Twenty years ago on the 2nd April 1982 Argentine Forces invaded the Falkland Islands. The British Government responded immediately by organising Operation Corporate, dispatching advanced elements of a Task Force southwards to recover the islands. South Georgia was recaptured without casualties in late April as the remainder of the Task Force assembled east of the Falkland Islands.

On the 21st May, Brigadier Julian Thompson's 3rd Commando Brigade made initially unopposed landings at San Carlos on East Falkland and quickly consolidated a bridgehead. To secure the southern flank of the bridgehead the 2nd Bn Parachute Regt fought the major land engagement at Goose Green.

The Argentine Air Force, avoiding contact with British Sea Harriers responded by attacking the Task Force at anchorage in San Carlos water, eventually sinking a number of Royal Navy ships. At sea Exocet missiles had been a constant threat after the sinking of HMS Sheffield on the 4th May and the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor carrying vital equipment and supplies forced British troops to march eastwards. After fighting a series of actions in the mountains west of Port Stanley in early June, Argentine forces finally surrendered to General Jeremy Moore on the 14th June, 1982.

The Sound Archive began interviewing people who took part in the Falklands Conflict in the early 1980s. Listen to extracts from some of these interviews.

We have recently started a second Falklands Conflict oral history project and aim to interview as many people as possible over the next ten years. Further information about the Sound Archive.

All photographs featured on these pages are held by the Museum's Photographic Archive.

See the Online Exhibitions page for more Sound Archive extract pages