(Article reproduced from Navy News July 1982)
The gallant fighting end for HMS Coventry came after nearly a month in the Falklands battle area under constant threat. But not before she had accounted for seven fighter-bombers, a troop-carrying helicopter and a patrol craft.

Said her commanding officer, Capt. David Hart-Dyke, as he and other survivors neared home in the Queen Elizabeth 2, " To me the ship's company will always be my heroes. I know each one of them and I shall never forget them. They did much more than their best continuously for the last two months of the ship's life."

During the time they were in the battle zone and under threat they remained alert, calm, cheerful and utterly devoted to the ship and each other. When the ship was hit and turned over their bravery was remarkable.
Tragically, 19 men lost their lives and 25 were injured.

In this final attack two aircraft came in very low and the Coventry was strafed by cannon fire and hit by three bombs. She too k a heavy list to port of 50 degrees within five minutes and capsized about 15 minutes later.
The abandoning of the ship was orderly and well-disciplined as 275 survivors, including the injured, jumped into the freezing sea and swam to the liferafts.

Arrival of boats from HMS Broadsword and helicopters from Falkland Sound resulted in the recovery of the survivors in the water and the liferafts within 90 minutes. Some of the injured were taken to the hospital ship Uganda.

As a parting tribute to the part played by the Broadsword, the Coventry survivors let out three resounding cheers for the rescuers which, it is reported, shattered the still blackness of the bridgehead in the Sound (known as Bomb Alley). This occurred as RM landing craft bore them away to the RFA Fort Austin.

Survivors then went to RFA Stromness before transfer to the QE2, and 255 of them came home in style in the liner with survivors from other ships.

In the QE2, as she neared Southampton, Capt. Hart-Dyke. Still showing the marks of flash burns (his protective gear was blown off), paid great tribute to his men.

When the three bombs went in and exploded a large part of the side of the ship was blown out and fires started, he said.

The ship was clearly about to roll over, but there was calm and discipline, with men putting liferafts in the water and helping each other put on survival suits.

With the ship's list of 50 to 60 degrees, Capt. Hart-Dyke walked down the side of the ship and was punctured.

"A lot of men saved a lot of people by being very brave that day," he said.

Capt. Hart-Dyke paid tribute to the Broadsword for her help while still heavily engaged. He also expressed thanks for the tremendous support received from home.

For those who did not return there was this touching tribute, " We will never forget our lost friends who also contributed so much to the battle."

ROLL OF HONOUR
The 19 name on the roll of honour of HMS Coventry's ship's company members who died on active service are:
Frank Armes(21). MEM(M). Norwich
John Caddy(34). ACWEA. Eastleigh
Paul Callus(24). MEA(M)1. Emsworth
Stephen Dawson(23). APOCA. Scunthorpe.
John Dobson(20). AWEM(R)1. Exeter
Michael Fowler(36). PO(S). Southsea
Ian Hall(22). WEM(O). Cowley
Rodney Heath(34). Lieut. Gosport
David Ozbrin(33). AWEMN1. Bishop's Waltham
Glen Robison-Moltke(37). Lieut-Cdr. Petersfield
Bernard Still(26). LRO. Co. Laoise, Eire
Geoffrey Stockwell(25). MEA2. Herne Bay
David Strickland(29). AWEA1. Harrow
Adrian Sunderland(18). AB(EW). Sherborne
Stephen Tonkin(20). MEM(M)2. Sheffield.
Ian Turnbull(17). ACK. Hartlepool
Philip White(26). AWEA2. Pangbourne
Ian Williams(21). WLA App. South Wirral
Kyo Ben Kwo, Shukiwan, Hong Kong.