They return to a colonel the sword that should have left after surrender to the Malvinas – 05/13/2019

The Falklands War is an inexhaustible source of stories. Sad stories and stories with relatively happy ends. Some are already known, but they are transformed. Others are yet to be discovered. One of them met on Monday. And that is the story of an Argentine sword, through its ownerRicardo Martín Jaureguiberry, of the British Admiral Hugo White, deceased, and his widow Josephine.

Retired colonel, veteran of the war that Argentina and the UK have faced 37 years ago, on Monday, Jaureguiberry found his command symbol, which He remained in Fox Bay after the surrender of Argentina on June 14, 1982.

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In a small but historic ceremony in the British residence to which he was invited Bugle, l & # 39; Ambbadador Mark Kent and the military attache in said headquarters, Robin SmithHis sword was returned to Jaureguiberry at the express request of the widow of Admiral White, captain of HMS Avenger, during the 1982 war, who took with him this symbol of command given in the army. officers and senior non-commissioned officers. .

"I feel very emotional and happy, not because of what it means materially, but because of the symbolism, it's the goodwill of the people on the other side of the Atlantic and knowing that there was an owner of this sword that he came back into my hands. It's about the will of the people, the generosity, the good people"he said to Clarin Jaureguiberry

It was after the ceremony during which he expressed his words of gratitude towards Josephine Mary Lorimer, "Lady White", who on the death of her husband in 2014, began to look for the owner of the sword.

"We support any action that helps to repair the physical and emotional wounds of those who participated in the conflict, and we believe that we should all give priority to the humanitarian factor above all commercial motivation, "said Ambbadador Kent.

There were in Jaureguiberry "old" comrades of war: retired General Sergio Fernandez; and retired colonels Oscar Minorini Lima and Leandro Villegas. In addition, the Argentine Foreign Ministry sent Ambbadador Osvaldo Mársico of the Malvinas Undersecretariat.

Jaurreguiberry has integrated one of only two units in the army that participated in the landing of 2 April 1982. And it's curious: the fact that he carries the sword showed the intention of the high command not to stay at war -but to occupy and negotiate- how did it end up happening? "The order we had was the peaceful recovery, and these stipulated that the officers were to wear our swords, "he said.. He was the only one coming to Fox Bay with a sword.

Sir White had great distinctions. He was commander in chief of the fleet and governor of Gibraltar, another overseas territory of the United Kingdom in sovereignty dispute with Spain. At the end of the war, he wanted to hand over the sword to Sandy Woodward, commander of the British forces navy during the 1982 war. But Woodward decided that this sword should be retained by White because of his warlike merits .

While he was rebuilding this newspaper of his protagonists, Lady White began asking for help from Richard Cockwell, an islander, who was the Fox Bay East's manager for the island (in total, the 39, army had 900 men between 1982 and East).

Cockwell, who met with Jaureguiberry in Fox Bay, contacted Nicholas Tozer, the famous negotiator of former Foreign Minister Guido Di Tella with the islands in the 1990s and on Monday. Tozer contacted General Fernández, who located Jaureguiberry.

"This sword is reminiscent of my comrades, my soldiers, the officers," the retired colonel told Clarin. "I have no doubt that among the veterans who were enemies there are codes. I am sure that among the people who face it, there should be no hatred. Each defends their interests of their nation. That's why it was us and that the British came. The survival instinct and the need that a person has overcome forces us to face each other, "he said before conducting cross-examination.

"The Falklands claim continues, but I think that dialogue can reconcile interests and that we may one day find a solution that works for the parties. always through negotiation and not returned by violence"said the colonel.