ROYAL Navy veterans who served in the Falklands War put on their finery and reunited for dinner at a Salisbury hotel last Saturday.
Twelve officers who served on HMS Alacrity throughout the 10-week conflict enjoyed three courses at The Mercure White Hart on St John Street on May 3.
National press dubbed the frigate ‘HMS Daring’ for the action it saw while steaming 30,000 miles, including sinking an Argentinian fuel-carrier, firing its guns in anger more than 500 times and surviving attacks by five Exocet missiles.
The ship's captain, Chris Craig, was called a hero by the same newspapers.
Captain Craig, 83, of East Grimstead, later wrote a book on his experiences in the 1982 conflict, titled Call for Fire: Combat in the Falklands and the Gulf War.
“We had a very busy war. We got very, very close to each other. It was a bloody and fairly active war, albeit a long time ago.”
Captain Craig was forced to abandon a holiday in Yorkshire with his wife to take the command when the war broke out.
His men, most of whom were aged 23 or 24, were deployed for nearly the full duration of the conflict.
“All of them were going to war for the first time,” he said.
Read more: Reader captures cathedral's stunning VE Day lighting
Read more: 'The importance of remembering the sacrifice of those who fought in WWII'
“You can imagine my esteem for them. They were basically kids but held up brilliantly.”
They were not able to see out the entire war because they had “used up the life” on their guns, so sailed back to Plymouth days before the Argentine surrender.
“I wanted to go into Port Stanley with the flagship, but we had to go home,” Captain Craig said.
“Our homecoming was something very emotional. It was breath-taking. We were the first ship to return.
“We had everything; There were bands playing, and all our families were waiting for us.”
Many of the men were joined by their partners at the White Hart.
The hotel put on an impressive menu, offering chicken breast, pork medallions, fillet of salmon or vegetable Wellington, plus starters and desserts.
There were more than 200 men in the ship's company in total. Many meet every two years and have raised thousands for The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel.
PICTURED: Lt Mark Scrivens, Lt Cdr Graham Baxter, Lt Cdr Stephen Shaw, Lt Simon Thorp, Captain Chris Craig, Sub Lt Neil Stanton, Lt Cdr Anton Maguire, Lt Kevin King, Sub Lt Chris Riordan, Lt Cdr David Dyter, Lt Rob Sleeman and Lt Cdr Bob Burrows.
