Ian Raymond Farrell

Ian Farrell from Everton, Liverpool was born on 6th April 1960.  

He served with 16 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medial Corps, attached to the Welsh Guards.  He perished when the ship Sir Galahad was bombed at Fitzroy on 8th June 1982.

Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com

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Robert Dowdall, RAMC (Rtd)

The last time I met Ian was in November 1981, we had both completed basic training together at Keogh Barracks. Ian was my best mate and he had come to see me at MRS Pirbright, I was in ‘dock’ due to chicken pox.

I still remember this beaming smile every day, memories of his unquestionable desire to be an Airborne Medic and to serve the country as a first-class soldier, tough fit and unflappable, he badgered me to join the Parachute Field Ambulance, and serve all over the world together. I agreed, but due to confinement in MRS, I would not be able to join until 1982. I do not know whether to be grateful, for not going to the South Atlantic and serving on until I indeed made the dizzy height of Chief Clerk of the Parachute Field Ambulance, seeing my own difficulties as all of us service men do, or to be sad at having to wake up each day and carry the sadness of a missing mate for ever.

He was my best mate and I miss him every day. Proud to have known such a funny and loyal comrade. Rest in peace

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Bill Callaghan

Ian (Scouse) Farrell was a chuckle. I first met him in basic training in 1980. He and his father served at 208 (Liverpool) General Hospital (V) for some time and when I met Ian he had plummeted from TA Corporal to recruit. He took this with good grace and a sense of humour that became legendary. He was generous with his skills and experience; always willing to help out us true rookies with our kit or later on with our clinical training. He could run rings around some of the NCO’s appointed over him but always acted professionally.

Ian and I were posted to 6 Field Force Ambulance together in the Summer of 1980. His potential was quickly recognised and he soon made Medical Assistant Class 1 and Lance Corporal. My residual image of him is a small, curly haired, heavily moustached and dynamic fellow with bright eyes and a knowing grin. He had a scousers confidence and wit and was – at times – laughably image conscious but never vain. When asked why he spent so much time with the mirror his reply was; ‘Cos I ‘ave to!’ He had an aura; displayed by an enthusiasm for life and defined by his presence, life just felt better when he was around. It was something of an eternal quality, he seemed unquenchable; as if he would always be around, sadly that was an illusion. His life enriched those around him and his death was a shocking lesson in mortality for those who were privileged to know him.

He was killed on the RFA Sir Galahad and I understand from survivors I spoke to that he was close to the heart of the explosions and probably knew anything about it. Typically of Ian and poetic in a way; that in death as in life he was at the centre of action.

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Major Andrew (Elvis) Brayshaw RAMC/RAAMC (Retd)

During the Falklands War I was serving with 16 Field Ambulance part of 5 Brigade and lost two of my closest friends Lance Corporal Ian ‘Scouse’ Farrell and Private Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Preston along with 16 Field Ambulance’s Second in Command Major Roger Nutbeem on the 8^th June 1982 as a result of the bombing of the Sir Galahad at Bluff Cove. Amongst the 16^th Field Ambulance Class of 82 they are known as ‘The Boys”.

At the time of the Falklands War, me and Scouse, as most of us called him had been posted into 6 Field Force Field Ambulance, which later became 16 Field Ambulance for several years were in our final year at 16 Field Ambulance. In 1982 we were all due to be posted out to different medical units to gain more experience in various roles that Combat Medical Technicians undertake in the Army. We had gone through most of our basic and advanced medical training together and had become close friends. Scouse was a very likeable character with that typical Scouse humour. We were all accommodated in old prefabricated 12-man huts at Mons Barracks and would spend most weekends hanging around in the unit Mash Club or downtown Aldershot.

When the Sir Galahad was attacked Scouse along with Kenny were attached to the 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards as the Regimental Medic.   Prior to the attack I remember chatting with Scouse and Kenny in the hold of the ship when our Section Sergeant Chalky White told us we could go and have some hot food and a shower. As Scouse and Kenny were attached to the Welsh Guards they stayed in the hold. I will never forget the last words Scouse said to me as we moved towards the stairs. Running his hands through my hair he said, ‘See you later Elvis’. Elvis was the nickname I had been given when I joined the military as an Army Junior due to my obsession with Elvis. For years afterwards I would always freak out if anybody touched my hair.

Also stored in the hold was a large pile of ammunition and most of the Field Ambulance’s medical equipment and tentage when the bombs started landing. They never stood a chance. Scouse’s body remains in the hulk of the Sir Galahad along with all those other brave men that paid the ultimate price for Freedom. Just after the end of the following a Service on the deck of the Sir Tristram, that had also been bombed at Bluff Cove the Sir Galahad was towed away and sunk as a War Grave.

In 2027 I finally returned to the Falkland Islands and visited the memorials that have been established at Bluff Cove for the “Boys” and the Sir Galahad. During my visit I got to meet a niece of Scouse’s who was born years after the Falklands War and was now serving in the military and was posted to the military hospital at RAF Mount Pleasant at the time of my visit. She had only heard stories about her “Uncle Ian”. Its was an honour and a pleasure to chat to her about him and give her an insight to what her uncle was like as a soldier and a friend.

Every year no matter where I am in the world on the 8^th June I remember “The Boys” and visit the local Cenotaph to lay a wreath in remembrance to their memory. In 2002 for the 40^th Anniversary of the Falklands War I built a small “Garden of Remembrance” as my own personal place of Remembrance where I can pause and reflect on “The Boys”.

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Family and friends are encouraged to contribute.

We will add information to this memorial as we receive it.

If you have a photo, an anecdote, or simply to say you remember him, we will be very pleased to hear from you, so please contact the SAMA82 office at sama@sama82.org.uk