By Julie Armstrong

Last updated 12:43, Thursday, 21 August 2008

TWO friends from Carlisle are returning to the land where they cheated death amid missiles and gunfire over a horrific two month period.

• View more pictures...

War time: Chris Cooke (front centre) with members of his troop. The photograph was taken in Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands in 1982 at the end of the famous Yomp across the island

Chris Cooke and Tony Hudson met on an artillery ship taking them to the Falklands in 1982 following the Argentinean invasion, and have never lost touch.

Now they are going back to the island to repeat the yomp from Ajax Bay to Port Stanley which they first did under combat 26 years ago, in a bid to raise money for two charities.

Some of their friends were not so lucky, and as the former marines make their 74 mile journey across scrubland they will lay wreaths for those lost in the war.

Chris, of Belle Vue, is now a United Utilities service engineer and Tony, of Scotby, an electrician. At the ages of just 17 and 18, they were called up to fight for their country.

Chris, now 44, said: “I was in Hong Kong for jungle survival training when we got the call. I was still 17. We thought, or hoped, by the time the ship got there it would all be over. It lasted two months.”

It will be a moving experience for the pair to return to the place where many of their comrades met their deaths – 500 at Ajax Bay, where Chris and Tony plan to camp the first of five nights.

“There was a field hospital there. It was obliterated, just three hours after we left the area,” said Chris.

“At Two Sisters we got shelled constantly for two days. Some of them were very close – ripping your tent sheets down.”

A problem with helicopters forced the men to carry all their equipment themselves.

This time they will still be carrying a heavy load – 70lb each – but without the machine gun, rifle and bullets they had on their last visit.

Tony, 45, said: “When they train you, they put you on such a high, make you think you can walk on water. It’s not until you see the first casualties, the limbs, that you realise you are not bullet-proof.

“The adrenaline buzz you got when the planes came in was like suddenly being told you’d won the lottery. It would be worse to have joined up and not seen any action. I’m glad Maggie [Thatcher] made us go. But it would make me really upset if they were to give up the Falklands now.”

When the men return in the winter they will see the actual trenches they helped to dig – trenches in which they slept in below freezing temperatures.

“Someone went over recently and said they’ve not been touched; it was like the war just ended a fortnight ago,” said Tony.

“Going back there is like all my Christmases have come at once. It is a bit scary, but it was something I always wanted to do before I die.”

Chris added: “The three officers in my company pledged to have a drink together at the other end of the island, but only one made it, the other two left with shrapnel wounds.

“It took 25 years, but they did all have their drink together, at last year’s reunion.”

Cash raised will be split between the Eden Valley Children’s Hospice and the Royal Marines Benevolent Fund. Chris and Tony will pay for the £1,500 flight themselves. To sponsor them, call Chris on 01228 529966 or 07765 231950.

JArmstrong@cngroup.co.uk