LESS than a month after HMS Hermes sailed for the South Atlantic the first major shock of the Falklands conflict was felt around the world.

The second instalment of excerpts from from Chief Petty Officer Michael Debenham's secret diary start to reveal the human cost of war as historic events and the first losses of life are recorded.

The Wiltshire man, who went to sea as a teenager and served until 1989, was responsible for aircraft handling on the carrier.

On April 22 he noted a replenishment at sea and brief but sobering: “Lost two of 845 A/C on Georgia. To be recovered.”

It referred to two Westland Wessex helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron from RFA Tidespring that crashed as they took off from South Georgia after landing a group of SAS soldiers.

The crews were rescued but the incident was kept secret from the public until the middle of May.

There was even worse news the following day. Aircrewman Petty Officer Kevin Casey died when a Sea King from 846 Sqn that was transferring stores between Hermes and other ships crashed into the sea. It was returning to the aircraft carrier in bad weather. The 26-year-old was the first casualty of the conflict.

April 24: “Passage south, a lot closer and a lot colder. Rough weather. Within range of bombers.”

April 25: “Now on active duty. A report that two Type 21 frigates have attacked and damaged a submarine. One down, two to go!”

On April 27 he made a note that a Sea King was bumped in the hangar but soon repaired.

April 28: “BBC World News doesn’t hold much for us. Time is running out! Made enquiries about V neck pullovers.”

April 29: “A company of special boys came aboard today. Argentina declared a 200-mile war zone. Tomorrow could be an early fireworks day. Let’s look forward to going home whenever.”

Michael wrote May 1 was a good day after hearing of the Vulcan bombing raid on Port Stanley airfield. It was a busy day at sea too with Exocet missile attacks on the ship. The following day hunter killer submarine HMS Conqueror torpedoed the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano. “A destroyer may have been hit but warhead didn’t detonate,” he added.

A third instalment follows next week. Read the first entries here.