A VETERAN of the Falklands War has spoken of his experience of returning to the islands for the first time since the conflict ended.

Glen Haley, from Bournemouth, served in 45 Commando Royal Marines during the 1982 war, where the forces of General Galtieri's Argentina invaded the islands and neighbouring South Georgia but were driven off after 74 days by a British task force.

Last month the 58-year-old took up the opportunity provided by the Falklands Veterans Foundation to return to the islands, saying he wanted to "see what my comrades gave their lives for".

"A couple of my oppos asked if I fancied going back to the Falklands, and I did," he said.

"The RAF fly servicemen back there to see the conflict areas, to come to terms with some of their demons.

"When I saw the way the people there had grasped the opportunity, how it had changed from what we saw, it was humbling.

"You do wonder how anyone can live down there, but they are a hardy, self-sufficient people. They were much more friendly and welcoming than when we were there before, when I think they just wanted things to get back to normal.

"They have built memorials to those who died. They have planted a tree for every one."

Mr Haley, who lives in Bethia Road and works as an electrical engineer on oil rigs, took part in the infamous 'yomp' - a 56 mile march with heavy kit from the landing site at San Carlos Water through to Port Stanley, where 45 Commando took part in the battle for Two Sisters.

There he was assigned to protect the medic as the unit came under mortar and machine gun fire, a harrowing experience in which he saw several of his comrades killed or grievously wounded.

"I remember Frank Spencer, he was a lovely looking chap, a mortar round hit some rocks and smashed the back of his skull," he said.

"He was still alive so we gave him morphine. I remember him moaning. It would have been better if he had a clean death.

"We were called to see to a radio operator with this Special Boat Service chap. He had been hit by a mortar round which blew his back out.

"The SBS chap was very good, he managed to bring him back to life twice but he slipped away.

"The same round caught the officer John Davis in the shoulder and neck. We kept bringing him round and keeping him warm until he was medevac'd off the hillside.

"By this time it was coming up on first light. It was all over by then.

"I remember being fixated on finding my beret, searching and saying 'where is it, I worked hard for that beret'. Then someone said 'it's on your head'."

During his return trip, in which he stayed in Port Stanley at the 'Liberty Lodge' for returning service personnel, he and his friends recreated the yomp, visiting battlefields including Goose Green, and speaking with the locals about how their lives have changed in the years since.

The war cost 255 British and 649 Argentine personnel their lives, and Mr Haley also visited the war graves of those not repatriated.

"More than that have been lost in suicides since," he said.

"I have been able to walk away and get on with my life, but not everyone is the same.

"You can't let countries just take what they want.

"Someone said while I was there that what we did saved their families and kids.

"I can't help thinking about meeting Frank Spencer's wife. There are two broken souls there, a lovely young couple who would have gone on to have children. That's lost to them.

"One wins, one loses."

Mr Haley has also appealed for donations to forces charity SAMA 82.