A Soldiers Return

I first heard about Alan Craig a couple of years ago when I read Martin Middlebrook's excellent book about the war from the Argentine perspective The Argentine Fight for the Falklands.

Having met a number of Argentine veterans during frequent visits to their fascinating and welcoming country (where I now live), I'd been interested for some time in making a documentary from their perspective: and particularly in depicting how the war was for the poor humble conscript innocently doing his military service, and suddenly sent to a chilly, windswept island in the middle of the south Atlantic.

I was also keen to steer clear of politics, and the rights and wrongs of ownership of the Falklands/Malvinas, and concentrate on someone's visceral personal experience.

But how to interest a British audience?

Alan was the ideal character: he was intelligent and eloquent, spoke excellent English and had an interesting background: both his father and grandfather fought in the World Wars for the British.

He was also happy to meet British veterans. My original intention had been to make a documentary bringing together combatants from the same battle, inspired by the experience recounted by ex -Para Vince Bramley in his vivid and sensitive book Two Sides of Hell.

Unfortunately, despite 2007 being the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War, I met with a complete lack of interest from all the main TV channels.

After numerous long late night phone conversations over several months between my London house and his flat in Buenos Aires, now I had to phone Alan to tell him it looked unlikely he'd be going back to the Falklands.

Luckily, one night at Hurst House in Soho, Dave MacCreedy, an excellent actor and film- maker came to my rescue by introducing me to Paul Tyson, a news editor at ITN.

Paul would pay for Alan to go during the week of June 14th, when all the islanders celebrate the British victory, and film some news items with him.

All I had to do was borrow a DV camera and tag along.

It was a great experience and Alan bore up remarkably well, considering the mixed emotions that were undoubtedly running through him.

Apart from being one of very few Argentines to have attended Liberation Day parade in Stanley, the sound of the bagpipes provided a particularly emotional shiver of recognition down the generations.

This is Alan's story, but there's much more to be said about the Argentine veterans' experience: for me, the saddest part is their return after the war to a nation which had promised they would be heroes but which instead shunned and ignored them.

It's another big battle which continues today.

But that's the film I haven't managed to make... yet.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• falkand
• islands
• war
• islas
• malvinas
• veteran
• alan
• craig
• soldier

[TalksWithDirt]

Folks, I have to ask a question. Why does Argentina claim the Falklands? They were discovered and first inhabited by the English and the English had them for so long and Argentina for so short a time and never used them. It seems to me as if the Argentinian claim to the Falklands is as if the US had some dysfunctional heartfelt claim to Cuba. Please educate me as to your side of the argument.

[evansnp]

If you're interested, this is a good forum with views from all three sides (British, Argentine and islander).

ref your comment on the USA and Cuba... I take it you've heard of guantanomo Bay?

regards, Nick

[theblackmafia71]

I met a few Argentine vets with my uncle who was in 3 Para during Airborne Forces day in Aldershot. They were good lads and despite the diffeneces in nationality they had a lot in common with the english vets in terms of culture , namely football beer etc, i found them to be very down to earth a nice people

[evansnp]

Glad you liked it. Ref your comments about finding a slot on TV, I would love to! But having worked in the business for 14 years and having spent a year trying to get some money to make a proper doco, the only interest I had was from ITN who flew Alan out to do some news items for the 25th anniversary. I borrowed a camera off a mate, paid for the air fare and went with him.

[admsitio]

Excelente trabajo. Pulgares arriba. THUMBS UP!! Bienvenido NICK a Argentina. Tenemos mucho que respetar de los Ingleses, en muchos aspectos, no lo duden. Lo que nunca vamos a aceptar, ni los argentinos ni , les aseguro, muchos otros paises y gentes del mundo, es su impetu imperialista y colonialista. Nosotros creemos y estamos seguros que las Islas Malvinas son nuestras, son Argentinas. Con Kelpers o sin Kelpers, reclamamos la soberania que se nos arrebató. Gracias.

[evansnp]

Muchas gracias admsitio,

No queria meterme en el tema politica por todo el polemica que genera, pero claro que tienes razon. Queria `presentar con Alan la historia personal que, espero, todo se puede entender.

[admsitio]

You are welcome. Very interesting story. Es una historia muy peculiar la de Alan. Diste en la tecla al encontrarla y plasmarla en el documental, es una historia emocionante en un ambiente tan extremo como la guerra. Si tenés contacto con Alan, decile que estamos muy orgullosos de él. Gracias. Marcelo.

[Nomad110371]

He seems like a fine man, and the focus is on the human element instead of the usual political one. Respect to all the Veterans of both sides.

[madjaime2007]

Its nice to see from a point of veiw from someone who is not a nasinalistic prick!!!!!

[TalksWithDirt]

Oh come on Nick Gitmo is a base, a small plot of land, the US had by treaty with the past governments of Cuba. And we had that for 80 years before the current government came into power. So we've been there for 50 years with the current government wanting us gone. But let's take your point of view, fine let's call the US base at Gitmo unwarranted, what does that say about the Argentinian claim to the Falklands? The simple fact is the English had them first and the longest.

[MeRioDeLaPlata]

I have just finished reading Martin Middlebrooks book which contains his interviews with some Argentines who fought the war. This very good book moved me to search further more about some of the stories, and this is how I came across this video. I was only 12when Argentina recovered these Islands, and the feelings and memories of those days are still fresh in my heart and mind. I want to thank Alan and all those who fought and risked their lives, especially to those who die. You are true heroes