Hi everyone
Sorry I'm a very late this week. Been chasing my tail a bit this week.
Just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of the Mums out there a belated Happy Mothers Day. Just remember that none of us would be here without one!
Our speaker for this evening was the very interesting Mike Cahill, sharing with us his story of his time spent in the British Armed Forces and his involvement in the Falkland War in 1982
Mike is a retired British Army Major who served for 40 years, specialising in Logistics.
Mike trained as a Driver / Radio Operator in the Army, firstly in Scotland. He served 24 years in the regular Army, serving many different rolls including being a Driver/Bodyguard to General Sir Frank King in 1972. he was then stationed in Berlin, Germany in 1975 and later to be posted to Northern Ireland.
He later became the British Liaison Officer to the US Army Maritime division which was supposed to be for 2 years and ended up being for 16 years.
In 1982, Mike served as a Sergeant Major in the 52 Port Squadron in the Falklands War. He has received many awards and accolades throughout his career, including an OBE, Northern Ireland Medal, Freeman of the Falklands, Freeman of Portsmouth, Freeman of Plymouth and is the only British Officer to have ever been given a Commendation by the US Embassy.
The Falklands War began on 2nd April 1982 when the Argentinians invaded the Falkland Island. It lasted 74 days with the loss of 649 lives. Many vessels were commandeered and converted into carriers of both vehicles, personnel, ammunition and supplies. Mike was in charge of the logistics of of landing and unloading more than 50 of these vessels in a very small port.
Hoisting the Falklands Flag at the end of the war.
The Daily Mirror had a Special Ale provided to the Falklands and each service man was given a bottle of beer. Mike saved his and still has it - what a souvenir!!
Memorial Sites on Falkland Islands
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