A Scottish dad made an emotional 8000 mile pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands to remember his fallen brothers in arms.
Brave Tom Morton - who served as a sailor on HMS Antrim 37 years ago - went back to the islands where he met grateful locals and even bumped into some other Falkland veterans.
He was moved to tears when locals thanked him for helping to liberate the remote Islands after the Argentinean invasion in 1982.
Father of two Tom, 56, from Dunoon, said: “It was an amazing personal pilgrimage. A number of us returned to the Falklands Islands 37 years after a conflict that transformed us all and changed the course of history.
“The hospitality and warmth of welcome from the islanders are enough to melt the heart of even the most hardened of veterans. It was this sincere appreciation and gratitude which was the real tonic.
“From the simple gift of crocheted scarves designed by Rachael Simons from Carlisle - who lived on the islands and was aged nine at the time of the invasion - in the colours of our South Atlantic Medal, to a hug from a shopkeeper, and a simple handshake with a ‘thank you’ from a complete stranger we met in a Stanley shop.
“It confirmed the gratitude of the Islanders and, for me, made the whole trip worthwhile.”
On 2 April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands.
Argentina had claimed sovereignty over the islands for many years and their ruling military elite did not believe that Britain would attempt to regain the islands by force.
Despite the huge distance involved - the Falklands are more than 8000 miles away in the South Atlantic - Britain sent a task force of warships and rapidly refitted merchant ships to the Falklands.
Tom’s ship was at the epicentre of the Falklands conflict in 1982.
In one incident, helicopter pilots from the ship flew through blizzards to save a stricken team of SAS soldiers after previous attempts to rescue them from a glacier ended with two other helicopters crashing.
Another infamous attack, referred to as ‘our D-Day’ by the crew, came on May 21, 1982, when a 1000lb Argentine bomb flew into HMS Antrim’s ammo magazine but failed to blow up.
Tom added: “We wanted to acknowledge the sad loss of life and pay our respects but we also wanted to enjoy the Island and understand why so many people call this home.
“As we explored the Island’s amazing beaches and wildlife it was easy to understand why so many people love the place.
Where else can you stand on powder-white beaches conversing with a Penguin or standing a few feet away from a fur seal?
“For me, it was fascinating and extremely reassuring that the campaign was indeed justified and became a catalyst for the positive change in the growth and viability of the Islands after 1982.”
Businessman Tom now runs lone worker tech specialist Safe Shores Monitoring which specialises in personal risk protection and location monitoring services that protect staff in potentially dangerous situations.
He was recently shortlisted for the Scottish Ex Forces in Business Awards. He said: “I feel honoured yet humbled to be included in a company of people who have served their nation and are now making further significant contributions to their country’s welfare.”
