Off duty the band kept up morale playing music. They also entered into the swing of things and completed in the South Atlantic Duff eating contest. Musician George Tate beat allcomers eating 13.5 stodgy pieces of school type steam pudding, a record he still holds to this day!

At Ascension, an spy vessel is spotted closer than she should have been & is chased off. Reported she had special forces equipment on deck the fleet begin a series of depth charge type explosions to deter divers placing mines on ships. Its starting to feel like a war!

I was honoured to be invited to give a presentation to a Brentwood youth band last night and take the salute at a mini beat retreat. Not only was the standard of playing superb, the rehearsal facility was amazing. Great to see youngsters chose music!

Happy St George's day

In 2022, astonishing footage captured by Harry Shimmin during his visit to Kyrgyzstan depicts the terrifying sight of a massive avalanche hurtling towards him.

Accompanied by ten others, including two friends, Harry had ventured away from the group and reached the summit of a…

Life is good on Canberra in the warm Ascension island sun until a signal arrives warning of a credible submarine threat, so each night we sail nowhere in a random zig zag patter. Whether Argentine or Russian intelligence submarines, it appears we are taking no chances.

Canberra now at Ascension island & stores transferred between ships. Troops ashore to test weapons and since it is 'Harry Hotters', the band take the chance to get their feet wet entertaining troops on the beach. can you guess what music we are playing?

Training continues as we sail south. The ferry Elk passes by Canberra and gives a demonstration of her antiquated, hastily fitted Bofors gun. HMS Ardent also powers by and gives a firepower demonstration. Sadly, next time we see her it will be to take her survivors aboard.

On Canberra, young Marines & Paras are training hard & well up for the task. However, who has got the best colour beret, ship life, alcohol lead to some handbag swinging, so after work the band use music to soothe the savage beasts, it works, calm is restored, morale is high.

Expecting a diplomatic solution, Canberra stops in Africa to refuel. Natives in bum boats trade goods with us, until one of them uses the word 'Malvinas' as an insult. He is first hosed down, then an extinguisher 'donated' to him from 60ft. His bum boat is holed..oops!

Brian Short: The Band That Went To War I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Band That Went To War. The Falkland campaign was very much about committed professionals finding their own way to positively influence events. The Royal Marines Bandsmen who went to war aboard The Great White Whale emphatically did that.

As we are in the midst of the Falklands anniversary dates, its time for us old and bold to emerge from our tortoise shell hibernation and shout about some book we put together. If it is an award winning, highly recommended book about musicians sent to war, what's not to like!

During the Falklands a Sea King helicopter made an approach to Canberra's deck. A net broke loose and assured the pilot would 'go around' I lay on the net to secure it. The pilot landed on top of me anyway giving me the most unusual view of a tail rotor! So, I took a picture!

Today is the anniversary of Canberra sailing from Southampton for the Falklands, with thousands of Royal Marines and Paras to remove the Argentines. They also needed medical support and of course no war is complete without a Royal Marines Band, so we sent two for good measure!

42 years ago today Canberra sailed. Her mission: to transport 40, 42 Cdo & 3 Para over 9,000 miles across the Atlantic into the heart of the Falklands conflict zone. The ship became our home & training ground for weeks before we landed on 21 May. The rest as they say is history🫡

'Don't push this button' it said.

A very touching book review!

‘Finished at last... not a long book but a slow read because it was so damn interesting. Also last couple chapters had me blubbering with pride... especially on the homeward journey and nearing home’

Not a trick, but a clever effect if you squint at the picture to reveal the image.