Veterans gather in Bomb Alley to remember the fallen

Heroes of the Falklands War have been honoured at the remote beach-head where they fought and died 30 years ago.

Veterans of the 1982 conflict laid wreaths and saluted their comrades at the British war graves at San Carlos on the island of East Falkland yesterday.

They were joined by Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne who later also laid a wreath at the Argentine cemetery at Darwin, near Goose Green.

Scottish Government veterans minister Keith Brown, a former Royal Marine who served in the Falklands, attended the service to represent and pay tribute to the “many brave Scots” involved in the conflict.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser was also there to lay a wreath in memory of servicemen killed in action.

In a Tweet sent from the islands, Mr Fraser said: “Laid wreath at the HMS Glamorgan memorial in memory of Brian Easton from Alyth and Brian Malcolm from Fife, both killed this day in 1982.”

In 1982 San Carlos bay, overlooked by what came to be known as “bomb alley”, was the setting for the biggest British amphibious landings since D-Day, 6 June, 1944.

Standing in the cold harsh wind at the circular stone cemetery – the main memorial to the 255 UK servicemen who died in the conflict – veterans, politicians and family members of the fallen, watched as five wreaths were placed beneath a monument.

Among those laying a red poppy wreath was former paratrooper Martin Margerison, 55, from North Wales.

Mr Margerison, who had been a 25-year-old corporal during the war, saluted as he placed his wreath on behalf of the members of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

Four hundred and fifty men from the regiment defeated 1,200 Argentines in bitter fighting at the crucial battle of Goose Green, during which 17 British troops and 47 Argentine soldiers lost their lives.

Yesterday’s service was conducted by the Reverend Richard Hines, who told the story of a man from Stanley who, on 21 May – day 50 of the Argentine invasion – wrote in his diary: “Wonderful news, the British are ashore at San Carlos – the last place anyone would expect them to turn up, but they are here.”

The Rev Hines added: “That jubilation and that herald of liberation, we now know, came at an immense cost.

“We’re here to again remember those that gave their lives at sea, on land or in the air during the Falklands War.”

The service was an emotional reminder for the veterans of the war and the friends they lost.

Mr Margerison said going back to the islands was “emotional, embarrassing and great”.

“It is always emotive, because you kick one and you kick all of us,” he said. “Everyone always says you don’t die for the Queen and country you die for your mates, and that’s quite true because you need your mates.”

Adding his respect for the Falklanders, he said: “Bravery comes from both sides and without what these people did on our behalf…the Argentines might have been a bit more prepared to get us.”