Paul's Story

On 4th April 1982, Paul’s regiment set sail on the Sir Geraint, a logistic landing ship. They were given an hour to call their families; Paul managed to reach his mum, apologising for not being able to come home as he was leaving for a while.

As they departed, apprehension mingled with excitement. But after seven weeks at sea, the reality of conflict loomed. At dawn on 21st May, they landed at San Carlos Water, with Paul’s unit among the first to disembark above Ajax Bay. Positioned on a hill, they could see the ships arriving.

Moments later, a spotter aircraft passed, and soon Argentinian Mirage jets attacked the fleet. Thrown into action, Paul rushed to set up the air defence, reacting swiftly to the chaos around him.

After the conflict, Paul returned to RAF Waddington, not realising the lasting impact it would have. Years later, he faced post-traumatic stress disorder. Ready to re-enter work, he contacted The Poppy Factory, where Employment Consultant Zarah helped him secure a role as a waste coordinator, drawing on his civilian experience.

Discover Paul’s full story here: https://www.poppyfactory.org/100-paul-clayton/