South Atlantic Medal 1982 with rosette on ribbon awarded to Marine Engineering Mechanic (Electrical) G.J. Kearnon, Royal Navy alongside it’s cardboard box of issue. Kearnon was present during the Falklands War in the South Atlantic in 1982 seeing service aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier and flagship HMS Hermes.
South Atlantic Medal 1982 with rosette on ribbon; (MEM(L)2 G J KEARNON D184727J HMS HERMES) mounted loose for wear and with the original cardboard box of issue.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Awarded to Marine Engineering Mechanic (Electrical) (No. D184727J) G.J. Kearnon, Royal Navy who was present aboard the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier and flagship HMS Hermes during the Falklands War in the South Atlantic
Hermes was due to be decommissioned in 1982 after a 1981 defence review (that would have made the Royal Navy considerably smaller) by the British government, but when the Falklands War broke out, she was made the flagship of the British forces, setting sail for the South Atlantic just three days after the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. She sailed for the Falklands with an airgroup of 12 Sea Harrier FRS1 attack aircraft of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, and 18 Sea King helicopters. A few weeks after sailing, more aircraft were flown or transported via other ships to replace some losses and augment the task force. Hermes's air group grew to 16 Sea Harriers, 10 Harrier GR3s of the Royal Air Force, and 10 Sea Kings (after some of the helicopters were dispersed to other ships) as well as a troop of Special Air Service and Royal Marines. As she was the RN's largest carrier, she was considered too valuable to risk close into the Falklands, due to the possibility of Argentine air force attacks. Her Harriers therefore operated at the limit of their endurance radius but were very successful in keeping the enemy aircraft at bay.
