Simon Weston
| Simon Weston | |
|---|---|
Weston at the train station in 2008
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| Born | 8 August 1961 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1978–1982 |
| Unit | Welsh Guards |
| Battles/wars | Falklands War |
| Other work | Charity work, particularly for the disfigured and wounded in action |
Simon Weston CBE (born 8 August 1961) is a veteran of the British Army who has become known throughout the United Kingdom for his recovery and charity work after suffering severe burn injuries during the Falklands War.
Weston was born in Caerphilly District Miners Hospital in Caerphilly, Wales. He was brought up by his mother, Pauline and adoptive father, 'Lofty'. His biological father served in the Royal Air Force alongside his mother. Simon lived in Singapore and Nocton Hall in Lincoln before returning to Nelson at the age of around six or seven. He has one older sister, Helen, and three stepbrothers. At the age 14, Weston was given a police caution when he was caught as a passenger in a car stolen by his older friends.
He joined the Welsh Guards in 1978 at the age of 16 at the insistence of his mother, after he "got into bother". He served in Berlin, Northern Ireland, Kenya and later being deployed to the Falkland Islands.
On 8 June 1982, he was boarded with other members of his regiment on RFA Sir Galahad in Port Pleasant near Fitzroy, just off the Falkland Islands. It was bombed and set on fire by the Argentine Skyhawk fighters during the Bluff Cove Air Attacks. His ship was carrying ammunition as well as phosphorus bombs and thousands of gallons of diesel and petrol. Out of his platoon of 30 men, 22 were killed. The Welsh Guards lost a total of 48 men killed and 97 wounded aboard the Sir Galahad.
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