Local MS, Laura Anne Jones has laid a wreath at a Falklands Islands cemetery in memory of Welsh soldiers who died in the war with Argentina in 1982.
A cross-party delegation from the Welsh Parliament, including South Wales East MS Laura Anne Jones, Jack Sargent MS, James Evans MS, and Alun Davies MS, embarked on a seven-day visit to the Falkland Islands to strengthen ties between Wales and the Falklands.
Their visit encompassed a series of meetings with local government officials, farmers, the fishing industry, and scientific research centres, alongside exploring the islands’ rich historical sites and diverse wildlife.
Highlights of their trip included visits to Goose Green, where they learned about the experiences of islanders during the 1982 war, and to San Carlos Cemetery, to honour those who died for the Falklands’ liberation.
Commenting, Laura Anne Jones, MS for South Wales East said: “It was an honour to meet with members of HM Welsh Guards, currently serving in The Falkland Islands and paid my respects at the Welsh Guards memorial, at Fitzroy.
“I laid a wreath on behalf of the region to remember and honour those that died and also reflected on how brave all our soldiers were and what a harrowing experience it must have been in 1982.
“It was a very moving experience, especially as we had with us a Welsh Guards veteran and a brother of a soldier that died there.
“It is something that I will never forget.”
The Falklands War was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its territorial dependency, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The conflict began on 2 April 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, followed by the invasion of South Georgia the next day.
The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June, returning the islands to British control. In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the hostilities.