Remembering the Falklands War

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. Regimental historian Lieutenant Colonel Robin Hodges reflects on the role of the King’s 1st Battalion after the Falklands War.

Image: An Argentine infantry position, possibly for a machine gun given the commanding view across the east approach to Mount Tumbledown, Falkland Islands.

On 2 April 1982 Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands sparking the Falklands War.

Within days an initial UK task force of warships and rapidly refitted merchant ships set sail for the 8,000 mile journey across to the South Atlantic.

Although the King’s Regiment were not directly involved in the Falklands War, a connection with the islands did follow in subsequent years.

In 1982 when news of the Falklands War was broadcast, the 1st Battalion (1 KINGS) was in Germany. After over two years of intense preparation and training the Battalion was confident that it was amongst the best in the Army and hopeful that it would be selected for the second Brigade that was to be sent south to the Falklands. Unfortunately, as a NATO battalion we could not be deployed and spent that summer training for armoured warfare in Canada.

It was to be 1986 before 1 KINGS was sent to the Falklands. Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Gaskell and I went down first to recce the tasks. We found the capital Port Stanley still littered with the detritus of war. The new airfield at Mount Pleasant had a huge building which the troops christened the ‘Death Star’ from all the lights in the blackness of the South Atlantic.

Kings patrol in the Falklands — KINGS patrol deploying by Chinook. Image: Courtesy of Robin Hodges.

The Battalion HQ and Major Paul Filler with A Company was to be based on a Coastel, a floating accommodation block in Port Stanley. B Company commanded by Major John Wilkinson was to be on West Falklands, and I was to deploy C Company to protect RAF Mount Pleasant and Mare Harbour which were still being built. Each Company was to have a Platoon out in the ‘Camp’ patrolling the isolated farms and any possible landing places for Argentinian forces.

During our four-month deployment C Company was reinforced by a platoon from the Territorial Army 5th/8th Battalion (5/8 KINGS), spending their two weeks ‘summer holiday’ in sub-Antarctic weather.

The Battalion was also responsible for the defence of South Georgia. The token force commanded by Major Tim David was based on the reinforced Recce Platoon.

New road from Stanley to Mount Pleasant. Image: Courtesy of Robin Hodges.

We patrolled across the islands with war-scales of ammunition for about five days at a time. Our packs weighed around 80 pounds.

C Coy 1 KINGS tactical training Major Hodges, Kgn Roberts, LCpl Atherton, Kgn Young, Cpl Page. Lull before the assault, note fixed bayonets. Image: Courtesy of Robin Hodges.

Halfway through the tour, C Company discovered a shot-down Argentenian Pucará aircraft complete with pilot. His father and sister were allowed to attend the military funeral, which C Company conducted, but had to travel from Argentina to France to UK and then to the Falklands as no direct communication was allowed between Argentina and the Falklands.

Port Stanley 4 years after the war. Image: Courtesy of Robin Hodges.

In the natural harbour at Stanley was the hulk of a Liverpool built wooden ship, the Jhelum, which had been abandoned in 1870. The Regiment was to provide support to the Maritime Museum attempting to preserve it.

The role of the King’s Regiment in the Falklands long continued, in 1992 1 KINGS was ordered to deploy a reinforced Company to Mount Pleasant and to South Georgia. During the 1990s the mission of the Territorial Army was changed to providing individual Reservists to reinforce the Regular Army and during the last years of the century several volunteers from 5/8 KINGS served in the Falklands. In 2002 a Detachment of 1 KINGS Mortar Platoon deployed to the Falklands to provide fire support for the Resident Infantry Company, and so another generation of Kingsmen experienced all three seasons in an hour.

Patrol experiencing all the seasons in an hour. Image: Courtesy of Robin Hodges.

The lives of 255 British military, 649 Argentine troops and 3 civilian Falkland islanders were lost during the conflict. A sobering reminder of the horrors of war that continue today.

366 Argentine rifles piled beside the road leading to the airfield at Port Stanley after being surrendered. © IWM FKD

Learn more about the King’s Regiment at the Museum of Liverpool.