A soldier whose father was shot by an Argentine sniper has described the powerful moment he stood at the spot on the Falkland Islands where his dad died.
Sergeant John Jamieson Simeon, of the Scots Guards, was one of nine British men killed in action during the Battle of Mount Tumbledown in June 1982.
UK forces launched an assault at a high point near Port Stanley, the capital, during the last major battle of the hostilities, and drove occupying Argentinian forces from the mountain.
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This weekend, as the nation remembers its war dead, special attention will be paid to the 255 UK servicemen who died as part of the 40th anniversary commemorations of the 74-day conflict in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Sergeant Jamie Simeon, a Scots Guardsman like his father, was nine when he was killed.
Sgt Simeon said: “The Falklands War was actually an exciting time for a lot of people.
“It was a huge undertaking and the whole country was involved, as were all aspects of Government.
“But being the son of a serviceperson and being a serviceperson myself, you don’t expect people to not return.
“That was my biggest memory of the whole occasion.”
Sgt Simeon has visited the Falkland Islands four times and served as part of the Rouliment Infantry Regiment, F Company.
He said: “I have paid my respects at the memorial cross at the eastern end overlooking Port Stanley.
“One of the local islanders had found pretty much the exact spot where my father had been shot and killed.
“I managed to place a poppy wreath myself on that spot.
“It was one of those ‘hairs on the back of the neck’ moments, thinking you had walked in his footsteps, retracing the events of that battle.
“It was very emotional.”
Sgt Simeon, who currently works with the Royal Electrical and Electrical Engineers in Newton Aycliffe and lives in Richmond, is attending the Festival of Remembrance at Durham Cathedral on Saturday.
He will be reading Ode to Tumbledown, a poem about the battle by Lieutenant Mark Mathewson of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards.
It includes the lines: “And never let men these acts forget, “Nor the memory of our dead neglect, “But once returned across this vast sea, “Remember then just what it was to be...
“A Scots Guardsman.”
The programme for this year’s concert in Durham is narrated by journalist Pam Royle, with music from Band of Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, 102 Battalion REME Pipe Band, Durham Musical Theatre Group, the Band and Bugles of Durham Army Cadet Force and Blue Light Choir.
Major Cliff De Vos from the Parachute Regimentwho was aboard the RFA Sir Galahad when it was sunk by the Argentineans is one of the key guest speakers.
Sgt Simeon said: “Outside of the London Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall this event is one of the biggest in England certainly.
“I attended the Festival of Remembrance here about six years ago so I am aware of the prestige and the honour I have to recite this poem at this event.
“When the poppies fall there is a deafening silence and everyone will have their own thoughts at that moment.
“For me, I will be thinking of those events 40 years ago.”
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