Tommy Turtle

[1] On the night of 22 April, with 17 Troop of 22 SAS, D Squadron, Turtle took part in the reconnaissance phase of Operation Paraquet, a combined action to recover South Georgia.

Among other deployments, five Gemini rigid inflatable boats from HMS Antrim were used to get soldiers of Turtle's Troop onto Grass Island.

They reported no Argentine activity, then signalled an SOS to HMS Endurance, which was steaming into Stromness Bay, to be airlifted out the next day by the ship's Westland Wasp helicopter.

[1] After the Falklands, Turtle joined 21 SAS (Volunteers) as an instructor, before returning to a long Royal Irish Rangers posting in Northern Ireland,[1] where in June 1983 he was an Acting Sergeant and was mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished service between November 1982 and January 1983.

[3] In October 1988, while serving as a staff sergeant in the Royal Irish Rangers, he was awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) for meritorious service in Northern Ireland.

[7][9] An obituary said of him that he was "a tall, strongly built Irishman possessed of good looks, charm, a gentle brogue and a genial but resolute disposition.