London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Sep 13, 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
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
Generations Born After 1939 Unlikely to Reach Age One Hundred, New Study Finds
End to a four-year manhunt in New Zealand: the father who abducted his children to the forests was killed, the three siblings were found
Germany Suspends Debt Rules, Funnels €500 Billion Toward Military and Proxy War Strategy
EU Prepares for War
×