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The Falkland Islands
Factfile |
 The Falkland Islands |
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History |
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The Falkland Islands are a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, open to any British Citizen and are an associated territory of the European Union. Since their first discovery in 1592, the rule of the Islands has changed numerous times. Englishman John Davis first discovered the Islands, but it wasn’t until 1690, Captain John Strong on the behalf of the British, made the first recorded landing on the Falkland Islands.
The first British settlement was established in 1766 and until 1833, the Islands underwent a period of confusion, when Spain, France, Britain, and then the Argentinian Government at various times attempted to claim the Islands for themselves.
Finally in 1833, Britain took management of the Falklands. A British Governor was appointed and the Islands have been a dependency of Britain ever since. But this has not been plain sailing. Argentina still wanted the Islands and although by the 1970s a relative friendship existed between the two countries, this gradually deteriorated. In 1977 the future of the Islands was discussed, followed in 1980 by a Foreign Office visit to see the Falkland people. Unfortunately by 1981, no mutual agreement could be reached. This led to the Falklands war of 1982.
On April 2 1982, a huge invasion of the Islands by Argentine forces took place. The 80 Royal Marines and local volunteer force were overpowered and the Islands were placed under Argentinian rule. A combined British Task Force was despatched on April 3, the first troops landing at San Carlos Bay on May 21. By June 14, the Argentine invaders had been overcome after fierce sea, land and air battles and the Falkland Islands were successfully returned to British control. During the war, 258 Britons, 3 Falkland Islanders and over 1,000 Argentinains lost their lives.
It was not until 1990 that the two countries re-established diplomatic relations. British troops are still based in the Falkland Islands, around 2,000 personnel at the Mount Pleasant air base. The responsibility locally for defence and security of the Islands now lies with the Commander of the British Forces Falklands Islands.
It was during the Falklands Conflict, that the predecessor to the current HMS Endurance came into the limelight. HMS Endurance, ex- Anita Dan, was acquired by the Royal Navy in 1967, to maintain a British presence in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands during the summer months and support the work of British Antarctic Survey.
In 1982, the Royal Navy intended to decommission the vessel, following a defence review by John Nott, but the Falklands War intervened. During the conflict, the Royal Marine detachment on board HMS Endurance played a pivotal role in reclaiming the Island of South Georgia from the Argentines. For her part in the war, HMS Endurance was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for 1982 and won for the ship her first Battle Honour.
Unfortunately, in 1989 HMS Endurance struck an iceberg and although she was repaired, a survey in 1991 declared that the hull was not sound enough for a return to Antarctica and she was finally decommissioned. She was replaced by the current HMS Endurance.
So what do you know about the Falklands today? After reading the rest of this fact file, hopefully you will be able to answer that question for yourself.
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