Remarkable - Part 2 Brothers in adversity

Part 2 - New beginnings

Brothers in adversity part 2 - Some of you may have read in Brothers in Adversity Part 1 (an earlier article) about how Mark Eyles-Thomas, a Falklands War veteran and well-known West Kent Freemason, discovered the story behind an Argentinian soldier’s helmet that had been given to him. That soldier’s name was Daniel Sirtori, and his story inspired Mark to reach out to the Sirtori family in Argentina, and then travel halfway around the world to take the helmet to them.

There this story might have ended, but the helmet’s return was to provide an opportunity for Argentinian veterans and their families to express more openly their deeply held feelings and concerns. Mark was truly overwhelmed by this surge of fellow feeling, and it struck him that he was there not just on his own behalf, but that his visit had a special significance for all those who had fought in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict.

Mark was deeply humbled by that responsibility, and very touched by the warmth of the welcome given to him and his wife; particularly the fellow feeling and mutual respect shown by the veterans he met, and the veteran’s families who were still living every day with that conflict’s terrible legacy.

Part 2 picks up the story where we left off last time. Thanks to the invaluable assistance of the Argentine Ambassador in London, His Excellency Javier Figueroa, the helmet had been transported, via diplomatic channels, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Buenos Aires; and it was from there that Mark and his wife Patricia would collect it when they arrived in Argentina on Friday 16th September 2022.

On Saturday evening Mark met with Lt. Colonel Carlos Eduardo Carrizo Salvadores, the officer who had commanded the Argentinian forces on Mount Longdon. What an incredible meeting; forty years ago could Mark, then a boy soldier, and Carlos the commander of the opposing forces have ever imagined that they would one day sit down together to discuss that battle. On that bleak cold mountainside in June 1982 both of them had witnessed the cost of war at first hand, and now as veterans they were able to compassionately share their experiences of that night; discussing how events had unfolded and their impact, both at the time and since, upon them and their comrades.

The Colonel had booked a table for five; Mark & Patricia Eyles-Thomas, Carlos & Norma Salvadores and Agustin Vazquez as translator, at the Circulo Militar, which houses the Military Officers’ Association.

Completely different surroundings to their first encounter. The evening was a huge success and both veterans promised to schedule another meeting on Mark’s return from Chajari.

The following day (Sunday) Mark and Patricia were driven the 300 miles to Daniel’s hometown of Chajari by Waldemar Aquino and his wife Norma; Waldemar like Mark is a veteran of the Malvinas/Falklands conflict, having been decorated for bravery at the battle of Mount Tumbledown.

It was at Chajari that Mark and Patricia would meet face to face with the Sirtori family for the first time; although they had been in regular Facebook contact with Daniel’s daughter Virginia; the formal presentation of the helmet was to take place the next day.

Monday 19th September was to be the day of the presentation, which started with Mark being interviewed at his hotel by students from a local school; they made a film of this interview, which was to be distributed to schools across Argentina. It was very notable that young people were actively involved in all the events of that day; the veterans and their families wanting not just to look back in remembrance, but to also create new collective memories within their community.

Mark and Patricia were then taken to Daniel’s memorial at the local cemetery, where the formal presentation of the helmet to Daniel’s daughter Virginia was to take place. To their surprise local news reporters were waiting by the cemetery gates to interview them; their visit had sparked a great deal of media interest, all that day’s events were covered in the local media, and a national TV station would also interview Virginia.

As well as Daniel’s widow, family, and friends the ceremony was attended by many veterans, as well as representatives of the Argentinian armed forces and the wider local community. The service would honour not just the sacrifices made by Daniel, but by all the servicemen involved in the conflict. It was a simple ceremony, but a very intimate and moving one; a local school student read the address (below), and a young naval cadet sounded the Last Post.

Approximate translation:

“We are here today to commemorate this story that brings so much emotion to all of us. After 40 years, we still remember it as if it happened yesterday.

On this day, we want to honour Daniel Sirtori, who in 1999 decided to leave this world due to the consequences and the aftermath of the war. This afternoon we'll receive his helmet that will accompany us as a silent witness of his presence.

We are very happy and emotional about this event and also very grateful to Mark Eyles-Thomas, a British veteran who had the decision and courage to bring it here.

Looking at this helmet, we want all of you to think about Daniel, his sacrifice, his family and, mainly in keeping the spirit of Malvinas alive.

We know it won't be easy but we are sure it's our commitment to keep the history alive. In this way, we can say that Daniel's sacrifice was not in vain and it is important to fight for our history/country.

Last but not least, let us always remember the Malvinas!”

After the ceremony Mark was driven to the local radio station for a live interview and phone-in session, he handled all the questions with great tact and sincerity, recognising the great sacrifices made by serviceman on both sides of the conflict.

That evening there was to be a second presentation of the helmet to Virginia, together with other memorabilia to a local museum opened to honour Daniel and other Malvinas/Falklands veterans. This final event of the day was open to the whole local community; over five hundred people attended, including Marcelo Borghesan Mayor of Chajari, veterans with their families, and military personnel, the meeting had to spill out on to the street. Mark and Patricia found this large public response to their visit very moving and ‘incredibly humbling’.

Mark and Virginia both spoke at this evening event. They thanked all those who had made that day possible, including Ambassador Javier Figueroa, Marcelo Borghesan, Agustin Vazquez, and Waldemar & Norma Aquino. Mark would especially thank the Sirtori family for their kindness and hospitality, and also his wife Tricia without whose support he could never have made this journey.

Mark also spoke directly to the other veterans present; saying how all of them had known the hardships of war, had fought bravely, and made great sacrifices for their country and comrades; that he held them all in the highest regard and was honoured to be standing amongst them. He then spoke about the ongoing suffering of many veteran’s families; noting that ‘no medals were given for the valour of widows, bereft mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children’, but we must always acknowledge their sacrifices and seek to support and comfort them.

The following day (Tuesday) Mark and Patricia were driven back to Buenos Aires by Waldemar and Norma, but before flying home Mark was to have three more remarkable meetings with Argentinian veterans. Men who would greet him warmly as a fellow veteran, and without rancour share their own experiences of the Falklands/Malvinas conflict; whilst the narratives of the events might sometimes differ, they had all faced the same difficulties in coming to terms with the long term impact of what they had suffered and witnessed.

The first of these meetings took place on Mark and Patricia’s first full evening back in Buenos Aires (Wednesday), when they were invited to dinner at Waldemar and Norma’s home. Waldemar was a veteran himself, but he had also invited a friend to be there as a translator, to Mark’s surprise the friend was a retired Argentinian Admiral, Julio Alberto Graf. We can imagine the fascinating conversation between these one-time adversaries, as they shared their experiences of the conflict, and its impact upon their lives and those of their comrades.

The next evening Mark met with Sergio Scarano an Argentinian veteran of the fighting at Mount Longdon; Mark had also fought there as a boy soldier, and it was where his platoon Sergeant Ian McKay had posthumously won a Victoria Cross. Sadly Sergio, like Daniel Sirtori, had suffered terribly from PTSD since the conflict; Mark spent three hours with him sharing and discussing their experiences, they parted as firm friends and with the promise to meet again.

Sergio presented Mark with a signed copy of his book about the battle at Mount Longdon, and it is worth quoting at length from a translation of the dedication he wrote in it to Mark.

‘I dedicate this book to you, despite the fact that life put us in a war that none of us imagined or wanted. We both lost brothers (friends) in this conflict and this meeting of us is something to honour their memories. With a big hug full of respect.

This book was made to honour all the fallen from the Malvinas war, in the cruel Battle of Mount Longdon, and I also dedicate this to your fallen comrades who died there.

Thank you for being the person you are; it's an honour for me being able to meet you personally, with all the respect you deserve. Honour and Glory for the fallen from both sides.’

Finally on the Friday evening Mark met once again with Lt. Colonel Carlos Eduardo Carrizo Salvadores, the officer who had commanded the Argentinian forces on Mount Longdon. This time the Colonel had arranged for Mark and Patricia to visit the sailing ship Présidente Sarmiento which had been used in times gone by to train Argentine Naval Officers. Indeed the training ship had completed 6 (six) circumnavigations of the globe.

Saturday morning was spent saying goodbye to the Sirtori family and Waldemar and Norma Aquino.

Mark and Patricia flew home from Buenos Aires later that day, Saturday 24th September. They had always known that returning Daniel Sirtori’s helmet to his family would make it a truly memorable trip; but it had gone on to mean so much more to so many people. Veterans and their families had been given an opportunity to share their feelings and concerns with those who could truly empathise with them, having had similar experiences themselves; and the wider community had been helped towards a better understanding of the debt we all owe to our veterans and their families.

This post has been created by the West Kent Military lodge for information. Our especial thanks to Cris and Juan Fotografia for allowing us to use their images. If you would like to now more about the Lodge contact us here