On the Falklands - Barbara McAulay Remembers
Barbara McAulay, pictured above with Tara and Justin, lays a wreath on San Carlos Beach on Sunday 17 June 2007.
As I witness the nation’s tributes to the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War I recall the day I was informed my husband had died while aboard HMS Ardent. I was 35 years old then and had all my life ahead of me with a boy aged 9 and a girl of 12 and my husband. But then he was gone. The saddest most heart breaking part is that there was to be no body flown home, no proper funeral, no respectful goodbye.
‘Mac’ my husband enjoyed his life in the Fleet Air Arm and was always very committed and loyal to his role within the navy. This commitment and loyalty influenced me as his wife both then and now. I feel an immense pride in what my husband did for his country, I have his two children as a legacy to the life I had with him.
The Ardent Association helped to get us as a family to the Falklands to be part of the Falklands 25 commemorations and we are extremely grateful for their continuing help and friendship. This has helped Tara and Justin to move forward and they wish anyone who has suffered loss to remember the good times and celebrate the lives that were lost.