Falklands : Parachute Regiment Honours Terry Peck
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 06.10.2006 (Article Archived on 20.10.2006)
Terry Peck, who fought alongside the Parachute Regiment in the 1982 Conflict with Argentina, has been honoured at Government House.
Photo (c) J. Brock (FINN) Brigadier Nick Davies, CBSAI Designate, presents Terry Peck with a painting from the Parachute Regiment.
PARACHUTE REGIMENT HONOURS TERRY PECK
Brigadier Nick Davies Presents a painting to Terry Peck
By J. Brock (FINN)
The Parachute Regiment has honoured Falkland Islander, Terry Peck, who fought alongside them during the 1982 conflict with Argentina. At a ceremony in the drawing room of Government House the Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands Designate, Brigadier Nick Davies.
Mr. Gary Clement, current Chairman of the Falklands Branch of the Royal British Legion, welcomed invited guests to the ceremony and explained how Terry, even before he began the Falklands Branch of SAMA’82, has worked to bring families and veterans to the Falklands to try and lay ghosts to rest.
He also introduced Jock Elliot, a former Chairman, who read out a letter he received from the Parachute regiment. He said, “This was the message sent to me when I was in the chair of the RBL back in 2000, I probably wrote to them just at the tail end of 1999 if my memory serves me (mind you with age there are bits dropping off all the time!!). The story was, I asked Terry why he did not wear his Red Beret on a particular parade back in 1999 (it was probably the 11th November and plaques were being laid and I noticed he was bare-headed) and he told me that although he had been presented with the Beret and Cap Badge by the Para’s, no one had told him officially he was allowed to wear it. It goes to show the measure of the man that he just would not do that. So I wrote to them and I got a response, the original message I gave to Terry back in 2000, but it always worried me a little that it is a little part of Falkland Islands History which is important to a courageous old ‘soldier’ like Terry and his family, and it had gone unrecorded. Hopefully that record has now been set straight and his fellow Islanders can see the esteem he is held in by the Para’s – it is not a very good copy but I can produce a hard copy if anyone (especially family) wants it.”
After receiving the presentation, Terry Peck said, “What can I say? I am so humbled by all those kind words that people have spoken this morning and when I wear the red beret I always stand 10 feet tall. It’s not just me but there were many of us in the Islands who performed many tasks which have not been recognised or known about.”
He paid tribute to others who also helped in their own liberation. Of the presentation, he said, “And this today is absolutely wonderful.”
The brief ceremony included a champagne toast for Terry, who has contributed so much to life in the Falklands and for veterans and their families since the conflict.
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