They Also Serve…
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The Task Force was due to set sail on M
Monday 5 April 1982. I put the TV on
to watch the coverage, searching
relentlessly among the hoards of
soldiers and sailors to try and catch
even the smallest glimpse of any of the m
men from our Battery. It was so
upsetting to watch but momentous at
the same time. This, I knew, was
History in the making, whatever
happened later.
To see all those ships, huge,
monstrous liners full of sailors
lined up along the decks, hundreds
of small boats surrounding them,
horns tooting, music playing, crowds
cheering, was overwhelming. It was
surreal, as if we were watching a
scene from a movie, people kissing
their loved ones goodbye, not knowing
when they would see them again,
wondering perhaps if they ever would.
Little children, clutching their union jack
flags in small, chubby hands and
waving them frantically, some too
young to even know what was
happening.
Even watching it on TV, I could almost
feel the atmosphere being generated,
the cheering and applause, the tears
and the heartbreak, the bravery and
the patriotism. All this and a multitude
of well-wishers who had come together
to give 'Our Boys' a great send-off.
The emptiness inside, the anxiety and
sadness threatened to consume me
but whilst watching I also experienced
a feeling of immense pride and
patriotism. For my husband and all
those men and women now boarding
the ships but also in being British. Rod
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Book Details
About the Book
In April 1982, more than 26,000 service personnel from all branches of the services formed a Task Force, one of the largest ever assembled and set off to travel 8,000 miles to the Falkland Islands in a bid to regain them from the Argentine Forces who had invaded.
This was the Falklands Conflict.
Apart from the journey to the Islands, battling freezing temperatures, 15 foot waves and long absences from home many fierce and bloody battles ensued before the final surrender of the Argentine Forces on June 14 1982.
Back home, thousands of women, children and families waited anxiously, endeavouring to carry on normally whilst living in fear and dread of what may happen to their loved ones.
Through the anguish and anxiety they fought their own personal battle for this was their role. It was then and remains so today for those left behind whilst duties are carried out.
About the Author
Valerie Slaughter was born and educated in Norwich, Norfolk. In 1966 she married a serviceman and lived as an 'Army Wife' for the next 18 years. Her husband completed 25 years of service including 5 tours of Northern Ireland and in 1982 he travelled with the Task Force to the Falkland Islands in the bid to regain them, following the invasion of the Argentine Forces. In 1984 Valerie returned to Norwich with her family and worked for many years in retail management and the Civil Service from which she retired in 2006. After qualifying in 2005, she now works voluntarily as a counsllor for survivors of abuse. Valerie Slaughter writes under the pseudonym of Eileen Lake.