How many died falklands

By 20 June, 10, prisoners had been repatriated. These were held for intelligence gathering and to encourage Argentina to end hostilities. The last prisoners were repatriated by 14 July.

The first units to return from the Falklands were 2 and 3 Para, which left on 'Norland' and 'Europic' in June. They sailed to the island of Ascension, and then flew back to the UK.

They were the last of the Army units to leave the Falklands when they sailed on 'Norland' on 19 July for Ascension. Prior to the war, Mrs Thatcher's popularity had been at low ebb. But victory in the Falklands helped ensure a Conservative win in the General Election.

Argentina's junta had gambled all on a popular victory, but now faced humiliation. The country's dictator, General Leopoldo Galtieri, was forced to resign three days after his forces surrendered. Democracy was restored to Argentina in after the fall of the discredited military regime. To date, Argentina has not given up its claim to the Falklands. The Falkland Islanders won a commitment to their sovereignty that any future government would be courageous to question.

Economic investment and a much larger military presence also followed. Nearly 40 years on, Britain still retains a force on the islands. Troops were sent to Northern Ireland in They ended up staying there for nearly 40 years in what became the British Army's longest ever deployment.

Nato has been the cornerstone of British defence planning for 70 years. The war against Iraq in saw the largest single deployment of British troops since the Second World War. Altogether, about 35, British servicemen and women served in the campaign. One of the most famous counter-terrorism operations in history took place in Gunmen overran the Iranian Embassy in London and took hostages, but the crisis was resolved when the building was stormed by the SAS.

British soldiers first deployed to Bosnia in during the country's vicious civil war. Initially tasked with protecting aid convoys, they have remained there on peacekeeping duties ever since. In , British soldiers deployed to Kosovo as a peacekeeping force. Today, troops still serve in the disputed country as part of a multi-national force helping to ensure security and stability. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Be the first to hear about our latest events, exhibitions and offers.

Simply enter your email address below to start receiving our monthly email newsletter. To find out more about how we collect, store and use your personal information, read our Privacy Policy. National Army Museum 10am - 5. Toggle navigation. View this object. Invasion On 2 April , a tiny British overseas territory, located about miles almost km off the east coast of Argentina, was thrust violently into public consciousness in the UK.

Challenges As well as the enormous distance - the Falklands are some 8, miles almost 13,km from the UK - the Army also faced limitations on what forces could be committed. Reinforcements On 11 April, Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, the overall commander of the Task Force, agreed that an extra Army brigade should be made available and moved south as soon as possible. Map of the Falkland Islands. Royal Marines digging in at the San Carlos bridgehead, May A Rapier missile battery at San Carlos Water, Goose Green From a purely military perspective, the reason for attacking these settlements was unclear.

Colonel 'H' Jones in his foxhole on Sussex Mountain, Argentine prisoners pass wrecked aircraft, Goose Green, Plan Jones was immediately limited in what choices he had available. Rucksack used by a member of the Paras in the Falklands, VC action Battle commenced at 2.

Gurkhas digging defences on the shore of San Carlos Water, Mountain line Moore believed that a narrow front attack would expose his forces to enfilade fire from the unsubdued high ground. British troops advance across rough Falklands terrain, Captured Argentine FAL 7. Air attack At 1. Battle for the mountains In the aftermath of Fitzroy, Moore reorganised his forces.

Troops evacuating wounded under fire, Mount Longdon, An 81 mm mortar team of 42 Commando in action, Memorial to the fallen of 2 Para at Wireless Ridge, Helmet worn by a Scots Guardsman in the Falklands, Men of 3rd Para celebrate the liberation of Port Stanley, June Major General Moore carried aloft by islanders ,14 June Surrender In the days leading up to the battles for the mountains around Stanley, the British had been waging a psychological operation against the Argentines, using an open radio frequency to call on them to surrender.

Aftermath Following the capture of Stanley, further operations were launched to take the surrender of other Argentine troops on West Falkland. Argentinians surrendering their weapons at Port Stanley, Prisoner of war compound at Ajax Bay, Coming home The first units to return from the Falklands were 2 and 3 Para, which left on 'Norland' and 'Europic' in June. Post box made from an ammunition container and used by the Scots Guards at Port Howard, Legacy Prior to the war, Mrs Thatcher's popularity had been at low ebb.

Since the Suez fiasco in , British foreign policy had been one long retreat. Victory in the Falklands changed that. Argentine soldiers were subjected to abuse and torture by their own superiors during the Falklands War against Britain, files released by Argentina's armed forces reveal. They are the first official documents from the conflict to be made public and contain testimonies from soldiers who say they were poorly equipped and cold.

They say they were severely beaten for leaving the trenches to look for food. The conflict over the islands cost the lives of more than soldiers. For years, war veterans have complained about the terrible conditions during the conflict, including lack of proper boots and coats, says the BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Buenos Aires. The previously secret files describe mock executions and soldiers being tied up inside empty graves.

A lieutenant describes how another officer tied his hands and legs to this back and left him face down on the wet sand of a cold Falklands beach for eight hours.

A sergeant says he had to be operated on after being kicked in the testicles. The Falklands War began in April , when Argentine troops invaded the British overseas territory which Argentina calls the Malvinas.

The junta became convinced that the British would use the crisis to reinforce their naval presence in the South Atlantic, thwarting any later attempts to take the Falklands. They decided to implement their occupation plans at once. On 2 April the Falklands was taken and a couple of days later so was South Georgia, after spirited resistance from the small Royal Marines garrison. She had gained a reputation for being tough yet was about to preside over the loss of sovereign territory.

The Royal Navy came to her rescue. The First Sea Lord, Sir Henry Leach, insisted it would be possible to send a task force to retrieve the islands and that it could leave within days. The fact that this proved to be the case was testament to an extraordinary effort by the armed forces to pull together people and equipment at great speed.

It also reflected poor Argentine timing, because they had picked a moment before British naval cuts agreed in had taken effect, and when one chunk of the fleet was gathered close to Gibraltar for exercises while the rest was back at port.

The fact that the Prime Minister could announce that a task force was sailing meant that political attention soon moved on from the humiliation of being caught out helped by the resignation of foreign secretary Lord Carrington and on to the campaign. The initial assumption was that sending a task force would create conditions for a diplomatic settlement.

The British agreed to substantial concessions, including a measure of Argentine influence over an interim administration while talks over the long-term future of the islands went ahead.

The junta, however, could not bring itself in the end to concede that the talks might not end with a transfer of sovereignty. Diplomatic activity filled the weeks as the British task force sailed south. Sir Lawrence Freedman, official historian of the Falklands War, recounts what happened when the British task force reached the Falkland Islands.

If an amphibious landing was going to be undertaken then first it would be vital to reduce the naval and air threat. The reduction of the naval threat was the result of one of the most controversial encounters of the war. As soon as the carrier battle group reached the Falklands area the commander, Admiral Sandy Woodward, managed to draw out the Argentine navy and air force by giving the impression of attempting a landing.

Meanwhile the Argentine navy sought to catch the British fleet in a pincer movement. This was agreed and the Belgrano was torpedoed by Conqueror on 2 May even though the Argentine pincer movement had by then been called off and the cruiser had turned away. This, and the loss of lives in the attack, led to later controversy, including erroneous claims that the torpedo strike was really about scuppering a new peace initiative. The military effect was exactly as intended, as the Argentine navy never again ventured out.

The initial landing was unopposed, but soon waves of Argentine aircraft came in. Over the next few days the ships of the task force took a battering, four being sunk and many others damaged. By the end of the month men and equipment were ashore and the fighting switched to land. The British launched their final push in a series of short but intense battles until finally the Argentine will collapsed. On 14 June the Argentine garrison surrendered.

The war cost some Argentine and British dead and did not settle the dispute: Argentina still claims the Falklands. If it had left well alone in , depopulation would eventually have left the Falklands unviable.