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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 197

(x) 'Sgt. Steve Brooks, and his missile crew were one of the first to land on the bridgehead at Port San Carlos.

Within minutes, his Rapier was operational and pointing to the skies to provide air protection to our Task Force ships.

Already Sergeant Brooks has claimed a kill on a Mirage as it swung low over the Fleet. He launched his green rocket and saw it trailing red flames as it streaked towards the Argentine jet and struck home.

"If the enemy keep coming I expect to claim more. We can't let anyone walk over Britain."'

The Express reporting from the Falklands.

A fine Falklands War pair awarded to Sergeant S. R. 'Steve' Brooks, 'T' Battery, 12th Regiment, Royal Artillery, a skilled Rapier missile operator who scored two 'kills' on Argentine jets with his weapon, and was awarded a Commander-in-Chief's Fleet Commendation - he carries the memory of the war with a large tattoo of his Battery spread across his shoulders

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24188802 Gnr S R Brooks RA), an official replacement marked 'R'; South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24188802 Sgt S R Brooks RA), mounted as worn, good very fine (2)

Stephen R. Brooks - or Steve to his friends - served initially with the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with 7th Regiment, Royal Artillery in Northern Ireland. Having been promoted and specialised as a Rapier Missile operator, he was swiftly despatched with 'T' Battery (Rapier Troop), 12th Regiment, Royal Artillery to the South Atlantic upon the commencement of hostilities. Landed in support of the Fleet in San Carlos water, he scored his first 'kill' on a Mirage jet, before adding a second, a Skyhawk, some days later. They would also be called into provide cover, despite faults to their systems, to the Sir Galahad. Brooks continues (in 2007):

'We soon developed problems to with our Rapier and radioed HQ, amazingly we were tasked to sail as Air Defence Cover on the Sir Galahad. I was tracking the lead Skyhawk as it lined up for its bombing run and pressed the fire button, I received 'systems fault' in my helmet and the missile did not fire.

I sat in horror watching the carnage in front of me. I took the guilt of the Welsh Guards deaths with me home and into civvie street where my life has been blighted with PTSD for the last 25 years of terrible nightmares.'

Having returned home, he was awarded a Commander-in-Chief's Fleet Commendation, a photograph of the ceremony of which was published in Gunner, May 1983.

Having left the Army, Brooks reflected on his troubles:

'More Falklands veterans have taken their own lives than were killed in action. My friend Mickey who served on my Rapier in the Falklands died last year, he was suffering from PTSD and the combat stress hospital he had treatment in was shut, like all the other Military Hospitals that Labour are shutting.

After saying all that I firmly believe that we did the right thing in taking back those Islands from a Fascist Junta. The Falkland Islanders pay their taxes like anyone else and they deserved our protection.'

He also reviewed the book The Falklands War 1982:

'I was saddened when I read this quote about our equipment that the Rapier system succeeded in shooting down only three enemy aircraft. For many years I was disappointed to read ridiculous claims at the amount of enemy aircraft we ('T' Battery) shot down. The Battery as a while was eventually credited for 14 kills with a further 6 possible. Last year I was given by the Regiment our Official War Diaries, these include all the confirmed kills.'

Sold together with original Personal Documentation Book and copied research.

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Sold for
£750