Down South
2002 marked the twentieth anniversary of the Falklands/Malvinas war.  Brush Fire Films are producing a 55 minute documentary on the war and the people who fought on these South Atlantic Islands 20 years ago. Although this campaign has been well covered, Down South will concentrate on the veteran's accounts of what happened rather than those of the generals and historical commentators. All the interviews will be filmed on location in the Falklands with British veterans and islanders.
Subjects covered will be the Argentine invasion, when a small force of 60 Royal Marines tried desperately to defend the islands from a overwhelming Argentine invasion force. The Royal Marines along with the Falkland Islands Defense force put up a fierce fight against Argentine Commandos and tanks. The strategically important battle for Top Malo House when two small Special Forces units fought a fierce ten-minute engagement in the mountains in one of the only battles of the conflict to be fought in day light. Lastly, the Battle for Mount Tumbledown. This was one of the final land battles of the war during which the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards fought a vicious night action against Argentine Marines. The unusual aspect of this engagement is that the Scots Guards were not prepared for war - they had only recently come from performing public duties in London, such as guarding Buckingham Palace.
The Programme will also deal with the personal stories from the men who fought down south and are still suffering today. Many will remember David Harrington, a crew member of the HMS Sheffield, as he staggered out of a helicopter onto the deck of HMS Hermes with most of his clothing burnt off and had water poured over his burns. Former Rapier gunner Tony MacNally, who shot down two Skyhawks and a Mirage over San Carlos, will meet some of the pilots he was trying to kill. Nicholas van der Bijl, who served with the Intelligence Section, HQ 3rd Commando Brigade, will meet Lieutenant Colonel  Soria and return his diary he confiscated when Soria was captured after the Battle of Mount Harriet.
This programme will also tell the story of the Falkland Islanders who were there. Included are Councilor John Smith in Stanley; Eric Goss, the manager of Goose Green settlement, who was locked up with the rest of the community for most of the occupation; Veronica Fowler, whose house was hit by a shell, causing the only civilian fatalities of conflict; and Terry Peck, who scouted for the British. The programme will show how the war changed the islanders' way of life forever.