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Heroism and tragedy in the Falklands

19/ 6/2003

DARNHILL paratrooper Steven Hope (aged 27) died in June while serving in the Falklands conflict. Steven was seriously wounded during an assault on the capital, Port Stanley, and died later on the hospital ship Uganda.

The former Sutherland High School pupil was a member of the Third Battalion Parachute Regiment and a bachelor who joined the army as a teenager on leaving school.

One of his sisters, Mrs Joan Moore, told the Advertiser: "We were told Steven had been seriously injured but we hoped against hope that he would be all right. We were informed the next day that he had died from his injuries."

Steven had two brothers and two sisters.

• A HERO'S welcome awaited 19-years-old Heywood sailor Stephen Yates when he returned from the Falklands on Wednedsay 14 July. The marine engineer served on HMS Intrepid, one of the battleships that were sitting targets for Argentine planes in the South Atlantic.

His family confessed to being understandably "terrified" throughout the six-week conflict and said: "We are relieved it is over and our son is safe."

In letters home Stephen described the HMS Intrepid as "one of the lucky ships" - missing missiles from both Mirage and Pucara jets. He also told how his ship landed crack SAS and SBS personnel as well as commandos and paratroopers onto the Falklands. Until the beach landings there were 2,000 men on board a ship meant to carry 600.

"We have had near misses, and we have fought with everything we had. About every 15 minutes it was 'hit the deck'," said Stephen. Who added: "During our first day there were about 50 Mirage and Super Entards attacking us. The first ship hit was the Ardent - she eventually sunk."

Stephen also witnessed the sinking of HMS Antelope which was hit by several 1,000lb bombs. The only direct hit his ship took was when one of their own crew span around on one of the big guns trying to hit an Argentine plane, and hit his own ship.