Bomb Alley survivor Charlie Thelfall is to talk about his experiences during the Falklands War at Bembridge Methodist Church tomorrow night (Thursday, June 30).

Charlie, who grew up in Bembridge, started Royal Navy training when he was 17.

Having grown up on the Isle of Wight he had been inspired by the naval ships he saw from the beach as a child. 

"When I started my Royal Navy training, I didn’t expect to be involved in a major conflict just 18 months later," he said.

Isle of Wight County Press: HMS Broadsword (left) alongside HMS Hermes during the Falklands War, 1982. Photo: Imperial War Museum (www.iwm.org.uk).HMS Broadsword (left) alongside HMS Hermes during the Falklands War, 1982. Photo: Imperial War Museum (www.iwm.org.uk).

During the Falklands conflict, San Carlos Water was a key battle ground which became known as ‘Bomb Alley’ due to repeated attacks from Argentine aircraft on British Task Force ships.

Charlie said: "By May 4, an Argentinian Exocet missile had already sunk HMS Sheffield – the first Royal Navy warship to have been lost in combat since the Second World War – and a schoolfriend from my road at home had died."

Charlie arrived in San Carlos Water on May 21, and his ship, HMS Broadsword, came under immediate attack.

"There were around 35 air attacks that first day, we took multiple cannon hits and 14 of our crew were injured," he said.

Between May 21 and 25, 1982, three Royal Navy ships were sunk – HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope and HMS Coventry.

The loss of the HMS Coventry on May 25 is a moment that has stuck with Charlie.

Both the HMS Broadsword and HMS Coventry came under attack on the day, but the bomb that hit Charlie’s ship didn’t explode.

"On the first pass from two of the aircraft, they put a 1,000lb (450kg) bomb into our back end, which, luckily, didn’t go off," he explained.

"But HMS Coventry wasn’t so lucky – she was hit by the second two aircraft and went down almost immediately. We put scrambling nets over the side and all our boats in the water – we rescued 170 crew."

"I can still clearly remember the sight of Coventry heeling over. It was horrendous."

"By bizarre coincidence, my next-door neighbour was serving on HMS Coventry, and later that evening, we met down in the mess deck.

"In the Falklands task force, there had been four of us from our tiny little road at home – me, my neighbour, the lad from HMS Sheffield and a Sea Harrier pilot, who was older than us."

Charlie, who now lives on the mainland, concluded: "I have done these talks for more than 20 years to many and varied audiences, but I am really looking forward to speaking to the residents of the village in which I grew up. 

  • The talk, which has been organised by Bembridge Heritage, will start at the methodist church at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome, entry is £3, or members are free.

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