Themes

Article highlights

• The career of a Falklands veteran

• Early career

• '42 Commando to the South Atlantic - Quick March'

• The 'Great White Whale'

• Taking Mount Kent

• The attack on Mount Harriet

• Post Falklands career

The 'Great White Whale'

42 Commando travelled south in SS Canberra, a converted cruise liner lovingly nicknamed the 'Great White Whale' during the conflict. With the ship's decks stripped out and helicopter landing pads replacing swimming pools, Canberra carried more than 3,000 troops aboard from 42 and 40 Commando, and 3 Parachute Regiment.

Vaux celebrated his 46th birthday whilst travelling to fight in the Falklands. (RMM)

Vaux travelled in unaccustomed luxury - he had his own stateroom with en suite bathroom and mini bar. This was replenished daily - a resource that was later taken advantage of by his colleagues visiting from HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.

The Commando landed and trained on Ascension Island on the five week journey south. Aboard Canberra they used their time well preparing for the task and training in areas such as weapons handling, radio procedure, field craft, survival techniques and aircraft recognition.

There was a danger that if the troops were inactive for such a long time that it would affect the fighting ability of the troops. The men took Physical Training on deck and many men ended up fitter than when they had left Britain. (RMM)

The original plan was for 42 to be the reserve unit for the landing operations but, due to several fortuitous twists in circumstances, they soon became an integral and decisive part of the campaign.

Canberra entered San Carlos Water on East Falkland to land the amphibious attack on 21 May and came under severe air attack.

Due to the Argentinean air attacks, were swiftly landed and 42's war had begun. In the haste to land 42 Commando, however, much of their stores and equipment had to be left behind - a factor that would subject the unit's troops to hardship later on during the war.