. Another six inches to the left and I’d have gone as well.

I could see my arm flailing around out of control and I started to check myself for other injuries. Then I started to look for Jim through all the fire and smoke.

That was when one of the crew put his hand on my shoulder, told me that Jim was dead and said to follow him. Just as bluntly as that.

I put my hand on his shoulder and followed him to the escape hatch.

How did you get off the ship?

When I came out of the escape hatch and onto the flight deck a doctor gave me morphine and put a tourniquet on me. The crew were trying to put out the fires, which were raging by now. I was put on a stretcher, where I just watched the metal burning like paper. I’d never seen anything like it and I knew there would be secondary explosions.

Within 300 metres of us pulling away from HMS Antelope, the ship exploded from the fire and the heat, and went down.

I was in the field hospital for a day and a half, during which time they took my arm off higher up but saved my life.

As I was coming round, a surgeon whispered in my ear that I had lost my arm and I just nodded that I understood. I already knew.

Was that the end of your Army career?

Because I had lost my arm my fear was that I could not take up the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. I thought I’d lost my career and started to worry about the future.

I spent time in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich when I was cleared to travel back to the UK. I discharged myself because I wanted to get back to duty as soon as possible. I had a prosthetic arm made at Roehampton and I did make RSM. I stayed on until 1989 after being commissioned, leaving with the rank of Captain.

How did your family react to your injury?

It was a fraught time for them. When I got home my eldest daughter didn’t want to visit me in hospital. She was a young teenager and I don’t think she knew what to expect. I understand that.

But my kids got used to it. My son later joined the Royal Engineers and served in Afghanistan, which I’m hugely proud of.

What did you do after service?

I joined Blesma in 1985 and shortly after that I joined the Gravesend Branch. I was asked to be on the Executive Council which then became a Trustee’s role, and I held that for nearly 20 years.

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. Although I’m not as active in Blesma as I once was, I still feel part of a special association.

Find out how you can help Veterans like John, who served and sacrificed in the Falklands War.