Terry Peck
Terence John Peck MBE CPM (2 August 1938 – 30 December 2006) was a member of the Falkland Islands Defence Force who during the 1982 Falklands War became a war hero by spying on the Argentine invaders, subsequently escaping to British lines, acting as a scout for 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, and taking part in the fighting for Mount Longdon.
On its approach it clipped telegraph poles, and on touching down the undercarriage sank into the soft ground bringing the aircraft to an immediate and jarring stop.
[6] Earlier that day, the aircraft had been hijacked whilst on an internal flight by Right-Wing Argentine nationalists, known as the Condor Group, who forced the crew to fly to the Falklands, apparently unaware there was then no airport.
[6] As a part of the negotiations, the 26 passengers of the plane were exchanged with seven islanders, including Peck and Captain Ian Martin, commanding a four-man Royal Marines detachment.
While serving in the police force, he displayed his characteristic courage and tenacity, on one occasion driving for 10 hours across the Camp to rescue a family whose house burnt down one Christmas.
Dowling, an Argentine of Irish origin who hated all things British, frequently overstepped his authority, ignoring instructions to treat the islanders with respect, and quickly became known for his tendency to resort to violence.
Increasingly unhappy in the role he found himself in, when he heard Dowling discussing the imminent arrest of Terry Peck he took the opportunity to warn his former boss.
Having prepared a possible escape plan for some time, Peck armed himself with a semi-automatic pistol, borrowed a motorbike from the garage of an expatriate and fled Stanley.
His first stop was Long Island Farm, home of Neil and Glenda Watson, where a party was in full swing celebrating the Queen's birthday.
A warm meal and a bath improved his mood, and with the help of other islanders he recovered weapons hidden by Royal Marines who escaped during the invasion.
[3] However, he considered the honorary membership conferred upon him by the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment the greater honour and wore his maroon beret and winged cap badge with great pride.
He continued to express his views in a forthright manner lambasting the British Government for the lack of aid and castigating Margaret Thatcher for allowing Argentines to visit the graves of their war dead.
As chairman of the local SAMA 82 group he worked tirelessly to organise the visits of British veterans coming to terms with their wartime experiences.
His son James became a well known artist in the islands, his work on the Falklands War reflecting the suffering of individual soldiers particularly the Argentine conscripts.
Peck gave his support and during his exhibition James met and befriended Miguel Savage, an Argentine Veteran of the Falklands War.
