MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands Donation to Royal Marines London Memorial

The Falkland Islands Government has donated £15,000 (22-thousand dollars) towards the restoration of the Royal Marines Memorial in The Mall, London, thus meeting the shortfall needed for the Appeal to reach its target of £85,000 (nearly 125 -thousand dollars).

The statue, which was first erected in 1903, has been restored to its former glory as part of a Millennium Year initiative. The Memorial, which will be officially unveiled by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Captain General Royal Marines, on 29 October 2000, will now be recognised as a National Memorial to pay tribute to those Royal Marines who served all round the Globe in the 20th Century.

The Falkland Islands and the Royal Marines have a long association, going back to 1766 when they helped build the first British settlement on the Islands. An almost continuous presence has been maintained since, and in 1964 a permanent detachment was established. In 1976 the people of the Falkland Islands conferred the Freedom of Stanley upon the Royal Marines "in recognition and appreciation of the close association which has existed between the Falkland Islands and the Royal Marines for more than two centuries."

When Argentine forces invaded the Islands in 1982, the Marines put up a gallant defence of Stanley, and later joined the Task Force to take a major role in the recapture of the Islands. Nearly fifty percent of the Corps were deployed, led by two Royal Marines Land Force Commanders, Major General Sir Jeremy Moore, and Brigadier, later Major General, Julian Thompson.

Falkland Islands Councillor Sharon Halford, who is presenting the £15,000 cheque to Major General Hardy, Chairman of the Royal Marines National Memorial Appeal, on Monday 9 October, 1200 hrs at Admiralty Arch, said: "It is fitting that the Falkland Islands Government has been able to contribute to the Memorial. We are very proud of our long-standing links with the Royal Marines and this is a wonderful opportunity to record appreciation on behalf of the people of the Falkland Islands."

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Noyes, from the Royal Marines' National Appeal Committee, said: "We are very grateful to the Falkland Islands Government for its generous donation. The Memorial is a significant part of our Millennium activity and we are delighted to have reached the Appeal's target."

Harold Briley, London