The Trustees of Clyde Naval Heritage would like to thank the following organisations for their kind lietters of support for our project:
HMS Hermes Association
Support for the Return of HMS Ambuscade to Glasgow for the Falklands War Museum
I am writing on behalf of the Hermes Association to express our unwavering support for the return of HMS Ambuscade from Pakistan to Glasgow, where she would become a central exhibit in a dedicated Falklands War museum. This initiative is not only of immense historical importance but also a significant step in preserving and honouring the legacy of those who served during the Falklands conflict.
HMS Ambuscade played a pivotal role during the Falklands War, providing critical support and demonstrating the courage and resilience of the Royal Navy. Her return to the United Kingdom, and specifically to Glasgow, is an opportunity to create a meaningful and educational space where future generations can learn about the sacrifices made and the strategic significance of this conflict in modern British history.
The Hermes Association, comprising of former naval personnel and the families of past named vessels, understand the profound impact that such a museum can have on public understanding and appreciation of naval history. We believe that HMS Ambuscade, as an integral part of the Falklands War, would serve as a powerful symbol of our naval heritage and a testament to the bravery of those who served.
Moreover, the establishment of a dedicated Falklands War museum in Glasgow would provide a unique platform for veterans to share their stories, for historians to conduct research, and for the public to engage with a crucial chapter of our national history. It would also contribute to the local economy by attracting tourists, scholars, and history enthusiasts from around the world.
We strongly advocate for the necessary diplomatic and logistical efforts to be undertaken to facilitate the return of HMS Ambuscade.
The return of HMS Ambuscade to Glasgow is a cause that aligns with our mission to preserve and promote naval history. We wholeheartedly support this initiative and look forward to seeing HMS Ambuscade take her rightful place as a centrepiece in the Falklands War museum.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Yours sincerely,
Carol Marshall
Chairperson
HMS Hermes Association
South Atlantic Medal Association (Falkland Islands)
I am writing on behalf of the South Atlantic Medal Association of the Falkland Islands to express our wholehearted support for the initiative to repatriate HMS Ambuscade from Pakistan to Glasgow. We understand that this esteemed vessel is set to become a part of a dedicated museum commemorating the Falklands War, and we believe this endeavour is of significant historical and educational value.
HMS Ambuscade holds a distinguished place in the annals of naval history, particularly for her role in the 1982 Falklands War. Her service during the conflict is a testament to the bravery, resilience, and dedication of her crew and, by extension, to all who participated in the campaign to liberate the Falkland Islands. The vessel’s presence in a museum dedicated to the Falklands War would provide a tangible and powerful connection to this pivotal chapter in our history.
As members of the South Atlantic Medal Association FI, we represent veterans and families directly impacted by the Falklands War. The repatriation and preservation of HMS Ambuscade would serve as a lasting tribute to those who served and sacrificed during the conflict. It would offer an invaluable resource for education, allowing future generations to gain a deeper understanding of the events of 1982 and the enduring significance of the Falkland Islands.
The proposed museum in Glasgow presents a unique opportunity to honour the legacy of HMS Ambuscade and to ensure that the stories of courage and commitment associated with the Falklands War are preserved for posterity. We believe that the museum will not only serve as a memorial but also as a place of learning and reflection, fostering greater awareness of the historical and strategic importance of the Falkland Islands.
We extend our full support to the efforts of all parties involved in the repatriation of HMS Ambuscade. We are confident that her return will be met with widespread approval and will greatly enhance the narrative of the Falklands War within the broader context of British naval history.
Thank you for considering our perspective. We look forward to the successful realization of this important project and stand ready to assist in any way we can.
Yours sincerely,
Gary Clement MBE
Chairman
South Atlantic Medal Association FI
Falkland Islands
Glasgow City Council
Councillor Ruairi Kelly
Scottish National Party
North East – Ward 21
Dear Sir /Madam,
RE: Clyde Naval Heritage: HMS Ambuscade#
Clyde Naval Heritage have met with representatives from Glasgow City Council and outlined
their ambition to repatriate the naval vessel HMS Ambuscade as the centrepiece of a proposed
visitor attraction on the Clyde.
Although the Council is not the owner of any of the berthing locations under consideration, we
recognise the potential benefits of the project and are happy to offer in principle support
required to initiate discussions with the Port Authority.
It is hoped that dialogue will establish the technical viability of potential berthing locations
allowing discussion with the relevant landowners and the preparation of an options appraisal
as part of a robust business case.
Best wishes
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
Falkland Islands Government
Office of the Legislative Assembly
Gilbert House, Ross Road
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Dear Mr O’Neill,
We read with interest news that you are behind plans to open a dedicated museum focussing on the ship
building heritage on the Clyde and the Falklands War.
On 02 April 1982 our home was illegally invaded by Argentine Forces and the proceeding war of liberation cost
the lives of 255 UK service personnel and three Falkland Islanders.
Across the Falkland Islands, from Invasion Day to Liberation Day, we mark the key events of that War, as we
have done each and every year since 1982. But this is not routine, tired ritual. It is real and meaningful
because we are deeply aware of the price paid by so many in the liberation of the Islands, and 42 years on, the
gratitude we feel has not dimmed.
However, in the UK, for many, this may not be the case, and polling undertaken at the time of the 40th
anniversary demonstrated a worrying lack of knowledge about the Falklands War. With more than half of the
UK population now born after 1982, the need to counter this lack of knowledge and to make people aware of
what the UK did to liberate the Falkland Islands from illegal occupation and to protect UK sovereignty is more
important now than ever. We therefore welcome the creation of a museum that will be able to educate
people, not just about the Falklands War, but also the modern Falkland Islands and the people that call them
home.
Today, the Falkland Islands are internally self-governing and self-sufficient in all areas apart from defence. Our
relationship with the UK is a modern and mutually beneficial partnership based on the principle of selfdetermination.
Islanders enjoy a good quality of life, with growing resources devoted to health, education, and preserving and
enhancing the environment.
None of the positive developments that have taken place in the Islands over the last 40 years would have been
possible without the sacrifices made by so many in 1982.
Given the strong and historic links between the Falkland Islands and Scotland, it is fitting that this museum is
planned to be based on the Clyde. We also understand that you are in the process of establishing a working
relationship with our own Historic Dockyard Museum.
We wish you and your colleagues every success and look forward to visiting the museum once it is open.
Yours sincerely.
‘
The Hon Peter Biggs MLA
On behalf of Members of the Legislative Assembly
Dr Dominic Tweddle
Saving HMS Ambuscade
There has been a Royal Navy in some guise since before the Norman conquest. Over the last millennium, tens of thousands of ships have been built, used, lost in service or broken up at the end their lives.
Of all of those tens of thousands of naval ships only fourteen major vessels now survive ranging from HMS Victory (1759) , the earliest survivor, to HMS Ocelot (1960) as the latest. Sadly HMS Plymouth, HMS Onyx and HMS Bristol have all been lost recently. Of these fourteen ships, only five survive to recall naval service, loss and destruction in the century following World War I, and only one to mark the seventy years or so since the end of the Korean War.
Since the end of World War I, tens of thousands of men and women in the Royal Navy have served and fought for their country. Many thousands perished. And it is important not to to forget family and friends of service men and women, who also sacrificed much that they might serve. Ships are not just things, they represent and commemorate people, they are the psychological bridge between us living our lives now and our predecessors living in these circumscribed and disciplined communities. Living, fighting and dying that we may enjoy our lives.
To commemorate them appropriately, we need to start to fill the gaps in our national collection of warships while it is still possible. The Wellington Trust is fighting to preserve the last British convoy escort from the vital Battle of The Atlantic. Clyde Naval Heritage fights to preserve HMS Ambuscade, the last survivor of the Falklands campaign, the most import naval campaign of the late twentieth century. We cannot stand by and see either of them lost. We cannot keep saying over and over again ‘at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them’ and then promptly forgetting. Soon there may be nothing tangible left to see and touch, and then all memory will fade and die.
We stand united to commemorate and celebrate the achievements of the twentieth and twenty first century Royal Navy.
Kind regards
Dominic
Dr Dominic Tweddle
Recently Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy
Chairman, Wellington Trust
