THIS WEEK IN 1982: Families wait and pray as men are recalled from Easter leave

Thousands of Hampshire families were on a knife edge as they awaited news of their loved ones who might have been called on to face the massed might of the Argentine Navy.
Easter leave over virtually before it began, the men of Hermes and Invincible stream back into Portsmouth Naval Base as Britains Falkland Islands task force gathersEaster leave over virtually before it began, the men of Hermes and Invincible stream back into Portsmouth Naval Base as Britains Falkland Islands task force gathers
Easter leave over virtually before it began, the men of Hermes and Invincible stream back into Portsmouth Naval Base as Britains Falkland Islands task force gathers

Families were stunned as husbands, brothers and sons were suddenly recalled from leave or were diverted from exercises to the trouble-torn South Atlantic.

Navy wives rang The News as reports flooded in of the invasion of the Falkland Islands and their husbands were being called up to face the Argentine menace.

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At least five Portsmouth-based warships were steaming hard for the combat zone and the pride of the city – Invincible and Hermes – were close to battle readiness.

One distraught navy wife said: ‘My husband was called in from leave.

‘He telephoned me at work and I rushed home to drive him to the dockyard.

‘We were going away on holiday next week but now it’s all off.

‘I still don’t know what’s going on,’ she added.

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For many families in the south, there was the added torment of hearing no news of their relatives living and working in the Falklands.

For many of the settlers came from ex-service families in Portsmouth.