Falklands Telex hailing victory sold for £7,000

A COPY of the Telex announcing to the British government that Argentina had surrendered in the Falklands War has sold for more than £7,000 at auction.

Sent by the commander of the British land forces, Major-General Jeremy Moore, it states that the junta’s forces have laid down their arms and the Falklands are “once more under the government desired by their inhabitants”.

The document sold yesterday for £7,250 to an anonymous US bidder at Bonhams in London.

The message was sent via special forces to the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) on 14 June 1982 – six days before the hostilities officially ceased.

A total of 255 UK servicemen were killed retaking the South Atlantic islands while 649 Argentinians lost their lives in the 74-day conflict.