Kenneth Preston

Ken was born on September 16th, 1961 at St Helens in Merseyside, where his family still reside. Eight years later, his brother Nigel arrived, by which time Ken was attending the local parish school. From there he moved on to the Central High School, where his athletic interests centred around running and swimming. Since his other passion was the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, it was perhaps inevitable that he would join the Army and elect to serve with the Royal Army Medical Corps. That is exactly what he did, completing training at Keogh Barracks in Aldershot and then serving with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany for the next three years.

While he was on leave in Easter 1982, he was recalled to duty and service with the 16th Field Ambulance attached to 5 Infantry Brigade, training initially in helicopter casualty evacuation. He was then assigned directly to the medical section of the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards, sailing with them in the QE2 from England, and transferring to the liner Canberra in South Georgia for the final leg to the Falklands. Shortly after arrival there, the unit embarked in the RFA Sir Galahad. While still unloading near Fitzroy, the logistic landing ship was attacked by Argentine fighter bombers and set on fire. Along with two other members of his unit, and nearly fifty Welsh Guardsmen, Ken Preston was killed. His body remains with those of his comrades, in the hulk of the Sir Galahad, which was subsequently towed out to sea and sunk as a war grave.

There is a plaque in his honour positioned in St Thomas’s Church in St Helens; his parents are still alive. Brother Nigel married Anne Marie and now have a baby son Joseph, a nephew that Ken will never know.

Ken will always be loved and sadly missed.

The chain of treasured memories is never broken.

Locked in our hearts for ever.

Mum, Dad, brother Nige, Anne Marie, baby Joe.

I served with Kenny at 16 Field – Kenny was a very likable chap, Kenny was babysitter to my first born. We were both attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

How I survived and Kenny didn’t, I’ll never know. I’ll never forget that day, a constant reminder of Kenny, Ian and Major Nutbeem

David Payne

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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, I had been in 16 Field Ambulance since January 1979 whilst Kenny, as most of us called him didn’t join the unit until early 1982. Although Kenny had only been in the unit a short time before we deployed to the Falklands, we had become good friend. Like all medics back then it didn’t take long for bonds of friendship to form between old and new members of the unit. Even today for those of us that are still around these bonds of friendship are still tight.

When the Sir Galahad was attacked Kenny along with Scouse were attached to the 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards as the Regimental Medic.   Prior to the attack I remember chatting with Kenny and Scouse in the hold of the ship. We were all having a good chat about what we had seen over the past few days since disembarking in the Falklands when our Section Sergeant Chalky White told us we could go and have some hot food and a shower. As Kenny and Scouse were attached to the Welsh Guards they stayed in the hold. Little was I to know that would be the last time I would see Kenny and Scouse.

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. Kenny’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.

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”.

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

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 sama office at [email protected] 

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