Moron & C##t or....

[GINGE]

MOORE & HUNT

Major Genarel JJ Moore MC RM and Lt Col Malcolm Hunt RM.

What was said between these two (1982 Falkland Island )
We all know that thay had had a falling out but how bad was it .
Lt Col's Nick Vaux 42 Cdo & Andrew Whitehead 45 Cdo both picked up a nice Distinguished Service Order for there part every ships captain got a medal even the Jocks Col got one , but not our man Lt Col Hunt RM.

I think he was wrong , no not Lt Col Hunt, this man:
Left a commando unit in the rear and took what turned out to be a real F##K up forward The Welsh Guards. Those of us that were there know what I mean. After the Welsh Guards were hit real bad ,a young Welsh Guards NCO, with quite bad burns, said to me as he was waiting to see Doc Jolly and his Red & Green Life Machine and I quote " I can't wait to get back to Buck House and do some real soldiering" The Welsh were not that bad as soldiers go , just bad leaders, sat on the ship just to long. (2IC decision I believe).
So what did our man Malcolm say. Any HQ Bootys, Sigs etc, there when the two of them had there little fall out.Most of the boys from 40 Cdo got forward in the end but thay would of been my first choice to be at the sharp end not my last , CHEERS JJ. Am I OK doing this May be the big picture said it was better to have a Commando Unit in reserve, may be JJ could let the men of the Light Blue Lanyard 1982 know,

[Sisyphus]

The RM major who strongly and forcibly advised disembarkation (was it Southby-Tailyour? -spelling/name????) is known to the world in general [well, maybe not to me!]

But who was the Welsh Guards' Lt Colonel who wouldn't take advise from a mere major (and a Royal Marine, not a Guardsman, at that!)

Does anyone know his name and what happened to him?

[harry hackedoff]

It`s in Ewen Southby Tailyour`s book "Reasons In Writing"
Been some time since I read it, I shall dig it out and get back to you later on this week.
E ST spent some time sailing a yacht around the FI prior to 82 and was able to help the int with many phots and sketches of possible beach heads, etc. On leaving the Corps, he ran a yacht charter, specialising in Arctic charters. Currently producing a book about "Fearless", clock this.
www.militaryforums.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2600
That`s not an attemp to hijack GINGE`s thread, by the way.

Any HQ Bootys, Sigs etc, there when the two of them had there little fall out.

Aye,

[Rogue Chef]

Ahoy there!
While time has eroded my memory somewhat and Malcolm Hunts words seem to ring truer by the day (ie. when asked by Cpl Dave Harris if 40 Cdo were to be involved in the 'big push' on Stanley, the CO replied that we were not, but that we would still have a major role to play. He added that we shouldn't be too disappointed because in years to come every time we retold our war stories, the bombs landed a little closer etc).
I digress.
On the way back home I seem to remember being told that Julian Thompson (a former CO of 40 Cdo, and allegedly his favourite unit) had stated that it was his decision to leave 40 Cdo behind, reasoning that at the time there was a very real threat to San Carlos and Port San Carlos, so he needed a capable unit that he trusted to protect the rear, as the main part of the Brigade advanced on Stanley.
When we returned to Seaton Barracks after leave, Colonel Hunt had a clear lower deck, where he commented that he felt that it was an insult to 40 Cdo's efforts that he had not been recognised in the honours. He reassured the unit that in his opinion 40 Cdo had done it's bit just as much as any other unit. He then asserted that 40 would demonstrate it's prowess by its achievements on the sports fields and that we would receive his full support. 40 Cdo did quite well that year especially at the boxing, which the CO was determined to win.
Anyone who remembers anything different please comment.

[Chris B]

Like everyone else who has an affection for 40 I think it would be good to get at the truth of this one. I heard the rumours that someone (believed to be JJ) wanted a unit he could trust back at the beach-head because of the threat from an Argentina-based para brigade. Further rumour abounded that they got as far as boarding the aircraft on two or three occasions with the intent of taking out our rear (steady in the ranks!!). Not sure why they didn't make it, but let's be right, the Argies weren't the best tacticians in the history of military conflict, now, were they?
As for the row between JJ and Malcolm Hunt, that would be good to see. It is documented (somewhere) that Julian Thompson considered Malcolm Hunt one of the best military tacticians he had ever known, so what is the truth?
From all the Prisoners of War, San Carlos - "Cheers JJ "

[exvmremf]

I was 40 Anti-tanks down south and before we were sent to join 45 (They lost some of the troop + Milans in the attack on ajax bay) we were called to the CO's HQ for a pep talk.
I clearly remember Malcolm Hunt spitting venom that we were probably the only ones from the unit who were likely to see any action and that we were to make sure we killed loads of Argies. The RSM (Gus Pearson, sadly died recently) added with equal venom, "Make sure you kill the F*****g generals".
I took the hint that the unit had been unceremoniously shat upon from the proverbial great height.

Malcolm Hunt is a leading light with SAMA and will be at the cenotaph in November.