The hearts of the nation went out to Portsmouth when the ships from the Task Torce arrived home - and some failed to return.

Television screens were filled with pictures of crowds lining the dockside as the ships which had survived the war came back.

Each ship had its story to tell. And each man on board had his own unique story of what had happened to him as he fought his own personal battle.

Families and friends welcoming home their loved ones

The homecoming was a day of pride and jubilation coupled with intense sadness and loss.

The liners Canberra and QE2, transformed from gleaming cruise ships to battle-hardened, weary troop carriers, were greeted with cheers and waving Union Jacks when they arrived at Southampton.

Small ships greet Canberra, returning to Southampton

At Portsmouth the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, HMS Fearless and assault ship HMS Intrepid were among those who came back victorious from the South Atlantic.

But there was no homecoming for the Portsmouth-based destroyers HMS Coventry and HMS Sheffield, which were sank in the war.

HMS Glamorgan made it - but only just. The ship was the only one to be hit by a lethal Exocet missile and live to tell the tale.

For the sailors who came back it was a moment of mixed emotions - relief, triumph and sorrow.

All were overjoyed to see their wives, families and girlfriends again - but some reported a strange feeling of anti-climax.

In a lot of cases the sailors were not allowed by their commanding officers to stream off the ship as soon as it docked.

Instead their families were invited on board and the grim grey ships were suddenly filled with laughing, cheering people and scenes of celebration.

Suddenly after the months of fear and nervous tension, it was over. They were home, they were safe and they had their normal lives back again.

The strangeness of the situation was made even more unreal for some of the men - whose duties required them to be back on their ships again after just six days of shore leave.

The years have passed now and many of those who went to fight that freezing war in the South Atlantic are reluctant to talk about their experiences.

But no-one who saw the ships come home will ever forget what it meant to them.

End of the war
Main Menu