On 14 June 1982 Argentinian Forces on the Falkland Islands surrendered and Midshipman David Price was on board HMS HECLA on passage to Montevideo with injured servicemen who were due to be evacuated back to UK by the RAF.
This was the second of three trips to Montevideo that HECLA made during the South Atlantic Conflict.
The first, in early June, was memorable as we had 24 Argentinian survivors onboard. They had been rescued from the fishing vessel Narwal that was being used for surveillance of the task force before being sunk by British forces. They were greeted in Montevideo by International Red Cross staff before being escorted to an Argentinian ship that took them across the river Plate and back to Argentina.
During the second trip, from 12 to 16 June, we certainly fulfilled our role as a hospital ship. We had sixty-one patients on board, most of whom were Welsh Guardsmen who had been badly injured during the raids on Sir Galahad. Most had severe burns to their hands and faces but were surprisingly cheerful although many were affected by seasickness. During this period many of us moved from our accommodation and into offices and storerooms around the ship sleeping in hammocks and on camp beds.
All a very long time ago and now and a pretty hazy memory. Certainly an ‘interesting’ start to a Naval career!
