MEMORIALS ACROSS THE ISLANDS
Stanley
There are many memorials in and around Stanley, most within easy walking distance of each other.
The 1914 Battle Memorial commemorating the Battle of the Falklands on 8th Dec 1914 between Britain and Germany stands proud looking out to sea. The Cross of Sacrifice, a World War 1 memorial erected in 1926. The 1982 Liberation memorial, paid for entirely by Falkland Islanders stands prominent on Ross Road. Other memorials include but are not limited to the Southern Antarctic monument, Royal Marines memorial, 1982 Memorial Woods, Margaret Thatcher memorial bust.
A short drive towards Cape Pembroke Lighthouse (turn right at Stanley airport) takes you to the Atlantic Conveyor memorial, and the HMS Glamorgan memorial stands at Hookers Point near Surf Bay.
Heading out from Stanley towards Mount Pleasant airport look out on the left for the memorial to Lance Corporal Chris Thomas.
Fitzroy/Bertha's Beach
Fitzroy Harbour, named after Robert Fitzroy who commanded HMS Beagle during Darwin's voyages lays host to multiple memorials all related to the bombings of RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram on the 8th June 1982. 56 lives were lost and over 150 injured that day resulting in the largest loss of life in a single incident for Britain.
Fitzroy River is fed from a lake on the east side of Mount Whickham.
Fitzroy can be accessed by car and is approximately 45 minutes drive from Stanley on the MPA road on the left. The memorials are well signposted on approach.
If you are heading out to Fitzroy harbour let the office in Liberty Lodge know and they can arrange for the village hall to be opened.
Also to the left of MPA lies Bertha's Beach. To the right of the sweeping sands adorning Bertha's Beach you'll find a memorial for those lost on Foxtrot 4, the landing craft from HMS Fearless which was prominent in the rescue of over 100 people when HMS Antelope was hit.
Keys to the gates are required to access the memorial, available from Liberty Lodge office.
Goose Green/Darwin
The Battle of Goose Green was one of the most significant in the whole Falklands War as it "set the tone" for the entire British land campaign until the final victory in Stanley just a couple of weeks later. The victory at Goose Green, against many odds, came after a string of major setbacks, so it was a crucial morale booster.
It is also near Darwin that the official Argentinian war cemetery is located,
Ajax Bay/Campito Hill
On the North West coast of San Carlos waters lies Ajax Bay, one of three landing points and codenamed Red Beach as part of Operation Sutton in 1982.
The disused refrigeration plant was used as a field hospital and advanced surgical centre "The red and green life machine" run by Commander Rick Jolly until the 9th June.
The site was also used as a depot for Argentine prisoners.
Ajax Bay was also used as a mass burial ground.
Permission is needed to access the area. The refrigeration plant is now in a dangerous condition and must not be entered.
Campito Hill holds the memorial overlooking both HMS Antelope and HMS Ardent's resting places.
San Carlos/Bomb Alley/Blue Beach cemetery
14 of those killed in the Falklands War plus one more killed in 1984 remain at rest in San Carlos military cemetery.
the wall is tapered higher with seven slate panels, six with the Regiment, Name, Rank and Service of the fallen and one with the three Forces' Emblems and the following inscription;
1982
APRIL–JUNE
IN HONOUR OF
THE SOUTH ATLANTIC TASK FORCE
AND TO THE ABIDING MEMORY OF
THE SAILORS, SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND WHO
HAVE NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA
HERE BESIDE THE
GRAVES OF THEIR COMRADES THIS
MEMORIAL RECORDS THEIR NAMES
GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD AND
DECLARE HIS PRAISE IN THE ISLANDS
Make sure when you visit to sign the visitors book kept in a cabinet built in to the wall by the gates
Three weeks after the war broke out, the British ships entered Falkland Sound/San Carlos Waters. HMS Antelope still lies in the waters marked by a bouy,
Heading back to the Lodge via Estancia you'll come across the memorial for Ian 'Kiwi' Hunt. It is situated near the majestically long Prince’s Street stone-run between Estancia Farm and Green Patch Farm.
Teal Inlet
A small inlet on the south shore of Salvador water in the North East of East Falklands. It was the initial burial place for 29 British men before being moved to Blue Beach cemetery.
Pebble Island/Sea Lion Island/Port Howard
North of West Island lies Pebble Island, host to the HMS Coventry memorial. The Type 42 Destroyer was sunk 11 miles North on the 25th May 1982. 19 lives were taken after being attacked by Argentine A-4 Skyhawks.
Also on Pebble Island lies the SAS memorial marking the site of the first landing of active British forces to liberate the Falkland Islands on the 25th May 1982.
On the 4th May 1982 HMS Sheffield was hit by an exocet missile with 20 lives lost. She sunk 6 days later whilst under tow by HMS Yarmouth. Her memorial is on Bull Hill on the southern tip of Sea Lion Island.
On a ridge called Many Branch Point on the outskirts of Port Howard is the memorial for SAS Captain, Gavin John Hamilton M.C sited very close to where he died. His grave lies in Port Howard cemetery.
A plaque commemorating the role played in the Falklands war by HMS Alacrity
