Blue Beach Military Cemetery at San Carlos
Encyclopedia
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.
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
.
, 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;
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.
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.
Two more deaths may be attributed to Operation Corporate
, bringing the total to 260
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
holding the remains of 14 of the 260 British casualties killed during Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982. It is situated close to where 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
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
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
managed these graves.
After the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, 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
RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004)
RFA Sir Bedivere was a Landing Ship Logistic of the Round Table class. She saw service in the Falklands War, the Persian Gulf and Sierra Leone. In 2009 she was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy, and renamed NDCC Almirante Saboia -History:The ship was originally built for army service, and...
.
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
Port San Carlos
Port San Carlos is located on the northern bank of the inlet known as Port San Carlos, off San Carlos Water on the Western coast of East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands...
with two more at isolated single grave sites at Goose Green
Goose Green
Goose Green is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. It lies on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, south-southwest of Darwin. With a population of about 70, it is the second largest settlement of the Falkland Islands.Goose Green has a shop...
and Port Howard
Port Howard
Port Howard is the largest settlement on West Falkland . it is in the east of the island, on an inlet of Falkland Sound...
.
Design
In 1982, at the request of the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, 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
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and the Brigade of Gurkhas
Brigade of Gurkhas
The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units that originally served in the British Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of...
and dedicated on 10 April 1983. The headstones are of Orton Scar limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and the memorial panels are of light sea green slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
from Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.
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
Pen (enclosure)
A pen is an enclosure for holding livestock. The term describes multiple types of enclosures that may confine one or many animals. Construction and terminology varies depending on region of the world, purpose, animal species to be confined, local materials used, and cultural tradition...
. 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;
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
H. Jones
Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Jones VC OBE, , known as H. Jones, was a British army officer and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross...
two Royal Signallers
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
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
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
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.
Breakdown of the casualties
A total of 255 British servicemen and 3 female Falklands Island civilians were killed during the Falklands War.- Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
- 86 + 2 Hong Kong laundrymen - Royal MarinesRoyal MarinesThe Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
- 27 (2 officers, 14 NCOs and 11 marines) - Royal Fleet AuxiliaryRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryThe Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
- 4 + 4 Hong Kong laundrymen - Merchant NavyMerchant NavyThe Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
- 6 + 2 Hong Kong sailors - British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
- 123 (7 officers, 40 NCOs and 76 privates) - Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
- 1 (1 officer) - Falklands Islands civilians - 3 women killed by friendly fireFriendly fireFriendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
)
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 |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 20 | |
| Sea King Westland Sea King The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a... |
1+22 |
| 22 | |
| Sea Harrier | 3 |
| 2 | |
| 18 | |
| 12 | |
| LC Foxtrot 4 of | 6 |
| Bluff Cove Bluff Cove Air Attacks The Bluff Cove Air Attacks occurred 8 June 1982, during the Falklands War. British troop transport ships were bombed by the Argentine Air Force whilst unloading, with significant damage and casualties.-Background:... |
54 |
| 13 | |
Buried other places (8)
- Lt Nick Taylor RN, shot down over Goose Green by radar-controlled, 35mm Oerlikon fireOerlikon 35 mm twin cannonThe Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves . The system was originally designated as 2 ZLA/353 ML but this was later changed to GDF-001...
from GADA 601 as he ran in to attack. Argentine forces buried Nick with military honours close to where he fell. Lt Nick Taylor's Grave and location 51°48′37"S 58°58′21"W - Captain Gavin John Hamilton is buried at Port HowardPort HowardPort Howard is the largest settlement on West Falkland . it is in the east of the island, on an inlet of Falkland Sound...
on West FalklandWest FalklandWest Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. It is a hilly island, separated from East Falkland by Falkland Sound. Its area is and its coastline is long. Including the adjacent small islands the land area is .-Population:The island has fewer than 200...
.. Captain Hamiltons grave - Budhaparsad Limbu - killed 24 June 1982, filling in a trench when a live M79 grenadeM79 grenade launcherThe M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40x46mm grenade which used what the US Army called the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first appeared during the Vietnam War...
blew up. He was buried with military honours in the civilian cemetery outside Goose GreenGoose GreenGoose Green is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. It lies on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, south-southwest of Darwin. With a population of about 70, it is the second largest settlement of the Falkland Islands.Goose Green has a shop...
. Later his father asked for the body to be re-interred at the Aldershot Military CemeteryAldershot Military CemeteryAldershot Military Cemetery, is a burial ground for military personnel, or ex-military personnel. It is located in Aldershot Military Town, Hampshire...
. This service took place on 18 March 1983. - The three Falkland Civilians; Doreen Bonner, Mary Goodwin and Sue Whitley were buried in Port Stanley after the war.
Two more deaths may be attributed to Operation Corporate
Operation Corporate
Operation Corporate was the codename given to the 1982 British military involvement in the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War. The commander of task force operations was Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse. Operations lasted from 1 April 1982 to 20 June 1982....
, bringing the total to 260
- Captain Brian Biddick from HMHS Uganda underwent an emergency operation on the voyage to the Falklands, was repatriated by an RAF medical flight to the hospital at Wroughton where he died on 12 May.
- Paul Mills from HMS Coventry suffered from complications from a skull fracture sustained in the Sinking of his ship and died on the 29 March 1983, he is buried in his home town of Swavesey.