As the thirty-year anniversary of the Falklands War approaches, a retired Royal Marine finds the Argentinian soldier whose camera he plundered at the top of Two Sisters in the Falklands.
You can read the fascinating story at the Daily Mail.
This is a one of the photos the Marine, Nick Taylor, found. The Argentinian officer’s name, he later managed to discover, is Marcelo Llambias Pravas. He was awarded a medal for gallantry for being the last Argentinian soldier to abandon Two Sisters.
Please read the story, including descriptions of the campaign and fighting at Two Sisters, at the newspaper. Meanwhile here are some excerpts that emphasize the collegial and chivalric sentiments the men have for each other.
As we walk, Marcelo says: ‘I am surprised and deeply touched by Nick’s search for me. It’s not a common thing to do – as soon as I heard from him I realised he was a good man. He didn’t have to do this: 30 years have passed. He is such a gentleman.
‘Yes, we were enemies. But I think on my side – and I assume Nick is the same – we never hated each other. This was something between Margaret Thatcher and General Galtieri: generally speaking, no Argentinian during the war hated any British soldier. We were soldiers, we were doing our job, both sides, we were fighting for our country.
‘The Malvinas or Falklands War was very different compared to other wars where civilians or children are involved or crimes are committed. You don’t feel the same as you would if you were fighting a terrorist. It’s good to fight enemies when this enemy has the same code, the same values.
From our side there was some kind of admiration for the British forces, so, even during the combat, there was no hatred.’
Nick agrees: ‘I don’t feel any animosity towards Marcelo or the Argentine forces. At the time of the war we were young men fighting for our country and each other, both sides with similar values. It was an old-fashioned war with old-fashioned rules.’
