Paul Cadman wanted to go to war. He wasn't scared and told his wife he was sorry for those that weren't being sent to the south Atlantic.

That was in April 1982 and the thought of what was coming made the 24-year old of 42 Commando Royal Marines decide to start a diary.

Paul Cadman, from Paulsgrove, said: `It turned out my part was to be the first marine commando ashore during the first action - the capture of South Georgia.

`We'd just come back to Britain from training in Norway so we were acclimatised. I'd gone home to married quarters in Plymouth, to my wife and little daughter. There was a knock at the door and that was it.

`We flew from Brize Norton to Acension Island and transferred to HMS Antrim. Our first encounter with the enemy was at night. Antrim was on radio and radar silence when an Argentinian submarine was spotted close by.

`The hatches were battened down. All I wanted to do was get on dry land and see the enemy. I felt helpless. I knew if a torpedo hit us we had no chance in the icy Antarctic waters let alone surviving if all the ammunition went up.

`The submarine was fired on and headed for South Georgia. Although the troops of M Company were six hours behind us on a different ship we had to land. We could not wait and give the Argentinians time to organise.'

While Antrim's guns fired onto Brown Mountain the first commandos were airlifted ashore by helicopter.

`I was first and, with my numbers two and three, quickly set up a mortar. We began direct fire on suspected enemy positions on top of the mountain. All the time we expected to be fired on.

`After a few hours the Argentinians surrendered. If they had been better organised the attack would have gone on longer and we would have suffered casualties.

`We soon discovered they had the troops and the weapons. But we were too quick for them. Our job after the British flag was raised was to guard the prisoners of war and make certain they didn't get together to plot anything.

`That meant making certain they didn't speak to each other. Most were a pitiful lot, conscripts, not proper soldiers and very glad not to have been killed.

`After that it was a long wait although we wanted to rejoin the rest of 42 Commando and yomp across the Falklands to reach the Argies. But our job was to hold South Georgia.

`Messages from home were very special. One of my diary entries reads: `Got three letters today. In one I was told I was going to be a father again. Great news.'

`It was July before we left for home. We were first in, last out. But I like to believe that the taking of South Georgia was a morale booster for men going into battle in the Falklands.'

Mr Cadman left the Marines in 1987 after 14 years service. He now works as an RAC sales representative. He is married to Janette and has three children.

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