MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Falkland Islanders at War”

The first comprehensive account of how the people of the Falkland Islands existed under the 1982 Argentine invasion and how some of them engaged in active resistance is told in a new book by Falkland Islander and journalist, Graham Bound.

The hardback book Falkland Islanders at War, which is illustrated with maps and photographs taken during the occupation, is to be published in late March to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the invasion.

As a young journalist at the time, Graham Bound was founder of Penguin News. He is now editor of a Ministry of Defence newspaper in London.

Lady Thatcher, visiting the Falklands in 1992 for the Tenth Anniversary urged then that such a book be written, but, in a conversation with MercoPress correspondent Harold Briley, who reported the war from Argentina, Graham Bound explained it was not Margaret Thatcher who prompted his book. "I always wanted to do it anyway," he said. "It just seemed to me that this was the final chance".

Filling gap in history

"If we left it any longer than 20 years too many memories would fade and too many people would pass away. My original idea was to have a lot of first-person interviews as an oral history. The publishers, Pen and Sword (who have previously published several Falklands War books) liked the idea but suggested I put in more work and link the interviews, telling the complete story.

"There have been many books published about the Service people who fought and about the politicians who made the decisions, but there has been no in-depth account of the civilians' experiences. Several local people, including most notably John Smith, have published their memoirs, but I have tried to go a lot further, reflecting the experiences and memories of many people.

"I spent eight months on research and writing, including one month in the Falklands interviewing more than 100 Islanders. I also interviewed a handful of people in Argentina, including Air Commodore Carlos Bloomer Reeve and Navy Captain Barry Hussey (Argentine officers) who were key figures in the Argentine administration and whom I always believed did a lot to help Falkland Islanders."

Under fire in front line

"People may have forgotten how much practical help the Islanders gave to the British forces in getting wounded back, transporting ammunition and food to the front line, and guiding troops. During the lead-up to the battle for Mount Longdon, they often came under shell fire.

"Tw