Plymouth Falklands Memorial Bench

Plymouth

Veterans, serving military personnel and local dignitaries attended the bench unveiling event organised by the South Atlantic Medal Association.

The Belvedere building in Plymouth is a historic landmark in the city and home to a garden of remembrance which has a monument listing the names of all the maritime personnel who died in the Falklands War including the HMS Ardent memorial. Chris Jones, from the South Atlantic Medal Association, helped organise the event and oversaw the unveiling of a new memorial bench.

Trainees from across the water at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint along with their Commanding Officer Captain Suzi Nielson joined representatives of the South Atlantic Medal Association 1982, plus Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans who served on Devonport-based ships and with 3 Commando Brigade for the combined ceremonies. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer and commanding officers of some of the Units that took part in the War were also in attendance, as well as Richard Hyslop, the Falkland Islands Government representative to the UK and Europe.

The plaques on the bench were chosen as they are not only keeping the memory of the conflict alive but provide an overview of key moments during the short, but intense war and the distance the task force had to travel to liberate the islands.