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SBS Observer's Emotional Return By Jenny Cockwell A former naval gunfire forward observer with the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) who called in the shell fire which killed three civilians in the Falklands War has returned to the Islands for the first time since 1982. Hugh McManners has been in the Islands since late December, accompanied by his fourteen year old son William, a concert violinist. Only days from his departure, he spoke candidly to me about his experiences in 1982, his latest visit and his plans for the future. Three women were killed during shelling called in by Hugh's team from their position on Beagle Ridge. The target was the fuel dump and helicopters parked on Stanley's racecourse, but it was later discovered that a fault had occurred with the radar on board the ship providing the gunfire. The radar which calculates where the target is in relation to the ship shifted and the shells landed short, hitting the home of John and Veronica Fowler at 7 Ross Road West. Hugh describes the "very difficult moment" when he learned of the civilian casualties: "An SAS team came up on to Beagle Ridge to do something and, within the rather macabre jocularity of all this, the sergeant who was in charge asked 'How is the butcher of Beagle Ridge?' I asked him what he meant and he told ma about the two shells…." Hugh and his team then worked to determine how the mistake had occurred and discovered the problem with the miscalculation affecting the gun on the ship. However discovering the reason why the shells fell short remains little consolation to Hugh: "At the end of the day, you get taught to be responsible for things. If I hadn't started that mission, there would be three people that are dead now who would be alive today." Many would argue that, had Hugh and his colleagues not done their job, it is likely many more people would have lost their lives but he says, "…. That doesn't help." In an effort to understand the events of that fateful mission, Hugh visited 7 Ross Road West, now the home of Rose Stewart. He describes the visit: "I knocked on the door and gave my halting story. Rose looked at me a little strangely then brought me in for a cup of coffee. We talked about it and she showed me around the house - she showed me the lumps in the ceiling and the shrapnel in the back door, and all that sort of thing. She asked if seeing it all was helpful - and I honestly didn't know." Hugh has clearly been touched by the hospitality shown to him by Rose, and Islanders in general. He says, "Everyone here seems to know what to do. They know to sit down and have a chat at the right time." Hugh and William also visited Sea Lion Island, where they paid their respects at the grave of Susan Whitley, one of the women killed during the shelling. Hugh is visibly moved as he describes finding a photograph contained in a plastic envelope near the grave; in it Susan is pictured wearing a Royal Marines hat: "…. It's a sad old game really." Hugh's work with the SBS during the Falklands War, which included locating and incapacitating an Argentine company prior to Landing Day and later making a narrow escape following a trouble-ridden mission within Fox Bay, is well documented in his book 'Falklands Commando'. His literary achievements, which include a book about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and his subsequent career in television have not prevented his life reaching a "crisis"; in fact, he says, life recently got to the point where he was "unable to cope". He contacted PTSD expert, Surgeon Captain Morgan O'Connell who, perhaps unsurprisingly, diagnosed depression. I ask Hugh if his return to the Falklands has been a healing experience; he says the result of his visit is "completely different" to what he expected, in particular he has been "astonished" at the friendliness and understanding of Islanders. This astonishment is most likely due to what he describes as the "professional detachment" which he maintained both during the war and in the years that followed. He explains: "We all came down here as professional soldiers - we weren't doing it for the Union Flag, Queen and country or anything like that. We were doing it for each other. I remember having a big row with a Royal Marine friend of mine who had married a Falklands girl. It was just after the Sheffield had been sunk and I said that all this effort being put in for such a small number of people was ridiculous. He, quite rightly, flashed up and when I realised his Falklands connection I said sorry. "But we had this professional detachment and I think that's quite a good thing. If a doctor involves himself with every patient emotionally they're not going to get through the day - a bit of professional distance is useful. And sitting up on Beagle Ridge doing all that technical stuff, if I had known, for example, who lived at 33 Davis Street where the big 155 Howitzer was parked I think it would have been very difficult to do the job properly." He considers this for a moment: "But perhaps I'm being wise after the event. This professional detachment is probably also part of the problem.…" On a happier note, Hugh says he and William have fallen in love with the Falklands; the two particularly enjoyed their time on West Falkland. Hosted by Norma and Roger Edwards at Fox Bay West, violinist William performed Bach's 2nd Partita at their daughter Becky's wedding; Hugh says he and his son had a ball, joining in with the wedding festivities. Now, with his visit nearing an end, Hugh is looking to the future, including a project to record Falkland Islanders' recollections and views of the war. "The Imperial War Museum has asked me to look at doing a book - the Forgotten Voices of the Falklands War - for them for the 25th Anniversary. They have this sound archive - they've done them for a number of wars - of people talking about their experiences. I went into the archive and they've got all sorts of people from the Task Force from generals to private soldiers, politicians and they've got lots of Argentinians, but not one single Falkland Islander. I'm horrified by that because when you try to make the case for self-determination and history you need the voices of Islanders." Hugh says tales from Falkland Islanders have, "…. hit me between the eyes - they have a completely different and important story to tell. In 1982 we were told not to have anything to do with the Islanders because we would compromise them with the Argentinians. So I had not talked to any and had no idea what they had gone through, and what their view were." Hugh now works as a television producer and, in addition to the project for the Imperial War Museum, he is keen to make a documentary focusing on Islanders. "With the 25th anniversary coming along I want to film Falkland Islanders talking about their war and what they are doing now. I realise people often don't want to remember things let alone talk about them; but they're bottling it up and it doesn't do anyone any good. One thing I've learned from interviewing Falklands veterans is that they find it easier to talk to someone who's been through it and understands, and I hope that's the same here." In the meantime, Hugh is keen to receive email testimonies from Islanders. He can be contacted at hugh@hu-man.demon.co.uk Jenny Cockwell is the Editor of the Penguin News This article first appeared in the Penguin News on 14 January 2005 and is reproduced with the kind permission of the Editor
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Introduction, Brief
History, Timeline, 1982
Articles, 1982
Timeline, 1982 Documents, Articles,
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