Falklands War: Veterans host memorial in Plymouth for 40th anniversary

The service was attended by veterans, and representatives from the Royal Navy and Plymouth-based 29 Commando

Veterans of the Falklands War have gathered in Plymouth to mark 40 years since the conflict ended.

A memorial service was held earlier on Plymouth Hoe, organised by the South Atlantic Medal Association.

The service was attended by veterans, and representatives from HM Royal Navy and Plymouth-based 29 Commando.

Occupying Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June 1982 after British forces had retaken the overseas territory.

The Lord Mayor of Plymouth was also in attendance at the Plymouth memorial service, as well as Port Stanley politician Gavin Short.

Mr Short is a Member of the Legislative Assembly and served in the Falkland Islands Defence Force.

Gavin Short is a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and also served in the Falkland Islands Defence Force

He said: "We're a bit greyer and a bit more rickety than we used to be, but those memories are just as fresh as they used to be, they really are.

"We found that in the Falklands we didn't really speak to anyone about what happened to us during the time we were under Argentine occupation.

"It's only in recent years we've started to open up, perhaps to talk to each other but more importantly to talk to outsiders.

"I don't know if it's because 40 years have passed and we're feeling somewhat safer, perhaps we realised we're all getting on a bit and want to tell people what it was all about before we fall off our perches."

Chris Jones, lead trustee for the South Atlantic Medal Association, spoke about how the conflict changed him and how "emotional" it was to see everyone coming together.

Chris Jones, lead trustee for the South Atlantic Medal Association, spoke about how "emotional" it was to see everyone coming together for the anniversary

Mr Jones said he had become "quite emotional" reading the welcome speech and that it was rare to see so many former servicemen together.

He said: "I had two young sons at home, five and six, my wife, and a lot of good friends. I was one of the oldest people on the ship at 33, and some of my chefs thought the Falklands was in Scotland.

"I can honestly say hand-on-heart that I prayed every night down there. I'm not a religious person, I just felt that I needed to do it, I wanted to come home, and in the end I did come home.

"Coming into here on July 7 in 1982, there must have been 30,000 people along here, and the Red Arrows flew over us, and there wasn't a dry eye on the ship."

The conflict saw 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen lose their lives, as did three Falkland Islanders.

A memorial service was held on Plymouth Hoe, organised by the South Atlantic Medal Association.

Mr Jones served on HMS Arrow during the Falklands War, however 18 months previously, he'd worked as a chef on board HMS Sheffield, which was hit by an Exocet missile strike in May 1982 that killed 20 and injured 26 of its crew.

He said: "I think that's when it became a reality that the Argentines meant business. We really took it seriously after that.

"I can laugh and joke about it now, but you didn't down there then."

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