Task Force takes to the streets
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Canvey to pay tribute to their heroes. As a burning sun shone down on the island’s most successful carnival yet, the cheers were loudest for the six young sailors who fought for Queen and country in the Falklands.
But they were on board a different craft from the Task Force battleships they are due to rejoin this week. This time they sailed on Old Steamboat Bill, the Canvey police raft. The roads of Canvey felt much safer than the waters of the South Atlantic.
Canvey policeman Graham Elliott piped the men aboard the raft, which carried the police to fourth place in the recent Southend raft race. His son David, of Westwood Road, and friends Sid Taylor, of Lede Road, and Peter Short, of Bommel Avenue, were on the troop carrier Canberra and were due to go back today. They are all 19.
Leave
With them on the raft were Peter Bradford, 20, of Geylen Road, and Hugh Owen, 20, of Kenmore Close. Both have been back with their ship HMS Coventry a week, but they arranged special leave to join the carnival. From HMS Ardent was 19-year-old Derek Lincoln, of Bay Close, who is due to go back this week.
Pc Elliott is also helping to plan a Canvey Falklands Raft Race to raise money for the South Atlantic Fund.
No Comments
Add a comment about this page