YOMP 2012
“Print this out (A4) size and hand them out“
In Their Father’s and Brother’s Footsteps
On the night of 11/12 June 1982 two Royal Marines, Corporal Frank Spencer and Marine Gordon MacPherson of Zulu Company, 45 Commando Group, were killed during the night attack on Two Sisters in the Falkland Islands.
In May 2012 Simon and Gareth Spencer, the sons of Corporal Spencer, David MacPherson, the brother of Marine MacPherson, Mike Cole, Zulu Company Commander in 1982, and Colour Sergeant Trevor Law, a Royal Marine Mountain Leader serving in the Falkland Islands, will yomp the original 45 Commando route across East Falkland from Port San Carlos to Stanley, paying their respects at Two Sisters.
The distance from Port San Carlos to Stanley is 120 kilometres. We will be marching during the Falkland Islands winter, which is a challenge in itself, and sleeping either in tents or sheep sheds. The terrain is difficult – tussock grass, rock runs, boggy, mountainous and very exposed. We will need to carry kit and food sufficient for 6/7 days.
The idea for the yomp came originally from Simon Spencer. He, Gareth and David see this as an opportunity to honour the memory of their father and brother, and to better understand what they went through in 1982 by walking in their footsteps. It will be especially important for them to complete the last leg from Two Sisters to Stanley.
We will be collecting primarily for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, whose purpose is to support serving and retired Royal Marines and their dependants who are in need. The fund concentrates particularly on supporting Royal Marines with service limiting injuries who have to start a new life outside the Corps. We will also be making a contribution to the South Atlantic Medal Association (Falkland Islands), who have kindly sponsored our flights, so that in the future the dependants of other veterans may also be able to visit the Islands.
All funds raised will go to the RMCTF and SAMA (Falkland Islands). We will be grateful for any donation, however small. Please make your donation below. Thank you.
