CHEF UNDER FIRE: TOMMY ONIONS

Editorial Foreword

The article that Airborne chef Tommy Onions originally wrote in 2023 for the ACC Association magazine The Flaming Cauldron about his experiences in the Falklands War in 1982 and the reunion he later co-organised is used here with thanks to ACC Association Secretary Major Dick Lewis. The Parachute Regimental Association is proud to add Tommy to the list of Hermes contributors.

Tommy Onions takes up the story:

I left the Army Catering Corps college in June 1980 and was posted to 3 PARA, based in Candahar Barracks, Tidworth. I spend three fantastic years with the Battalion, serving in Northern Ireland, Canada and the Falklands (1982).

Like other often unsung Airborne Forces men, Tommy Onions served as an Army Catering Corps chef attached to 3 PARA in the Falklands War in 1982.

I was then posted to Armoured Sigs in Germany but hankered for the Airborne mentality. Whilst in Germany, I requested to do P Coy, completed Pre-Para with 9 Squadron Royal Engineers, passed and was posted back to the the Airborne Brigade with 2 PARA in 1984. Then straight out to NI, returning early from the tour to complete my jumps course. I spent the next three years with 2 PARA serving in Kenya, twice in Oman and also in France, earning my French wings.

The photo above was taken at a Falklands commemoration at St James Palace about ten years back. Interesting story as to how I managed to speak to the then Prince Charles. About 250 veterans were invited to the occasion, the Palace was heaving and whilst stood there talking to Sulle, who’s in the background, I noticed across the room a bloke organising small groups of people.

He was putting together these groups to be introduced to the Prince.  I bimbled over to take a closer look and clocked this chap sporting a pair of French wings on his lapel. I approached him and asked if he’d got the wings from Pau; yes, was the reply. I told him I’d been there also and had had a fantastic time. Anyway chat, chat, chat. Then he asked: “Do you want to meet the Prince?”. “That would be very nice.”, I replied. “Stay here,”, he said, “and I’ll direct him to you.”.

I summoned the wife and Sulle followed. “Sulle, do you want to meet the Prince?”. “Yes! How come?”. “Stand with me and it’ll happen.”. Within ten minutes we were all in deep conversation with Prince Charles.

I was extremely proud to be part of the Airborne Brotherhood. I have an absolute bond with the lads from 3 PARA, who have never forgotten what we did as a stretcher bearers, medics and SF support during those ‘three days in June’.

Over forty years ago, a merry band of Army chefs came together through circumstance and coincidence. We were the Catering Platoon, proudly attached to the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. If the old grey matter serves me correctly, there were twenty-five of us.

January 1982 will never be forgotten for it is forged into our collective memories. With 3 PARA, the ACC attached arm had been honing their skills at Hythe & Lydd ranges, readying for yet another NI tour.

On the last night on the ranges, the QM required all the chefs to complete a night shoot. This was accomplished and on the return to the camp I volunteered to work a few extra hours, knocking out six huge butchers’ trays of freshly prepared and blanched chips. I was so late leaving the cookhouse that even the night shift had already left. Anyway, to cut a very long story short, the cookhouse completely burnt down and I, being the last one out, got the blame. A few weeks later on my return to Hythe & Lydd for my court martial, l picked up the nickname ‘Rumpole’. That’s a story for another day.

On the 2nd of April, a group of Gaucho-type fellas decided to invade the Falklands Islands and as the 3rd Battalion were on LPBG (Leading Parachute Brigade Group), we were all called to 24-hours notice, apart from Dinger Bell that is. He had decided to go on an unauthorised weekend leave. On his return to barracks he was ‘banged up’ for being AWOL. His sentence was a three- week spell of jankers on the Canberra heading South.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had requisitioned SS Canberra for use as a UK Forces Troopship. Canberra sailed on the 9th April for the war zone of the South Atlantic. On board, the Catering Platoon was split into different work parties; some were told they’d have to be trained up to battlefield medic level and SF support. Those first groups included Pete Marshall, Paul Roberts, Mick Arthur, Geordie Rowson, Dick Grainger and myself.

Others were trained to be Heli Handlers and a number of other roles on the Battalion Orbat. We were all small but important cogs in a massive machine and I can say, in keeping with Corps tradition, that we all set about our new jobs with gusto and to the very best of our ability. This esprit de corps was shared by the guys who completed the difficult yet essential task of Rear Party.

Despite the best efforts of the Argentine Air Force and Army, we all came back and the only battlefield injury involving the 3 PARA chefs involved Cpl Paul Roberts. Bravery personified, he, as a stretcher bearer/medic, was injured when he went to the aid of a paratrooper who stood on a mine. Paul was medically evacuated or casevacked as it became known.

After we got back to the UK, we all went our separate ways, being posted to the four corners of the world. I was posted to Armoured Sigs in Germany but hankered for the Airborne mentality. Whilst in Germany I requested to do P Coy, completed Pre-Para with 9 Squadron Royal Engineers, passed and was posted back to the Brigade with 2 PARA in 1984. I went straight out to NI, returning early from the tour to complete my jumps course. I spent the next three years with 2 PARA serving in Kenya, Oman x2 and France, earning my French wings.

I am extremely proud to be part of the Airborne Brotherhood. I have an absolute bond with the lads from 3 PARA, who have never forgotten what I or we did as a stretcher bearers, medics, or SF support during those ‘3 days in June’.

In 2002 I was privileged to be part of an organised pilgrimage and returned to the Falklands. It was during this first trip back that the seed of an idea emerged. My aim, to try to get the lads together again for a 3 PARA Chefs (82) Reunion. Unfortunately, following the trip back Down South, I was diagnosed with chronic PTSD. However, rather than let this get in the way of getting the boys back together, I allowed the seed to propagate.

Last year whilst meeting up at the London Cenotaph with several of the 3 PARA chefs, we decided to look at that long-planted seed and try to organise a proper reunion of those brave chefs. I searched high and low and of the nineteen chefs who travelled south in ‘82, I sadly learned that two of our number had passed away (RIP Bob Thornley & Dave Ogden). Despite huge efforts and calling in many favours, three remained missing. I just couldn’t find Scouse Wells, Tony Browne & Jock Furgusson.

Not to be beaten though, through sheer tenacity and the assistance of Spike Reigate, I decided to put it out there for a get-together. The response was amazing: three of the lads — Al Beaumont, Mick Rowson (sunning it in the Med) and Dick Grainger — were unable to make it. Out of the nineteen chefs we managed to contact, eleven of the old Brigade confirmed they were up for it.

As a group, we were living in all parts of the UK. I decided then to utilise/piggyback Airborne Forces/Corps Weekend as a starting point to get the Reunion off to a reasonable chance of succeeding. This was shared with all involved and agreed as a good plan of action.

The weekend rapidly approached and I was filled with trepidation as well as excitement at the thought of meeting up with friends I hadn’t seen for a considerable time. However, I needn’t have worried. Like most in the military family, we started as we’d left off all those years previously. The years were forgotten and suddenly this group of old men were once again young soldiers.