Guy Opperman MP said:
“Forty years ago, today, on 21st May 1982, HMS Ardent was attacked by an Argentine aircraft in the Falklands Conflict.
22 crew lost their lives, including local Able Seaman Derek Armstrong from Prudhoe.
Derek died trying to save his ship. He is remembered in Prudhoe Parish Church, with a plaque dedicated to him and all his shipmates on HMS Ardent.
His school Prudhoe Community High School also has the ‘Derek Armstrong Memorial Award’ presented each year to the best sportsperson.
I was honoured to visit the HMS Ardent Memorial in the Falkland Islands to pay my respects in 2016 on behalf of the school, and our wider Northumberland community.
We will never forget the sacrifice of so many of our armed forces in this, and other conflicts.
Support your armed services - they keep us safe. Freedom is not free.
We will remember them.”