The Falkkand Islands were invaded 40 years ago today

[cakeorwine]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60848223

I was young when it happened and thought they were somewhere off Scotland!

Definitely different times. Riots in the streets, Margaret Thatcher was in power and very unpopular. Defence cuts were imminent and the Royal Navy was going to lose more ships.

Then the invasion. There was an interesting Chennel 4 documentary on it - mistakes that were made, tactical errors - including landing troops at Bluff Cove in daylight - when the Sir Galahad was bombed and a lot of troops were killed and badly wounded. The loss of the Atlantic Conveyor with a lot of supplies which affected the logistics.

A lot of personnel killed on both sides. And the effect on those who fought and came back seems to have been severe for some with PTSD.

And when they came back, it seems they came back to a different country. It definitely had an effect on the national psyche.
RIP to all who gave up their lives.

The past really is a different country.

*Nb I saw that ch4 doc. Completely failed to mention operation black buck and the Vulcan bomber runs from Ascension)

Whenever the Falklands war is mentioned I always think of Simon Weston.

@BiologicalRealist

Whenever the Falklands war is mentioned I always think of Simon Weston.

There was a lot of discussion in this documentary about the need to do 'a great leap forward' and move troops to Bluff Cove south of Port Stanley. There seems to have been a lack of communication and protection of the landing craft.

Simon Weston and a lot of others paid a heavy price.

I was out of the country on holiday when it happened. I saw pictures of people cheering ships sailing to war, and thought it was library footage from world war 2, until realising it was in colour and was live.

RIP for those who died and thoughts for those who were bereaved. I have often had a feeling that although the British forces won the conflict, the peace has in a sense been won by Argentina as they no longer have a dictatorship.