The Cockleshell ‘Falklands 40th Anniversary’ Endeavour
The Cockleshell ‘Falklands 40th Anniversary’ Endeavour is a project created to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war which took place between Britain and Argentina in 1982.
The war began on April 2nd when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands. It ended on June 14th when the British task force dispatched to liberate the islands accepted the Argentine surrender. 255 British troops and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the war, along with at least 649 Argentines.
To create an inclusive and worthwhile national project which will acknowledge this highly significant anniversary of a unique historical event.
To create a national platform to raise awareness and funds, primarily, for The Royal Marines Charity.
The principal aim; to use the project as a vehicle to create a comprehensice archive of first-hand, personal accounts from those who were part of the Falklands war. Filmed interviews detailing their personal experiences and the impact the war had on them, then and now. Not just military personnel, their families too, the Falkland islanders themselves and individuals from the thousands of civilians who were part of the national drive to create and supply the task force.
The Project Format
Mick Dawson, the founder of ‘The Cockleshell Endeavour,’ is a former Royal Marine and veteran of the Falklands war. Beginning on April 2nd and finishing June 14th, Mick will travel south with Blind Veteran Steve Sparkes from the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge in Scotland to the ‘Yomper statue’ in Southsea, near Portsmouth.
Mick and Sparky successfully rowed across the Pacific Ocean together in 2018, when Sparky became the first blind person to row the Pacific. Completing a voyage of almost 3000 miles in 82 days, from California to Hawaii.
Principally, but not exclusively, Mick and ‘Sparky’ will be paddling the route in a two-man kayak, using coastal and inland waterways, rivers and canals. The project will begin on April 2nd the date of the Argentine invasion in 1982 and end on the 14th of June the date of their surrender.
The route south from Scotland to the South Coast will mirror the epic 8,000-mile voyage south the 127 ships of the British task force undertook to liberate the Falkland Islands in 1982.
The route will encompass stops in, Glasgow, Sheffield, Coventry, Bristol, Southampton and Portsmouth. Cities all with close ties to events in 82, not least those with ships named after them which helped form the task force; two of which were sunk (HMS’s Sheffield and Coventry).
Individuals from all walks of life connected with the war will be invited to join Mick and Sparky as they progress to paddle stretches of the route with them or join them at the main
stops along the way to record their personal experiences from the war.
These interviews will add to the growing and comprehensive film archive which is already being recorded; an archive of first-hand, personal accounts, from ‘normal people’ involved in all aspects of the conflict.
Charity fundraising events will be set up at the principal cities along the route to raise funds and awareness for the Royal Marines charity. ‘Reunion Events’ will also be created at these key locations, where people who served together can acknowledge the ‘40th anniversary’ and share their experiences. Not least the
crews of; HMS’s Glasgow, Sheffield, Coventry and Bristol in the namesake cities of their respective ships
THE ROYAL MARINES CHARITY
Supporting the Royal Marines Family alongside the health and safety of our staff are our highest priorities. As the advice about COVID-19 develops, we have followed government guidelines for staff based at our offices on Whale Island, at CTCRM and RMB STONEHOUSE and following some modifications in the way we work we will mainly be working from home until further notice. This helps to ensure that we are protecting both our host military communities and staff.
