11 June 1982 - QEII arrives at Southampton with Falklands survivors (QE2)

[Rob Lightbody]

Have any of you seen this before?  Its remarkable.

Part 1 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803156102

Part 2 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803155186

Part 3 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803155712

Part 4 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803155418

Part 5 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803154754

Part 6 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803155994

Part 7 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803155200

Part 8 - https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/license/803155578

[Chris Hodges]

Never seen the videos before, only photographs, however I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was an 8 yr old boy stood on the quayside waiting for my dad to come home from war.

He had volunteered to sail down with the ship to look after the troops and "do his bit" for queen and country.
I have some amazing photos that I’d love to share sometime, but this is one of the coming homes that will live with me forever .... a very special day.

[Rob Lightbody]

Never seen the videos before, only photographs, however I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was an 8 yr old boy stood on the quayside waiting for my dad to come home from war.
He had volunteered to sail down with the ship to look after the troops and ‘do his bit’’ for queen and country.
I have some amazing photos that I’d love to share sometime, but this is one of the coming homes that will live with me forever.... a very special day.

The videos seem very vivid - like stepping back in time.  I was 9 at the time, and even just watching on TV from Glasgow was very aware of it all, can't imagine what it would have been like knowing my Dad was aboard.

[Rod]

Here is a pic that a friend sent me.

[Twynkle]

Hi Rod

Thank you so much for this.
I'm still in awe that so many crew did volunteer to sail with her down South.
It could have been quite 'scary' as such
Off topic, a bit - were you aware at the time that you'd be kept away from the action (aka S Georgia?)?

Sending v many best regards
and delighted to know I've not been banned - Yet, anyway
Rosie

[Rod]

Originally, we were told that we would be going into San Carlos. ie bomb alley. There was even a Royal Marine Major, "Mad Mike" whose job was to plan the off load of the troops. That was cancelled, I was told, by same "Mad Mike", because the Brit public would stand the loss of Canberra, but not the QE2. There was also the replacement cost to consider as well. Mike was terribly disappointed. He was going to go and be "beachmaster". Remember Kenneth Moore in The Longest Day?
Then other info reached the powers that be in the MOD that Galterieri had said get the QE2 at all costs. They even sent a "bomber" to attack us, if you could call a C-130 Herculese a bomber, and rolling the bombs down the cargo ramp bombing? So it was decided that QE2 would up stakes and go. We were in the middle of a boiler clean when we got the word to go.