THIRTY six years ago today marked the start of a battle many will remember for the rest of their lives.

The Battle of San Carlos, often referred to as San Carlos Day, which started on May 21 and ended on May 25, 1982, was part of the Falklands conflict.

A 10-week war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over two British territories in the South Atlantic -the Falkland Islands and the South Sandwich Islands.

Today was known as ‘D Day’ for Operation Sutton, the code name for the British landings on San Carlos, and saw San Carlos Water dubbed ‘Bomb Alley’.

During the battle, HMS Ardent was sunk by Argentine aircraft, killing 22 sailors. While fifteen Argentine aircraft were shot down.

One man who will never forget is Peter Steele, of St Peters, Worcester.

The 60-year-old was aged 23 when he became involved in one of the biggest historical moments of our time.

Whilst working as a crewman for P&O cruises, he had just finished a round-the-world cruise with fellow Worcestershire man Christopher Holt, of Drakes Broughton, Pershore, when their liner, the SS Canberra was requisitioned as a troopship.

Staff initially had contracts to say they would not get closer than 500 miles to the Falklands but this soon changed.

Crewmen Peter Steele, of St Peters, and Christopher Holt, of Drakes Broughton, Pershore, served on the Canberra, amongst a 400-strong team.

“We hadn’t had any training. You couldn’t comprehend.

“Captain (Dennis John) Scott Masson got us all together and said ‘we’re going in’. They offered the chance for people to get off the boat but only two did.

“They still got to keep their jobs.

“I couldn’t have come home and faced people - I had been on the ship eight years.

“We thought nothing would happen – we thought Maggie Thatcher would sort it out.”

“The officers would teach us self-defence. If anything happened they would dive on you to protect you.

Whilst on board, the pair’s tasks included helping to feed the 5,000 Argentinian prisoners, loaded ammunition onto helicopters and well as serving behind the bar.

He said: “We had the prisoners doing chores – including the washing up.”

“It was only when I got back home people would ask me about it and I just couldn’t talk. A few years ago I heard fighter planes fly coming over and I hit the deck.”

Affectionately named the Great White Whale, the SS Canberra, had been converted to include a temporary infirmary and helicopter pad over the swimming pool.

Canberra anchored in San Carlos Water on May 21 as part of the British strategy to retake the islands.

Canberra sailed to South Georgia, where 3,000 troops were relocated from Queen Elizabeth 2.

One June 2, the ship anchored once again in San Carlos Water to off load more troops.

Speaking on the decision to send in the Canberra twice rather than the QE2, Mr Steele said:

“They said at the time it was because we had already been in once and we knew the way in.

“But I have heard it was because she bore the Queen’s name.

“When we got back to Southampton the crew on the QE2 had a banner saying ‘Welcome home from the crew on the QE2’”

Michael Bradford, of Claines, had a key role in the conflict, serving as deputy captain of SS Canberra. He retired aged 60 in 1991 and died seven years ago due to complications due parkinson.

His son Nigel, a flying instructor, who was 23 at the time, recalls he and his mother Pat's memories of the Falklands conflict.

He said: "On San Carlos Day I was in London because I was going to the cup final the next day. There was talk of the cup final being called off, but all that happened was that Ricky Villa withdrew from the spurs side. I would rather have been in the South Atlantic.

"It was a feeling I could never quite shake off, until the ship came home. Mum later on had phone calls from friends in the USA telling her that they had heard the news that Canberra had been sunk. We realised that these reports had to be Argentinian propaganda, but they were chilling nonetheless.

"Then on the evening of May 25 John Knott, the defence secretary appeared on tv. He announced that two British ships had been sunk, but he couldn’t say which ships. It was clear that one was a merchant ship. Our supper that evening went uneaten.

"We knew it couldn’t be Canberra as we would have been told, wouldn’t we? Eventually news emerged that the ships were HMS Coventry and Atlantic Conveyor. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. But I was extremely aware of how the families of the crews of those ships had to be feeling at that moment."

"When we heard that Canberra had carried out the second landings in San Carlos, after embarking the troops that QE2 had taken south, we were surprised, a little angry and rather proud all at once. T-shirts were produced bearing the slogan 'Canberra Cruises where QE2 Refuses', but I didn’t wear one.

Finally Port Stanley was retaken by the British forces and all Argentine forces surrendered. Canberra entered Port Stanley to take the defeated Argentine solders back to Argentina. Dad went ashore in Stanley with Captain Scott-Masson. They proudly posed under the famous whalebone monument, and collected some souvenirs."

"The day before their triumphant return into Southampton I flew a light aeroplane down to Cornwall so I could fly out over the ship and wave at Dad. This was the first time he spoke by radio to me from a ship as I flew past."

Former Brickfields resident Pete Browning, aged 67, a corporal mortar fire controller from 42 commando unit in the Royal Marines, said: "I lost a couple of friends.

“We had a drink for them when we got back on board. I guess I felt relief. It was wet, cold, not much fear.

"It was what it was - I cannot say I really felt fear. You have your training, you actually want to see if it was all worth it.

"It was not a nice sight. I have had problems since.

"Later, when we moved into the mountains - I have never been so cold in my life.

"When we walked up Mount Kent - we didn't know at the time if anyone was there to make a move on us - but if we did get fired on we didn't know where we would head. We had plenty to think about there."

Speaking on the P&O crew, Mr Browning said: "It was good really - I never thought I would go to war with so much comfort.”

After reaching the rank of colour sergeant, he retired after 22 years’ service in 1994. He now lives in Plymouth.

Some 649 Argentine military personnel, 225 British personnel and three Falkland Islanders died in the conflict.