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Falklands focus in remembrance events

Monday, November 11th 2002 - 20:00 UTC
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The 20th anniversary of the Falklands war has figured prominently in special services for Remembrance Day commemorating the British and Commonwealth dead of all past wars. The theme was remembrance of -- and gratitude to -- those who died fighting for freedom.

All the main ceremonies in Britain, televised nationally, focused on the Falklands ? the Festival and Service of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, the March Past of thousands of service men and women and Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and a special BBC "Songs of Praise" Service which alternated between the Falklands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne and Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley. This service included flashback film of the war, visits to memorial sites and interviews with Islanders, by the presenter Aled Jones, Britain's best known church chorister.

"Undying gratitude to liberators"

Two quotations sum up the sentiment of these ceremonies, echoing the welcome given in the Islands to more than 200 returning veterans on the South Atlantic Medal Association pilgrimage. Sally Blake, wife of the Speaker of the Falklands Legislature, Tim Blake, told Aled Jones: "We are just so grateful to the British troops who truly liberated us. They have our undying gratitude? It is just such a tragedy that so many lives were lost -- on both sides". And the presenter, Aled Jones, ended the programme by saying: "I have been bowled over by both the beauty of the Islands and the warmth of the people". In contrast to 1982, he said the Falklands are now thriving thanks to new businesses and growing tourism. This service began with film of Yorke Bay where the Argentine invaders first came ashore and ended where the British liberators landed at San Carlos, at the cemetery there of British war dead. At Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station, Liz Elliot told how the Argentines burst into the studio and thrust a gun into the back of Broadcasting Officer Patrick Watt. The programme showed Marge McPhee worshipping at Christ Church, and childminder Anya Cofre describing how every day during the occupation as a young teenager, she prayed at St Mary's Catholic Church, where armed Argentine soldiers also prayed during the occupation. She said: "People want to do as much for the British veterans and their families as they possibly can. The war should never ever be forgotten ? and the pride we have in these soldiers, those still alive and those who died". Tim and Sally Blake told how they compassionately took into their home and gave help and treatment to a wounded Argentine pilot shot down over their Hill Cove Farm. The programme showed war memorials in Stanley, on Mount Longdon, at Goose Green and Fitzroy, and the burial of Colonel H. Jones, VC. His widow, Sara Jones, joined the Queen, at yet another ceremony, planting a poppy at the Westminster garden of remembrance.

Commanders remember

In the Pangbourne congregation, singing the Falklands Hymn in memory of the dead, were senior Task Force commanders, including Admiral Sir John "Sandy" Woodward, Major General Julian Thompson, and Captain Michael Barrow, former Captain of HMS Glamorgan, and the Falklands Government Representative, Sukey Cameron. Two of the Service Chiefs joining the Queen laying wreaths at the Cenotaph were front-line veterans, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, a Harrier pilot, and Admiral Sir Alan West, who recalled, in a television programme, ordering abandonment of his ship, HMS Ardent, sunk by bombing which killed 22 of his crew. The former head of the SAS, General Sir Peter de la Billiere, was one of 7,000 war veterans in the march past, in which SAMA had a big contingent. All branches of the services joined in the Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall, where the commentator was the BBC 1982 Task Force reporter, Brian Hanrahan, who brought personal insight into his commentary. Many Falklands veterans took part in all the ceremonies as did families of some of the men who died. The remembrance services this year, involving men and women at present serving in the armed forces, took place against sombre speculation that many of them may again be going to war -- against Iraq.

Harold Briley, (MP) London

Categories: Falkland Islands.

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