Falklands exhibition to open next week
A FREE exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict will open at Fort Nelson next week.
The exhibition ‘What Portsmouth Saw’ features recordings of men from across Hampshire who served in the Falklands War, discussing their experiences of returning to the south coast.
TheexhibitusesBBCSouth footage and images from The News of the emotional homecomings of a variety of ships returning to Portsmouth.
A display of small arms used by the armed forces in the Falklands War will also be on show in the exhibition.
Elizabeth Puddick, events manager, said: ‘We wanted to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands (conflict) with a special exhibition and then we realised we had the best view in the city of the homecomings.
‘It’s a free exhibition so come along and share in a bit of Portsmouth’s history with all the family.’
Of the 127 ships that sailed the 8,000 miles to the Falkland Islands, a third of the taskforce were prepared in the dockyard.
A total of 255 British servicemen died in the conflict, which lasted for 74 days in 1982.
The city is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict with the unveiling of a new plaque in Old Portsmouth.
The unveiling will take place on Sunday, June 19, and will be followed by a memorial service, parade and a wreath-laying ceremony.
The Fort Nelson exhibition runs from next Wednesday (May 25) until Sunday, September 25, with free admission.
The fort is closed on Tuesdays and open 10am to 4pm the rest of the week.