A display that really brings home the truth of war

There’s no getting away from the fact that the Falklands conflict was highly divisive at the time, and remains so to this day.

Whichever view you take – an aggrieved nation of Brits victorious against an aggressive Argentinian junta who stole control of our territory, a terrible calamity that needessly escalated from something that should have been a minor territorial dispute, or even (according to some) a desperate electionwinning gambit from then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, there’s little doubt that the individuals who took part in the conflict deserve to be remembered for their bravery and sacrifice.

In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the hostilities.

These figures add up to 907 casualties in total.

Fallout from the crisis was considerable. After Argentina’s defeat The ruling military government, which had previously enjoyed a period of patriotic fervour among citizens found itself subject to increasing protests and social dissent, which actually served to hasten the democratisation of that nation. Meanwhile, back at home, soldiers returning from the Falkands were lauded as heroes but many suffered from long-term injuries – both mental and physical.

The art installation that has been erected at Fort Nelson features 258 sillouettes, each one marking the British personnel and Falklands civilians who lost their lives. It makes no attempt at jingoistic glorification of the war, it simply spells out the cost in the simplest, starkest terms.

Unsuprisingly the Falklands veterans who have visited the display were deeply moved by the tribute. Few, if any, soldiers truly wish to experience warfare, but they are prepared to put their lives on the line of circumstances demand that they must.

This fact alone makes them heroes, regardless of the rights or wrongs of the conflict they served in.