| Blue Beach Military Cemetery at San Carlos | |
|---|---|
The Cemetery in 2003 |
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| For British forces | |
| Unveiled | 10 April 1983 |
| Location | |
| Designed by | Professor Sir Peter Shepheard |
Blue Beach Military Cemetery at San Carlos is a British war cemetery in the Falkland Islands holding the remains of 14 of the 260 British casualties killed during Falklands War in 1982. It is situated close to where 3 Commando Brigade had its initial headquarters after landing on the 21 May 1982.
Up until 1982 all British serviceman killed in action were buried and commemorated as close to the place of death as possible and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission managed these graves.[1]
After the Falklands War, one family requested the repatriation of their fallen son's body and after this was granted the offer was extended to all relatives of the fallen. On the 16th November 1982 64 of the dead, (52 soldiers, 11 Royal Marines, and a Chinese laundryman) were returned to Britain aboard the landing ship Sir Bedivere.
The families of sixteen of the dead kept with tradition and preferred their sons' remains should stay in the islands. Fourteen are buried at Port San Carlos with two more at isolated single grave sites at Goose Green and Port Howard.
Contents |
In 1982, at the request of the Ministry of Defence, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission undertook the design and construction of a cemetery and memorial. The plans were approved by the MOD on 12 November 1982 at a total cost of £50,000. The work was completed with the assistance of 8 Field Squadron Royal Engineers and the Brigade of Gurkhas and dedicated on 10 April 1983. The headstones are of Orton Scar limestone and the memorial panels are of light sea green slate from Cumbria.
The cemetery is surrounded by a 1 metre high wall with a small entrance open to the beach in the style of a stone sheep corral. Opposite the entrance, the wall is tapered higher with seven slate panels, six with the Regiment, Name, Rank and Service of the fallen and one with the three Forces' Emblems and the following inscription;
1982
APRIL-JUNE
IN HONOUR OF
THE SOUTH ATLANTIC TASK FORCE
AND TO THE ABIDING MEMORY OF
THE SAILORS, SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND WHO
NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA
HERE BESIDE THE
GRAVES OF THEIR COMRADES THIS
MEMORIAL RECORDS THEIR NAMESGIVE GLORY TO THE LORD AND
DECLARE HIS PRAISE IN THE ISLANDS
The site is divided into two sections each with seven graves. The section on the right is known as the Airborne Cemetery as it contains the remains of four Paratroopers including that of Lieutenant-Colonel "H" Jones two Royal Signallers from 16 Air Assault Brigade and Sergeant Griffin from the Army Air Corps. Directly opposite are another seven headstones laid out in the same pattern with the remains of 6 Royal Marines and Captain Bell from the Army Air Corps. Nearby is the San Carlos museum, with photographs and relics from the conflict.
On 21 May 2002, the 20th anniversary of the landings, a service of remembrance was held at the cemetery. Over 300 islanders and personnel from the garrison joined the Falklands Governor, in remembering those who lost their lives in the campaign.
A total of 255 British servicemen and 3 female Falklands Island civilians were killed during the Falklands War.[2]
174 were buried at sea, or lost with their aircraft/ships and their remains not recovered. These are controlled sites under the Protection of Military Remains Act.
| Incident | Casualties |
|---|---|
| HMS Invincible (R05) | 1 |
| HMS Sheffield (D80) | 20 |
| Sea King | 1+22 |
| HMS Ardent (F184) | 22 |
| Sea Harrier | 3 |
| HMS Argonaut (F56) | 2 |
| HMS Coventry (D118) | 18 |
| MV Atlantic Conveyor | 12 |
| LC Foxtrot 4 of HMS Fearless (L10) | 6 |
| Bluff Cove | 54 |
| HMS Glamorgan (D19) | 13 |
Two more deaths may be attributed to Operation Corporate, bringing the total to 260
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