Stuart Fidler enjoyed a varied military career, starting in 1960 as a radio operator in the Royal Navy on the frigate HMS Rocket. After further postings on frigates and an aircraft carrier, he tired of ships and in 1965, after commando and parachute training, joined 148 Commando and served in Borneo.
Four years later, Stuart became an air traffic controller, then moved on to Mobile Air Operations, setting up helicopter landing sites. In 1980, he started working at RAF Watton Eastern Radar, monitoring aircraft movements over Norfolk and the east coast.
When the Falklands War erupted in 1982, Stuart was summoned to Yeovilton and on 12 May sailed from Southampton on the QE2, being the only naval officer with the 5th Infantry Brigade.
Stuart took part in movements in and around the islands and was involved in the final attack on Stanley from Mount Tumbledown in extremely difficult conditions over rough terrain in freezing temperatures. Quotations by soldiers and the story of Lieutenant Lawrence, MC, who bravely stormed a machine gun nest during the Battle of Mount Tumbledown before being severely wounded by a sniper, reminded us of the courage and sacrifice involved in war.
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