PS. Should anyone wish to discuss this with yer man, you'll find him here.
Thursday 31st May 2007
Falklands Lecture Commencing: 11.00am - 1.00pm
Place: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Lecture by Commodore Michael Clapp and Lieutenant-Colonel Ewen Southby-Tailyour.
Beachcombing by Lieutenant- Colonel Ewen Southby-Tailyour: Beachcombing is the expression used for covert beach intelligence undertaken by people like me when 'on holiday' and which is then forwarded to DI4 - undertaken, seemingly by an innocent 'tourist' without obvious equipment for, say, measuring the stability of sand surface or underwater gradients. In 1978, Ewen Southby-Tailour was an officer commanding a small Royal Marines detachment in the Falkland Islands. On his own initiative he sailed around and extensively chartered the waters and compiled a notebook filled with data on harbours, inlets and landing spots. Even today it is still the most comprehensive sailing guide to the area.
After the Argentine forces invaded, the British Forces asked for his book but he refused unless assigned as ‘staff officer without portfolio.’ 
( Isn't that 'aiding the bad guys'?) He was made the navigation adviser to the command as well as commander of the Task Force Landing Craft Squadron.
Major Ewen Southby-Tailour joined the Royal Marines in 1960, served in 42, 43 and 45 (twice) Cdos and numerous UK, US and French ships as a Landing Craft Officer. He was seconded to the Sultan of Muscat's Armed Forces from 1966-68 as a Company Commander and was awarded the Sultan's Bravery Medal for operations during the Dhofar War. He commanded naval party 8901 in the Falklands 1978-79 - (surveyed beaches for own use) then returned in 1982 as the Amphibious and Navigational Adviser and as CO of the specially formed Task Force Landing Craft Squadron. He invented, formed then commanded for 4 years 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines before retiring in 1992 when he became an author of military biographies and built yachts for high-latitude exploring and surveying.
Tickets: £7.50/£5.50