Looking at the legacy of war

Aphotography exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the war has opened. Everything Changed, by photographer and journalist Graham Bound, launched last week to coincide with the exact date in 1982 that the British Government dispatched the first ships of the Royal Navy to engage with Argentine forces. The collection of 40 photographs provides a rare record of Argentina’s invasion, the subsequent war, and its aftermath. Graham, who was born in the Falklands, was 24 at the time and the editor of the Port Stanley newspaper but, under occupation, publication ceased so he began recording what was going on in occupied Stanley.

For a few days, he was able to walk freely with his camera equipment but as the intensity of the conflict increased, he was forced to take photographs much more carefully, often from within buildings.

Almost 40 years later, Graham has worked with a photo gallery to digitise and restore the faded prints, and produce new ones from negatives that had previously never been printed.

He said: “Some of the images are not particularly pleasant to look at. Interesting, yes, but not enjoyable. Fortunately, the grimmest reality is hidden in the deep black shadow of the monochrome prints.

“But in some of the photos, light falls on the faces and the eyes of men and we gain a glimpse of their emotions: despair, pride, exhaustion, determination and fear. “Some of my once written-off photos are now the most dramatic in the exhibition. “I hope these photographs remind people of the dramatic and dangerous days of 1982.”

The Historic Dockyard Chatham, home to this fascinating new exhibition, had a direct role in the war, providing support to the Royal Navy and was also home to frigates poised to replace warships allocated to the Falklands task force. The dockyard is also hosting a digital display featuring voice recordings and focussing on the personal stories of those who experienced the conflict either on active service, or back home in

Medway.

Argentine conscript soldiers in the Falkland Island’s capital Stanley during the occupation of the town. The picture was taken by Graham Bound and forms part of the new exhibition at the dockyard