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End of Falklands War to be marked

Commemorations are set to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands by UK armed forces.

The islands were liberated on 14 June, 1982, two and half months after they were invaded by Argentina.

‘Open wound’

Twenty-five years ago, white flags flew over Port Stanley as Argentine troops laid down their weapons after weeks of fighting.

A total of 255 British servicemen, more than 600 Argentines and three islanders were killed in the 74-day conflict.

BBC Correspondent Jack Izzard in Argentina said he expected a few veterans to lay wreaths but that there would be no major commemorations.

People felt shame that the war was lost but agreed with the policy of the current president that the islands should be returned to Argentina, through diplomatic rather than aggressive means.

“For most people here it’s not some footnote in history. The Malvinas are still an open wound in the Argentine national consciousness,” our correspondent said.

At the end of the service at Pangbourne College near Reading, the Queen will place a stone from one of the battle sites on top of other such stones to form a memorial cairn.

It follows a Scottish tradition commemorating those who did not return from battle.

A flypast of four Harriers, representing No 1 (F) Squadron Royal Air Force, No IV (AC) Squadron Royal Air Force, No 800 Naval Air Squadron and No 801 Naval Air Squadron will salute the Queen.

In the Falklands, a special message from the Queen will be broadcast to the islanders by Governor Alan Huckle on radio.

Rallying call

In 1982 Margaret Thatcher, as prime minister, took the decision to send a naval task force 8,000 miles (12,875 km) to the south Atlantic, to reclaim the islands after the Argentines invaded.

Forty-eight Welsh Guards died when the Sir Galahad was attacked

She is expected to join veterans of the conflict at a service of remembrance at the Royal Navy College in Greenwich.

Events are taking place across the UK to mark the anniversary.

In Scotland service personnel will lay a wreath at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh before attending a special service at St Giles Cathedral.

HMS Exeter, which was involved in the conflict, will also be docked in the Scottish capital.

Falkland Islanders will be joined by Prince Edward as they commemorate the 25th anniversary at Liberation Monument in the capital Stanley.

The prince has already joined a ceremony for British servicemen killed in the bombing of troop ships during the war.

The prince laid a wreath in Fitzroy in the Falkland Islands in their honour.

Meanwhile on Wednesday Baroness Thatcher issued a rallying call to British troops in war zones in a special message to mark the 25th anniversary.

In a message broadcast by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, she said in “the struggle against evil… we can all today draw hope and strength” from the Falklands victory.

“Fortune does, in the end, favour the brave… and none are braver than our armed forces,” she added.