MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Queen's Falklands stone for memorial

The Queen has contributed a stone along with many other people towards building a cairn as a permanent memorial at the Falklands Memorial Chapel in Pangbourne, Berkshire. The stone was chosen by Falklands Governor, Donald Lamont, from the Government House Garden in Stanley, and flown from there by the Royal Air Force.

The Queen also sent a message to a 20th anniversary memorial service at the Chapel, read out by 20-year-old Robbie Dent who was only six months old when his father, Paratroop Captain Christopher Dent, was killed at Goose Green.

The Queen's message read: "The events of 1982 remain clear in my mind, not least as the mother of a serviceman who fought during the Falklands War". Her son, the Duke of York, was a Royal Navy helicopter pilot.

A stone has been contributed by Mrs Sara Jones, widow of Colonel H.Jones, VC, also killed at Goose Green. She chose a stone from a Devon beach where she played as a child.

UK close to losing war

The service was attended by the Task Force Commander, Admiral Sir John "Sandy" Woodward, who repeated how close the outcome was. He said that if the Argentine troops had held out for another week, the result could have been different. "We were on our last legs", he said. He recalled sending a signal to the land forces saying his battle group at sea would be totally exhausted by June 14th (the day of the surrender). "It was a lot closer run than many would care to believe".

More veterans of the war have joined in criticism of the British Government for declining to hold an official commemorative event for the 20th anniversary. Among them, the secretary of the South Atlantic Medal Association, Denzil Connick, said 20 years is quite long enough for veterans and bereaved families to wait.

Newspapers contrast the Government's attitude with the "lavish" parades in Argentina, where President Duhalde vowed to persist in pressing for Argentine sovereignty of the Falklands.

Government attitude "disgraceful"

The Daily Mail carried an article headlined: "Anger over Blair snub to Falkland's veterans" and a leader declaring it was disgraceful that the anniversary of Britain's most remarkable feat of arms since World War Two passes officially unremarked.

"After years of penny pinching", it says, "Britain can probably no longer send a task force anywhere. And the Foreign Office -- this time in Gibraltar -- is still attempting deals behind the backs of people who want to be British. Last time a foreign power mistook this country's mettle, 255 brave servicemen lost their li