Eileen Vidal
Eileen Vidal | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eileen Biggs 1926 |
| Died | October 2003 (aged 76–77) Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory |
| Occupations | |
| Spouse | Nelson Vidal |
| Children | 12, including Leona Vidal |
| Awards | British Empire Medal |
Eileen Vidal BEM (née Biggs; 1926 – October 2003) was a Falklander telephone and radio operator, known for maintaining radio service and relayed military intelligence to the British Navy during the Falklands War.[1][2] Vidal received a British Empire Medal for her service.
Service during the Falklands War
From 1981 to 1991, Vidal was the islands government's principal radio telephone operator, jotting down telegrams and patching callers into Port Stanley's telephone system.
She established a trend of subversive radio transmissions on the morning of the Argentine invasion on 2 April 1982. On 26 April she reported via short wave radio to HMS Endurance, which was patrolling off the Falklands, the size of the Argentine reinforcements of the initial Argentine assault force, which were at least nine Argentine battalion-sized units, giving them as much information as possible about the number of Argentine ships and troops in Stanley, as well as about the aircraft and helicopters. Her message to HMS Endurance may have been the first information to come from the Falklands after the invasion because the short wave transmitters operated by Cable and Wireless had failed and the British Government had no firm information from the islands. The 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was alerted and set sail to the Falklands.[3][4]
Vidal was awarded the British Empire Medal for her service during the war.[5][6]
Personal life
Eileen Biggs was born on 1926 in the Falkland Islands to Bernard Biggs and Kathleen Biggs.[1] Vidal was a fifth generation Falkland Islander.[2][7]
Vidal's first marriage ended in divorce and her second marriage was to Nelson Vidal, a Chilean who had immigrated to the Falkland Islands in the 1960s.[1][2][7] Vidal had twelve children, including the curator, radio broadcaster and politician Leona Vidal.[1][2][7]
In October 2003 Vidal died aged 76.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 HWB (March 2004). "Eileen Vidal, BEM – Heroine of 1982" (PDF). Falkland Islands Newsletter. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2026 – via Falkland Islands Association.
- 1 2 3 4 Dear, Paula. "In pictures: The generations claim". BBC News. London, UK: BBC. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ Bound, Graham (January 2007). Invasion 1982: The Falkland Islanders' Story. Casemate Publishers. pp. 128, 129. ISBN 9781844155187. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ↑ Hooker Jr., Colonel Richard D. (15 August 2014). Wrath Of Achilles: Essays On Command In Battle. Pickle Partners. ISBN 9781782893905. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ↑ "Professor Freedman's Official History Falkland Islanders' Exploits Played Down". MercoPress. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ↑ "Prince feted as Falklands hero". The Guardian. 14 March 1999. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- 1 2 3 Niebieskikwiat, Natasha (9 November 2017). "Una chilena será legisladora de las Islas Malvinas" [A Chilean will be a Falkland Islands legislator]. Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 May 2026.