I shared a room with Cedric in Halls House in 1964. He was a quiet, modest and unassuming boy. We were friendly,
but not real friends. What one knew with Cedric was that one would never see from him anything mean, devious,
selfish or inconsiderate. Little did anyone suspect then that he would later become a genuine British war hero.

A) BELOW - From Wikipedia:                      -                     B) LINK 2

"Major Delves commanded D Squadron Special Air Service Regiment during a brilliantly successful series of operations carried out in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Both operations proved to be critically important to the conduct of the two campaigns. In South Georgia, his soldiers had to operate in extremes of climate which bordered on the limits of survivability. In spite of the difficulties, Major Delves was able to insert the necessary surveillance patrols into his area of responsibility overlooking Stromness Bay. This was achieved in spite of one of his patrols becoming involved in two helicopter crashes, and another losing half its strength when it was scattered into the night by 100 mph katabatic winds. On 21st April after the engagement of the enemy submarine SANTA FE, Major Delves led his men into the Cumberland Bay East and captured Grytviken employing two of his SAS troops. By his quick decisive action and personal display of courage, he was able to accomplish the fall of Grytviken without a single loss of life. The next day he ordered his remaining troop to go ashore in Stromness Bay and accept the surrender of the remaining enemy forces in South Georgia. On the early morning of 15th May, Major Delves led his men in delivering a devastating blow to the enemy air capability on Pebble Island in the Falkland Islands. In a daring and well-executed series of moves - described as a classic of its time - in which he was able to determine the layout of the enemy positions, he infiltrated the enemy defences and by skilful use of his own men and Naval gunfire, he and his men destroyed eleven aircraft on the ground and over a ton of explosive.

On 21st May only hours after his Squadron had received a most cruel blow when it lost a significant proportion of its number in a helicopter crash, Major Delves led his men out once again in order to carry out a deceptive raid onto the enemy position at Darwin. So successful was he in his aim of drawing off the enemy reserves from the real landing position, that the enemy were heard to inform their higher HQ that they were under attack from at least a battalion of men. Following the successful establishment of the beachhead in San Carlos Water, Major Delves took his Squadron 40 miles behind the enemy lines and established a position overlooking the main enemy stronghold in Port Stanley where at least 7,000 troops were known to be based. By a series of swift operations, skilful concealment and lightning attacks against patrols sent out to find him, he was able to secure a sufficiently firm hold on the area after ten days for the conventional forces to be brought in. This imaginative operation behind the enemy lines provided our forces with psychological and military domination over the enemy from which it never recovered. In all the operations described, Major Delves led his men, coolly directing operations when under intensive fire from the enemy. He was an inspiration to his men, and made a unique contribution to the overall success of operations in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands."

 

"Across an Angry Sea"
The Falklands story - by Sir Cedric Delves


‘An exciting and honest account of a SAS command in war: of the leaders and the led; of offensive spirit and individual initiative; of doubt and uncertainty; of ingenuity and adaptability; and of sacrifice, courage and humanity. Those who seek to command in battle should study this account with care for it shows that, . . . ‘continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.’– General Sir Rupert Smith KCB DSO OBE QGM

In early summer 1982 – winter in the South Atlantic – Argentina’s military junta invades the Falklands. Within days, a Royal Navy Task Force is assembled and dispatched. This is the story of D Squadron, 22 SAS, commanded by Cedric Delves. The relentless tempo of events defies belief. Raging seas, inhospitable glaciers, hurricane-force winds, helicopter crashes, raids behind enemy lines – the Squadron prevailed against them all, but the cost was high. Holding fast to their humanity, D Squadron’s fighters were there at the start and end of the Falklands War. Theirs was the first Union Jack raised over Government House in Stanley. ‘Across an Angry Sea’ is a chronicle of daring, skill and steadfastness among a tight-knit band of brothers; of learning fast, fighting hard, and winning through.

Sir Cedric Delves joined the Army in 1966, was commissioned into the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and later joined the SAS, which he commanded at every level. He also led the Special Forces before becoming Commander of the Field Army. He was medically discharged after losing a leg to a drunk driver.