Hird ‘privileged’ to give Falklands War commemoration a lift
A Hird mobile crane has been used to lift two helicopters into place for an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the ending of the Falklands conflict.
Hird donated the use of the crane and lifting team to support the display in Queen’s Gardens in Hull, East Yorkshire, on Saturday 18 June.
The company’s 60-tonne Liebherr LTM1060 3.1 mobile crane, operated by Craig Jessop, was used to lift two Royal Navy helicopters, a Lynx and a Gazelle, from lorries.
The lift was planned and managed by Hird Appointed Person Richie Farrar, who served in the Royal Navy.
The commemoration event, opened by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Christine Randall, included displays by the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Airforce, as well as veterans organisations, including Hull 4 Heroes and the Royal British Legion.
Hird stepped in to help with the lift after receiving a call from Hull 4 Heroes Chairman Paul Matson.
Hird Managing Director Phil Hird said: “We felt privileged to help Hull 4 Heroes and all the other groups organising the commemoration.
“Hundreds of British service personnel were killed and many more were injured during the Falklands Conflict.
“Thousands of veterans, along with their families and loved-ones, are still deeply affected by the conflict to this day.
“We owe them all a debt of gratitude and huge respect for willingly serving their country and upholding the wishes and rights of the people of the Falkland Islands.”
A commemoration service was also held at Hull Minster followed by a parade from Hull Minster to the Cenotaph, led by The Royal Marines Band of Scotland.
The 10-week-long Falklands conflict – war was not declared by either side – took place in 1982 after Argentina, under dictator General Leopoldo Galtieri, sent in armed forces to seize the islands.
Britain sent a taskforce to retake the island, a task completed on June 20 1982 with acceptance of the surrender of Argentinian forces on the South Sandwich Islands.
In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the conflict.
