A BRANSGORE man who was working as a missionary in Argentina when the Falklands War began 25 years ago has recorded some of his memories.

Bill Cotton, 73, was then living with his American wife Gladi and their four children in Villa María, 350 miles north west of Buenos Aires.

The first Bill heard of the Argentine attack on Las Malvinas was in his church on April 2, 1982. He was told a British helicopter had been brought down and a submarine sunk. It turned out to be Argentine propaganda.

"There was an air of excitement among my informants. I went home and my wife told me the Georgias had been attacked and taken, with no injury or damage to the British forces.

"Three days later an Argentine newspaper claimed a Hercules plane had flown over the island, had seen the bodies of 200 English soldiers on a beach, and that the plane had made radio contact with the soldiers in the hills.

"We listened to the BBC so knew this was lies."

Later, as the British troop movements began, Bill travelled to Buenos Aires and found a gala atmosphere.

"Naturally I was apprehensive," he said. "Would there be interment of British citizens?"

The reduced staff at the British Consulate suggested he and his family go to Uruguay, but Bill decided "the place breathed the air of a storm in a teacup" and decided to stay.

Back in Villa María an Argentine friend told him: "We may heartily dislike the military, but be assured of this, Bill, we entirely support them in this endeavour." His words reflected the views of most Argentinians.

In the street Bill and his family behaved courteously and "simply lamented the conflict" while at home tuned to the BBC World Service, buying a large map and "following every step of the war through Argentinian claims and the BBC".

Britain's worst day was the bombing of the Sir Galahad. Bill was at a conference of church leaders when the news came through: "The war was moving in Argentina's favour. Among our group watching there was no excitement, no hurrahs, only a solemn and sad silence.

"I deeply appreciated this as the only fitting reaction for Christian leaders."

Bill says he and his family were never in danger.

"The people and the authorities treated us with kindness and respect.

"Still it wasn't easy, but I was deeply moved by the number of people who thanked us for not having left."

There was some friction though.

"One couple stopped attending a home group I led. When I went to see them they said, Sorry, but you're English, and it hurts too much'."

There were benefits for Argentina that had been dominated by the army and navy for 50 years: "Latterly they had ruined the economy and ruined their standing by the brutal Dirty War campaign in which as many as 30,000 Argentine people were killed or disappeared at the hand of the military.

"The Falklands was their last gamble, and they lost it.

"They were duly tamed and sent back permanently into their barracks."