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A Falklands Family at War: Diaries of the 1982 Conflict
Many military accounts of the British side of the Falklands War have been published as well as memoirs written by servicemen who took part, so this aspect of the story of the Argentine occupation and the British liberation of this remote territory in the South Atlantic is well known. But little attention has been paid to the Falkland islanders who had direct personal experience of this extraordinary crisis in their history. That is why the previously unpublished diaries of Neville Bennett and his wife Valerie, a fireman and a nurse who lived with their two daughters in Port Stanley throughout the war, is such vivid and revealing reading.
As chief fireman Neville was frequently called out to deal with fires and other incidents during the occupation, and each day he recorded what happened and what he thought about it in his sharp and forthright way. Valerie saw a different side of the occupation through her work at the Stanley hospital where she had to handle the Argentines as well as daily accidents and emergencies.
Their joint record of the exceptional circumstances in the Falklands in April, May and June 1982 gives us a fascinating inside view of family life during the occupation and of their relations with the Argentine soldiers and commanders. It is engrossing reading.
As chief fireman Neville was frequently called out to deal with fires and other incidents during the occupation, and each day he recorded what happened and what he thought about it in his sharp and forthright way. Valerie saw a different side of the occupation through her work at the Stanley hospital where she had to handle the Argentines as well as daily accidents and emergencies.
Their joint record of the exceptional circumstances in the Falklands in April, May and June 1982 gives us a fascinating inside view of family life during the occupation and of their relations with the Argentine soldiers and commanders. It is engrossing reading.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published June 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 21, 2021
thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review
insightful diary of events and postscript of events of april to june 1982 with the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands written by a couple living through it all
insightful diary of events and postscript of events of april to june 1982 with the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands written by a couple living through it all
May 6, 2021
It’s hard to believe that it is almost 40 years since the Falklands conflict, something I remember being in the news & yet I was slightly too young to really understand it. I was almost the same age as Rachel Bennett, a young girl who lived in Stanley in 1982, with her sister Isobel & her parents.
This is the story of the Bennett Family, told through the diaries of mum Valerie, a nurse at the local hospital, and dad Neville who was part of the local fireservice and general all round handyman. The diaries have been collated by Rachel, and at times her own recollections have been added which add a new dimension.
The diaries were an interesting mix of the very ordinary/mundane (eg the washing machine breaking down) and the unique insight that can only come from living through such an experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them, discovering the “inside story” of daily life in the Falklands from a civilian’s perspective.
The “Argies” are most definitely seen as the enemy, yet I think they have been fairly portrayed – some were unpleasant but others are described as quite pleasant and simply doing their jobs. In fact at the end of the war, there was genuine astonishment that some of the properties that had been taken over were left immaculate upon their departure.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book & highly recommend it to anyone who remembers hearing about the conflict as it gives a really unique insight into what life was like for the ordinary people caught up in the conflict.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#AFalklandsFamilyatWar #NetGalley @penandswordbooks
This is the story of the Bennett Family, told through the diaries of mum Valerie, a nurse at the local hospital, and dad Neville who was part of the local fireservice and general all round handyman. The diaries have been collated by Rachel, and at times her own recollections have been added which add a new dimension.
The diaries were an interesting mix of the very ordinary/mundane (eg the washing machine breaking down) and the unique insight that can only come from living through such an experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them, discovering the “inside story” of daily life in the Falklands from a civilian’s perspective.
The “Argies” are most definitely seen as the enemy, yet I think they have been fairly portrayed – some were unpleasant but others are described as quite pleasant and simply doing their jobs. In fact at the end of the war, there was genuine astonishment that some of the properties that had been taken over were left immaculate upon their departure.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book & highly recommend it to anyone who remembers hearing about the conflict as it gives a really unique insight into what life was like for the ordinary people caught up in the conflict.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#AFalklandsFamilyatWar #NetGalley @penandswordbooks
January 4, 2022
The Falklands War is something I should know more about, but sadly am pretty ignorant on aside from the absolute basics. I was born in 1982, and am in the United States, so I don’t have the cultural memories of the conflict in any way shape or form. However, watching as much UK-based media as I do, the topic routinely comes up, so being more well-informed is always a nice thing. For those on my page that are unaware, the short version of the events are: Argentina was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1981-2. During this time, patriotism was whipped up to such a degree that the long-disputed territorial claims for islands around Argentina became fair game for pollical gain. After diplomacy failed, Argentina invaded the Falklands and a few other small islands and set up ten weeks of harsh military rule on the islanders, many of which had ancestors migrate to the islands 100 years prior. After enduring months of naval and land defeats against Britain’s far more well-equipped armed forces, Argentina surrendered to Great Britain, ending the Falklands War.
“Many military accounts of the British side of the Falklands War have been published as well as memoirs written by servicemen who took part, so this aspect of the story of the Argentine occupation and the British liberation of this remote territory in the South Atlantic is well known. But little attention has been paid to the Falkland islanders who had direct personal experience of this extraordinary crisis in their history. That is why the previously unpublished diaries of Neville Bennett and his wife Valerie, a fireman and a nurse who lived with their two daughters in Port Stanley throughout the war, is such vivid and revealing reading.
As chief fireman Neville was frequently called out to deal with fires and other incidents during the occupation, and each day he recorded what happened and what he thought about it in his sharp and forthright way. Valerie saw a different side of the occupation through her work at the Stanley hospital where she had to handle the Argentines as well as daily accidents and emergencies.
Their joint record of the exceptional circumstances in the Falklands in April, May and June 1982 gives us a fascinating inside view of family life during the occupation and of their relations with the Argentine soldiers and commanders. It is engrossing reading.”
This book is a series of diary entries that the editor, Rachel Simmons, put together from diaries her parents had kept during the war. At the time she was a very young girl and has limited recollection of most of the events. Her parents did a great job of keeping the children safe while a full-on warzone was going on outside. Valerie, the mother, was a nurse in the local hospital, and Neville, her father, was a fireman. The entries alternate between harrowing accounts of being dragged through the street with armed guards, to mundane weather reports and the like. It goes to show that Neville and Valerie tried their best to just live their life as if they wouldn’t be shot at any minute for disparaging the nations flag, or saying bad things about the Junta leadership.
Overall, this was a very interesting book. Generally one reads war accounts from the POV of a military officer separated from the actual combat and situation on the ground. Even so, we rarely get an account from the normal everyday people enduring the hardships of something like a military occupation. I think Holocaust memoirs may be the only exception. I may have to get a book related to some of the battles in this war, as the history seems very interesting for something most seem to have completely forgotten about. Over here, we had the Invasion of Grenada, another war that I never hear anyone discuss – maybe that will be another topic to look into. Pen and Sword once again delivers an interesting history book on a topic you don’t see too often – great work as always!
NOTE: I received a free preliminary, and likely unedited copy of this book from Netgalley for the purposes of providing an honest, unbiased review of the material. Thank you to all involved.
“Many military accounts of the British side of the Falklands War have been published as well as memoirs written by servicemen who took part, so this aspect of the story of the Argentine occupation and the British liberation of this remote territory in the South Atlantic is well known. But little attention has been paid to the Falkland islanders who had direct personal experience of this extraordinary crisis in their history. That is why the previously unpublished diaries of Neville Bennett and his wife Valerie, a fireman and a nurse who lived with their two daughters in Port Stanley throughout the war, is such vivid and revealing reading.
As chief fireman Neville was frequently called out to deal with fires and other incidents during the occupation, and each day he recorded what happened and what he thought about it in his sharp and forthright way. Valerie saw a different side of the occupation through her work at the Stanley hospital where she had to handle the Argentines as well as daily accidents and emergencies.
Their joint record of the exceptional circumstances in the Falklands in April, May and June 1982 gives us a fascinating inside view of family life during the occupation and of their relations with the Argentine soldiers and commanders. It is engrossing reading.”
This book is a series of diary entries that the editor, Rachel Simmons, put together from diaries her parents had kept during the war. At the time she was a very young girl and has limited recollection of most of the events. Her parents did a great job of keeping the children safe while a full-on warzone was going on outside. Valerie, the mother, was a nurse in the local hospital, and Neville, her father, was a fireman. The entries alternate between harrowing accounts of being dragged through the street with armed guards, to mundane weather reports and the like. It goes to show that Neville and Valerie tried their best to just live their life as if they wouldn’t be shot at any minute for disparaging the nations flag, or saying bad things about the Junta leadership.
Overall, this was a very interesting book. Generally one reads war accounts from the POV of a military officer separated from the actual combat and situation on the ground. Even so, we rarely get an account from the normal everyday people enduring the hardships of something like a military occupation. I think Holocaust memoirs may be the only exception. I may have to get a book related to some of the battles in this war, as the history seems very interesting for something most seem to have completely forgotten about. Over here, we had the Invasion of Grenada, another war that I never hear anyone discuss – maybe that will be another topic to look into. Pen and Sword once again delivers an interesting history book on a topic you don’t see too often – great work as always!
NOTE: I received a free preliminary, and likely unedited copy of this book from Netgalley for the purposes of providing an honest, unbiased review of the material. Thank you to all involved.
November 11, 2025
Interesting perspective of an invading force.
A very well put together account of what it was like icing and working in the Falkland Islands during the ‘82 invasion.
The accounts were well balanced and felt very honest. Not overly biased to either side helping paint a true representation of what life was like. Plenty of humour throughout as well, and some unbelievable moments.
It also provides a good look at the life and mindset of the Falklands population
The inputs from Rachel and annotations throughly help complete the story.
The pictures, map, and description of locations help you learn your way round town to further build a picture of the community.
Great read for anyone interested in the Falkland Islands, especially if you have been for a visit.
A very well put together account of what it was like icing and working in the Falkland Islands during the ‘82 invasion.
The accounts were well balanced and felt very honest. Not overly biased to either side helping paint a true representation of what life was like. Plenty of humour throughout as well, and some unbelievable moments.
It also provides a good look at the life and mindset of the Falklands population
The inputs from Rachel and annotations throughly help complete the story.
The pictures, map, and description of locations help you learn your way round town to further build a picture of the community.
Great read for anyone interested in the Falkland Islands, especially if you have been for a visit.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews