In April 2022, Imperial War Museums marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. New exhibits in the permanent galleries at IWM London and IWM North went on display for the very first time. The story and legacy of the Falklands Conflict was also explored through a series of five films for IWM's YouTube channel and an episode of the Conflict of Interest podcast.
A pivotal conflict
On 2 April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands, followed by South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Despite being 8000 miles away, Britain sent a task force of warships and rapidly refitted merchant ships to the South Atlantic.
Fierce fighting in the air, at sea and on land culminated in the surrender of Argentinian forces in South Georgia on 26 April and the Falkland Islands on 14 June.
649 Argentinians, 255 British service personnel and three Falkland Islanders were killed.
The outcome of the conflict was arguably a turning point for the leadership of Margaret Thatcher and for Argentina’s President Leopoldo Galtieri, who was removed by his own Government following the defeat.
The 40th anniversary is an opportunity to improve public understanding of this conflict, the impact of which still resonates to this day.
Programme
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© IWM (FKD 314) Paul Haley for Soldier MagazinePaul RG Haley Photographs
IWM London
Images taken by professional photographer Paul RG Haley, who covered the conflict for Soldier Magazine, will be on display. His photographs reflect the varied experiences of British and Argentinian forces on the Islands and capture pivotal moments in the campaign, such as the landings at San Carlos and the advance to Port Stanley. Many of Haley’s photographs have never been displayed before.
Haley remembers: "In 1982, I was privileged to photograph Britain's armed forces throughout their campaign to retake the Falkland Islands. These events changed many lives, including mine, and deserves to be remembered. In particular, I hope my photographs will bear witness to the effort, suffering and sacrifice which I witnessed during those difficult days."
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© IWM Art.IWM ART 15530 59Linda Kitson collection
IWM London
Drawings by Linda Kitson, who was the first female artist commissioned by IWM to accompany troops into conflict, will be displayed alongside clothing, equipment and testimony of her time following British forces
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© IWM (FKD 298) Paul Haley for Soldier MagazineCorporal Neil Maher
IWM North
New displays at IWM North will focus on the stories of those who served with British forces during the conflict, including objects relating to Bolton resident Corporal Neil Maher, who served as a signals specialist with No. 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps.
Maher set up ship-to-shore communications for crewmen of the damaged RFA Sir Tristram after the ship was bombed at Fitzroy on 8 June.
Visitors to IWM North will also be able to see some of Paul Haley’s photographs projected in the galleries, as part of a series of large-scale, newly digitised photos and film taken during the conflict.
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IWM Duxford
Several other significant objects relating to the Falklands Conflict can be seen at IWM Duxford, including an Avro Vulcan Bomber, the most famous of the British V bombers.
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Online
IWM will also be releasing a series of five short films on the conflict, explaining the extraordinary Land, Sea and Air operation carried out by British forces to retake the islands. Visit IWM’s YouTube Channel to see each episode as it is released.
Series two of critically acclaimed podcast Conflict of Interest will feature an episode focused on the Falklands Conflict. Actress Katherine Parkinson and IWM’s John Beales explore why the conflict happened, how it played out and its impact on the UK and Argentina.
Why Britain fought for the Falklands | Episode 1
In the first episode of our five-part Falklands series IWM Curator Carl Warner looks at why the Falklands Conflict happened.
Why did Argentina believe they could take the Falklands without a fight? What was the invasion like? And why did Britain choose to fight for these islands 8,000 miles from home?
A Short History of the Falklands Conflict
The Falklands Conflict was a short undeclared war between Argentina and Britain over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands (known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
The conflict lasted 74 days and cost over 900 lives.
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