Plans for 10,000 to be at Falklands 40th event
TEN thousand veterans, civilians, and bereaved families are being invited to attend a largescale commemoration of the end of the Falklands War next year.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) has announced plans to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1982 conflict.
Commemorations will take place from April, 2022, and culminate the following month in an event at the National Memorial Arboretum, where the names of the 255 British personnel who lost their lives in the war are inscribed on the Armed Forces Memorial.
The Royal British Legion’s assistant director of commemorative events, Bob Gamble OBE, said: “30,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and merchant mariners participated in the Falklands War and the RBL’s commemorations and programme of activities will honour and remember their service, the many civilians who supported the war effort, and the 255 British personnel who sadly lost their lives.
“There are veterans of the Falklands War who still struggle with physical and mental scars from the campaign, and some have faced life challenges or hardships since then.
“As we mark the centenary of the RBL this year, we remain committed to ensuring that service and sacrifice in more recent conflict is recognised and all generations of the Armed Forces community know the RBL is here to support them, for life.”
The Falklands War started on April 2, 1982, and was the first military action since the Second World War that utilised all elements of the armed forces.
The conflict lasted 74 days, during which seven ships were lost to enemy action and nine aircraft were shot down.
The morning of the event on June 14, 2022 – four decades to the day since the end of the war – will be led by individual military units, and guests will have the opportunity to visit their respective memorials at the Arboretum in Staffordshire and participate in regimental activities.
In the afternoon, the RBL will host a secular ceremony, which will include a live link-up to a corresponding ceremony taking place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Stanley Cemetery in the Falkland Islands.
The RBL is working in collaboration on the commemorations with several other organisations, including the Falkland Islands Government, the Ministry of Defence, the South Atlantic Medal Association, the Falkland Veterans Foundation, all relevant military associations, and the Merchant Navy.
Those wishing to participate in commemorations or attend the event on June 14 next year are asked to contact their respective Regimental or Service Association to register their interest.