MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands remembers freedom of Goose Green residents locked up by Argentine forces
The crowd gathered at the ceremony. All Photos: BFSAI Media Ops A very emotional ceremony took place last Wednesday at Goose Green in the Falkland Islands in remembrance of those who gave their lives for the freedom of the small community which had been locked up by the invading Argentine forces in 1982.
An estimated 100 residents, including women and children, from Goose Green and Darwin had to endure under appalling crowded conditions for almost seven weeks, at the Social Club, as prisoners of the Argentine military.
Thus every year on the 29th May, since 1982, when they were liberated by the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment from captivity at the hands of the Argentine forces, the people of Goose Green and others who were locked up with them in the Social Club, gathered with serving members of the British Armed Forces in remembrance of those who liberated them from captivity and gave their lives for their freedom.
This year was no exception, despite very chilly conditions on Wednesday, the service of remembrance at the 2 Para Memorial at Darwin, overlooking Goose Green, was conducted by the Rev Ian Faulds and wreaths were laid by HE the Governor, MLA Ian Hansen, and a representative of the Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands.
Back in 1982 when news came of the landing of the Task Force in San Carlos, Argentine forces in Goose Green dug into well defended positions. After two days of fierce fighting and threats of massive British air support and naval artillery, Argentine forces turned in their arms and surrendered.
According to military reports from the time 2Para suffered 15 dead including Colonel H Jones, and thirty wounded. Argentines lost 55 men and close to a hundred were wounded. (PN)
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThis was an illegal act, as was the imprisonment of civilians at Douglas, Fox Bay, Pebble and Port Howard. A apology wouldn't go amiss.
May 31st, 2019 - 02:35 pm +6Many a Kelper thanked them? Can you name names Think?
May 31st, 2019 - 11:04 pm +4I doubt any Falklander was grateful for being invaded.
Unfortunately, Think, you are, as ever, incorrect on a few counts. The 114 kept as human shields in Goose Green were not allowed to go home to their beds in the evening. All of their homes were used to billet the invaders, who pretty much destroyed their homes, even to the point of shitting in chests of drawers. They killed the livestock, smashed children's toys and were generally very unpleasant. The air was not thick with British ordinance flying around either. In fact it was the Argentines themselves who set up armaments in the village, making the place a target, which the British avoided shooting at.
Jun 01st, 2019 - 12:07 pm +4The 114 were not herded into the hall for their own protection, and if you do choose to believe the propaganda you're a bigger fool than at first thought.
Neither were they fed properly, as prisoners they were treated much less well than the Argentine prisoners and casualties were treated by the British.
You need to sort yourself out, buttercup, before you start commenting about things you know nothing about.
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