SAN CARLOS (JB)
Known as ‘JB’ after John Bonner a previous owner, the settlement of San Carlos (previously known as San Carlos South) lies on the north-west of East Falklands, south of Port San Carlos and on San Carlos Water. Port San Carlos lies on the northern bank of the inlet. San Carlos is named after a ship, the San Carlos which visited in 1768.
John Bonner originally arrived in Lafonia in 1848 to run Lafone’s enterprise at Salerdero, becoming Camp Manager for the FIC in 1854. In 1867 he took Campo Verde making a settlement at Port Sussex which was later moved to San Carlos South. He ran cattle until 1873 when he bought 1000 ewes from the FIC. His son George Bonner managed it from around 1894.
In the 1980's San Carlos was split into seven pieces: Blue Beach and Kingsford in the settlement, Head of the Bay, Wreck, Sussex, Verde renamed Greenfield, Waimea.
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San Carlos river rises in between the Wickham Heights and White Mountain it is the Falklands longest river , slow running with some pools and good fishing. Permission is needed to fish. The biggest trout caught there was 22lbs. |
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The main British Army bridgehead ‘Blue Beach’ was at San Carlos in the 1982 Falklands War. There is a Military Cemetery and a small museum. |
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San Carlos was sub-divided into seven smaller farms in the 1980s, Blue Beach and Kingsford in the settlement, Head of the Bay, Wreck, Sussex, Verde renamed Greenfield, and Waimea. |
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Ajax Bay
Ajax Bay lies on The Wreck farm, on the shore of San Carlos Water, close to Port San Carlos. In 1947 the Colonial Development Corporation offered finance to build a freezer plant to deal with surplus sheep in the islands and Ajax Bay was decided upon as a site. The project which included administrative buildings, staff quarters, a power house, great freezers and machinery was started in 1949 but immediately labour and transport difficulties became apparent, probably mostly down to location. It was not completed until 1953 and by that time costs had risen to nearly half a million pounds. The original approved capital had been £242,000. The first years saw only 14,000 sheep sent to the plant for processing and the second year 16,000. The third year, considered unviable and it closed down. Some of the prefabricated houses and buildings were relocated to Stanley ( I . Strange)
During the Falklands War of 1982 between Britain and Argentina, Ajax Bay was one of three landing points for the British on San Carlos Water, codenamed ‘Red Beach’. The main entrance to the Refrigeration Plant was used as a field- hospital by the British, treating both British and Argentine casualties. Surgeon- Commander Rick Jolly ran the unit which was under constant attack. Many lives were saved and it became known as the 'Red and Green Life Machine'. Ajax Bay can be visited with permission from The Wreck Farm owner. |
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Photograph: Unknown, hope you don't mind
