Falklands veteran returns to the islands after 32 years

Falklands veteran Steve Butterworth returns to the islands after 32 years

Veteran Steve Butterworth served in the Falklands 32 years ago with the Royal Navy and recently, courtesy of a charity, made a return trip.

During the Falklands conflict Steve never got to set foot on the islands – having served on board HMS Intrepid.

His official job was a catering accountant, but during the day he was a medic patching up the wounded.

“When I returned home in 1982, post-traumatic stress disorder never affected me to any degree, although I saw some horrible things that happened to people from both sides and I can never forget the smells,” said Steve, 54, an outreach worker for ViC in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

On his return to the islands things were different.

“There were more positives than negatives,” he said. “The national flower of the Falklands is the Pale Maiden and on Mount Harriet there were thousands and I picked a bunch.

“I was told that they had a strong scent but it was so windy I couldn’t smell them, so I put them in my room and closed the door. When I returned later, my room was full of this beautiful aroma and that is now how I remember the Falkland Islands.”

Steve is a keen amateur artist and sketched a number of scenes while there. Since his return he has painted a large watercolour of capital Port Stanley, which he is giving to an islander he met.

He also has plans to paint a number of other pictures and write a poem about the flower to include in a presentation about the islands as they are now.

Steve also hopes to return in 2017 accompanied by his son Adam, 28, who also served in the Royal Navy and is re-training to be a teacher.

The six veterans on the trip, organised by the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA 82), had access to counsellors should issues arise.

“When we went to San Carlos it was a hard day because I could remember being on HMS Intrepid looking in,” said Steve.

“My best friend, who went on to be my best man, was on HMS Antelope when it was bombed in San Carlos Water. It later sank in the bay and I looked at where it sunk.

“We were in San Carlos Water when the injured from HMS Antelope were brought on board but my friend was not amongst them. I later found out he had been badly wounded but was treated elsewhere.

“Going back to the hills of San Carlos gave me time for reflection and contemplation.”

Steve joined the Navy at 16 and left just over seven years later. Since then he has had several different jobs, from working in a factory to being a cabinet maker, and was made redundant three times.

After suffering work-related depression, he found solace in art and became a member of Rossendale-based charity Veterans in Communities.