The South Atlantic Medal awarded to Leading Radio Operator (General) P. Cardin, Royal Navy, who kept a diary of events aboard H.M.S. Yarmouth in the period April to July 1982 - a detailed and poignant record which is included with his Medal and now forms the basis of his book ‘Return to Bomb Alley, 1982, The Falklands Deception’

South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (LRO (G) P. Cardin, D156563D, HMS Yarmouth) ship’s name officially corrected, good very fine £1,000-£1,400

Paul Cardin was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, in August 1959 and joined the Royal Navy in February 1976. He served with the Royal Nay in H.M.S. Yarmouth during the South Atlantic campaign in 1982, during which he compiled a detailed and poignant diary, and left the Royal Navy in February 1983. His book, Return to Bomb Alley, 1982, The Falklands Deception, based on his diary, was published in 2022.

H.M.S. Yarmouth, a Rothesay-class frigate, was commanded by Commander A. Morton, R.N., who was awarded the D.S.C. in respect of his ship’s part in the Falklands War. In the London Gazette of 8 October 1982, the citation for his decoration stated that it was ‘remarkable’ that the Yarmouth came through the operations unscathed … ‘She was in the thick of much of the action, accounting for several enemy aircraft in the Falkland Sound and San Carlos Water and carried out a prodigious amount of Naval Gunfire Support’.
Most notably that gunfire support was in respect of the attack on Mount Tumbledown, an action that contributed to Yarmouth’s impressive expenditure of over 1,000 shells from her 4.5-inch guns in the period May to June 1982. Cardin and his shipmates also undertook valuable rescue operations, most notably on the occasion of the loss of H.M.S. Sheffield and H.M.S. Ardent.

Fortunately for posterity’s sake, Cardin kept a diary of events during his time in the South Atlantic, a diary with numerous references to Yarmouth’s “Air Raid Warning Reds”. Yet it serves too as a useful journal in respect of the bigger picture, in addition to relating some poignant stories:
‘Point of interest: During the exocet attack on us a few weeks ago, the day the Sheffield was hit, a white dove was seen to land on our flight deck. A signal received today from Avenger, who was unsuccessfully attacked yesterday, reported a white dove landing on the foc’sle when the missile was sighted.’
And on the Glamorgan’s losses:
‘Casualties from Glamorgan: 12 dead, 16 injured (one seriously, both legs amputated). The injuries are bad again. Flight deck crew and cooks suffered the most. Eye injuries, broken arms and legs, smoke inhalation, cuts and shock … The missile went in through the flight deck (unusual for an Exocet).’

Sold with the recipient’s original desk diary, covering the period 5 April to 12 July 1982, 32pp., with often detailed hourly entries and commentary; named enclosure for the South Atlantic Medal; various photographic images; and a copy of the recipient’s 2022 book Return to Bomb Alley, 1982, The Falklands Deception.