Next spring will see the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War in the South Atlantic. Today, a meeting was held on board HMS Illustrious to see what would be done about it.
Early in 1982, Argentinian forces occupied the Falkland Islands and South Georgia as their own. In Argentina, the Falklands are known as Islas Malvinas. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ordered a taskforce to the South Atlantic with the mission to recapture the islands for Great Britain. A gruelling two months later saw the surrender of the Argentine forces in Port Stanley.
Casualties were high on both side, although more Argentinians fell than Britons. Names of ships like the General Belgrano and the Sir Galahad. The Exocet rocket, being used with deadly effect. All will bring back echoes of those days in 1982. Although I'm not likely to forget the gung-ho language of the Iron Lady, neither am I prepared to nullify the sacrifice made by those that lost their lives in the cold South Atlantic.
The Argentine 'junta' was ousted in the aftermath of this disastrous campaign. Margaret Thatcher remained in power until 1990.
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Cant believe its nearly twenty five years ,.,love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteMy neighbours 18yr old son was killed over there, such a waste of lives. Jeannette xx http://beta.journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/
ReplyDeleteHave distinct memories of that war, once it was clear the English were defending their own countrymen in the Islands. We were never sure what to make of "The Iron Lady" but knew she was notorious in British opinion polls. I remember people feeling great empathy for Britons fighting with such courage. Basically at that time, the States were just trying to get used to the cowboy in the White House. CATHY
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