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It
has been 24 years since the 1982 Falklands Conflict between Argentina
and Great Britain. This exclusive half-day excursion provides an in-depth
understanding of the conflict and its enduring impressions on these
quiet Islands.
Britain occupied and has administered the Falkland Islands since 1833.
In the early 1900s, Britain formally claimed them for the Crown, despite
earlier claims by the French and Spanish. The territorial dispute came
to a boiling point in 1982, when Argentina invaded the islands, setting
off a conflict that would claim nearly 1000 British and Argentine lives.
You will begin your tour with a leisurely drive to the camp settlement
of Fitzroy. Upon arrival, you will visit the memorials of the Briish
ships Sir Galahad and Tristram, which were hit by Argentine
missiles. Here, your professional battlefield escort will provide
a brief commentary on the conflict and the battlefields that you will
visit.
After a short break, you will head back towards Stanley for a stop at
Mount Kent. At 1,300 feet, Mount Kent is the highest peak of mountains
surrounding Stanley and forms the head of the valley leading down to
the town. Not only was it an ideal vantage point for reconnaissance,
but a logical starting point to capture the town. Initially the site
of the Argentine helicopter depot, it was the location of the conflict’s
initial air-to-surface battle of May 21st. After Mount Kent fell to
the British, it became the British Military headquarters.
Your tour will continue to the bases of Mount Harriet, Mount Tumbledown
and Mount William. At each of these sites, your guide will explain troop
movements and the strategies used to overcome the occupying forces.
The battle for Mount Longdon proved the costliest for British troops,
with fierce battles the night prior to the Argentine surrender on June
14, 1982. As the Scots Guards advanced under the cover of night on Mount
Tumbledown, English troops simultaneously began their assault on Wireless
Ridge, which served as the last Argentine position of strength on the
north side of Stanley. After the capture of Wireless Ridge and Mount
Tumbledown, the capital of Stanley was surrounded by the British forces.
On your return to Stanley, you will make a stop at Moody Brook to visit
the site where the first and last shots of the Falklands War were fired.
You will then continue to the 1982 Memorial for photographs. You will
return to the Visitor Car Park, and arrive back to your ship with a
more complete understanding of the Falkland Islands turbulent past.
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