London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Falklands War 40th anniversary: PM praises 'daring and bravery' of veterans

Falklands War 40th anniversary: PM praises 'daring and bravery' of veterans

Commemorations have taken place to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War.

Boris Johnson joined veterans, bereaved family members and senior defence figures at a service at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum.

Mr Johnson praised the "incredible daring and bravery" of Falklands veterans.

Some 255 British troops, 649 Argentine military personnel and three Falkland islanders died during the conflict.

The 10-week war began in April 1982, when troops from Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British colony in the south Atlantic ocean.

Argentina said it had inherited the islands from Spain in the 1800s and wanted to reclaim them. The British had ruled the islands for 150 years and sent armed forces by sea to take the islands back. Argentina's troops surrendered on 14 June.

On Tuesday, veterans, civilians and bereaved family members attended a service hosted by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas to remember the end of the conflict. At the same time a service was held at Port Stanley, the Falklands capital.

Mr Johnson - who laid a wreath at the service - told journalists afterwards: "The first thing is to remember what an incredible thing it was that they achieved back in 1982 to make an opposed landing, to take back territory in the way that they did.

"The incredible daring and bravery of those young men and women. And we salute that - we remember that today."

He added that the "greatest tribute" to those who had laid down their lives was that the Falklands Islands had since "thrived in peace and freedom".

Wreaths were laid by military personnel as well as Mr Johnson


At the scene: Stanley remembers lives lost


By Ollie Peart

The city of Stanley on the Falkland Islands struck a sombre tone on Tuesday's morning under a grey winter drizzle.

Hundreds turned out to watch the band parade along the harbour front to the city's monument, where islanders paid their respects and to those who lost their lives in the conflict 40 years ago.

Soon after the memorial was over, the mood changed to celebration.

This is a defiant nation and one that wants the world to know it takes its freedom seriously, not taking a moment of it for granted.

The festivities will continue long into the night, a momentary breath of fresh air away from the dark cloud that continues to hang over these islands 40 years on, that of Argentina.

A military band also performed at the service


Events have also been taking elsewhere in the country, including at Portsmouth and Southampton, where ships departed for the islands, as well wreath-laying services in Dorset.

One survivor of HMS Coventry, which was bombed during the war, shared his memories with the BBC, saying: "I think about it nearly every day and you know it is part of my life and it is part of this nation's heritage."

"I remember my lost friends every year and sadly there is additions because we are all getting older," said Mick Kerry, from Warwickshire, who was a 21-year-old marine engineer on the Royal Navy destroyer when it was bombed.

Mick Kerry said he thinks about the Falklands conflict "nearly every day"

A parade was also held at Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, Kent


Elsewhere, a woman who was born in the Falkland Islands three months before the war has been telling the BBC how she became a soldier to repay a debt of gratitude she felt towards the soldiers who fought in the conflict.

Sara Halford, who joined the British Army aged 17 and serves with 16 Medical Regiment in Colchester, said islanders would be "forever grateful".

Meanwhile, a collection of portraits of seven veterans from across Scotland have been revealed as part of a virtual exhibition by Glasgow photographer Wattie Cheung.

On Saturday, a national remembrance parade and service will be held in Edinburgh, where hundreds of current and former servicemen and women are expected to take part.

On Sunday, members of the Tumbledown Veterans and Families Association marched to the cenotaph on Blackpool promenade. Nine men died at the Battle of Mount Tumbledown, overlooking Port Stanley, in the final days of the conflict.


Although the war had ended, some of the veterans found the celebrations back at home difficult


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
×