Iron Lady drops a curtsey for the Queen at Falklands memorial
14th June 2007
Daily Mail
The Iron Lady bent in curtsey today as she greeted the Queen at the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Baroness Margaret Thatcher greeted the Queen daintily before going on to talk with Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie. The group gathered with Falklands War veterans today to mark the 25th anniversary of the islands' liberation.
On June 14 1982 the Argentineans surrendered, giving victory to UK forces sent to recapture the overseas British territory, following the invasion by Argentina in April of that year.
Former Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher drops a curtsey for the Queen as Tony Blair and wife Cherie look on
The Queen and Prince Philip attend the 25th anniversary of the liberation
Today at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, at Pangbourne College in Berkshire, servicemen gathered to remember both their success and their 255 colleagues who lost their lives in the conflict.
Meanwhile Prince Edward made a personal visit to Fitzroy Cove in the Falkland Islands, scene of the one of the biggest British military disasters of modern times, to pay tribute to those lost.
The Prince laid a wreath of poppies with the simple message "In Your Memory" at a monument overlooking the waters where the support ships Sir Tristam and Sir Galahad were bombed by Argentine jets.
Mark Coreth, 48, a troop leader with 4 Troop, B Squadron, Blues and Royals, was among the veterans at the Pangbourne gathering.
said: "There is sadness but huge feelings of pride.
"It was a campaign we all were prepared to give our lives for."
Mr Coreth, a sculptor, has recently crafted a memorial work featuring three flying black brow albatross birds outside the chapel.
Baroness Thatcher: Prime Minister throughout the conflict
He said he chose the albatross while in the Falklands last year as he believes it "depicts the courage, endurance and fragility of the campaign but also the islands' past, present and future".
James Hailwood, 25, from Chepstow, attending today's service, lost his father Christopher on RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Sir Galahad during the conflict.
Mr Hailwood, who was six months old when his father was killed, said: "We must remember those who knew them - I never knew my dad - because it's more difficult for them," he said.
Mark Jones, 46, of Fleet in Hampshire, a Royal Engineers Lance Corporal who served with 3 Parachute Regiment at Mount Longdon, said: "I feel quite emotional to be honest, anxious, but proud as well.
"I feel proud that we were able to do something for Britain.
"I'm here in respect of the boys who did not come home and their families.
"They paid the ultimate sacrifice and it's important they are never forgotten."
Baroness Thatcher earlier issued an extraordinary rallying call to British troops in war zones in a message to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falklands.
The frail former Prime Minister defied doctors' advice to make the speech, in which she said the 1982 victory showed "fortune favours the brave".
While there would be no "final victories" against tyranny, Britain was fortunate that none were braver than its armed forces, she said.
Prince Edward returns to the Falkland Islands to mark the anniversary of the liberation
A memorial to the dead, surrounded by poppy wreaths
Lady Thatcher, 81, led Britain through the crisis when Argentina invaded the Falklands, leading to the loss of 255 British and 649 Argentinian lives. In a radio message recorded for the British Forces Broadcasting Service, she said: "In the struggle against evil, we can all today draw hope and strength from the victory."
Lady Thatcher said the war had been in a noble cause. "The whole nation rejoiced at the success and we should still rejoice," she added.
"Aggression was defeated and reversed. The wishes of local people were upheld as paramount.
Britain's honour and interests prevailed."
But she confessed that she and her ministers had never been sure what the outcome of the conflict would be.
"Sending troops into battle is the gravest decision that any Prime Minister has to take,' she said.
"To fight 8,000 miles away from home, in perilous conditions, against a well-armed, if badly led, enemy was bound to be an awesome challenge.
At such times there is no lack of people, at home and abroad, to foretell disaster.
"But of two other things I could be sure - first that our cause was just, and second that no finer troops could be found in the world than those of our country."
Lady Thatcher, who ordered a taskforce to the South Atlantic after the invasion by Argentina, added: "The Falklands War was a great national struggle. The whole country knew it and felt it. It was also mercifully short.
"But many of our boys - and girls as well, of course - are stationed in war zones where the issues are more complex, the outcome is more problematic, and where life is no less dangerous."
And she commended the Falkland Islanders, saying: "Such intense experience unites us in spirit - even though a quarter century has passed."
dailymail.co.uk
14th June 2007
Daily Mail
The Iron Lady bent in curtsey today as she greeted the Queen at the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Baroness Margaret Thatcher greeted the Queen daintily before going on to talk with Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie. The group gathered with Falklands War veterans today to mark the 25th anniversary of the islands' liberation.
On June 14 1982 the Argentineans surrendered, giving victory to UK forces sent to recapture the overseas British territory, following the invasion by Argentina in April of that year.
Former Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher drops a curtsey for the Queen as Tony Blair and wife Cherie look on
The Queen and Prince Philip attend the 25th anniversary of the liberation
Today at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, at Pangbourne College in Berkshire, servicemen gathered to remember both their success and their 255 colleagues who lost their lives in the conflict.
Meanwhile Prince Edward made a personal visit to Fitzroy Cove in the Falkland Islands, scene of the one of the biggest British military disasters of modern times, to pay tribute to those lost.
The Prince laid a wreath of poppies with the simple message "In Your Memory" at a monument overlooking the waters where the support ships Sir Tristam and Sir Galahad were bombed by Argentine jets.
Mark Coreth, 48, a troop leader with 4 Troop, B Squadron, Blues and Royals, was among the veterans at the Pangbourne gathering.
said: "There is sadness but huge feelings of pride.
"It was a campaign we all were prepared to give our lives for."
Mr Coreth, a sculptor, has recently crafted a memorial work featuring three flying black brow albatross birds outside the chapel.
Baroness Thatcher: Prime Minister throughout the conflict
He said he chose the albatross while in the Falklands last year as he believes it "depicts the courage, endurance and fragility of the campaign but also the islands' past, present and future".
James Hailwood, 25, from Chepstow, attending today's service, lost his father Christopher on RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Sir Galahad during the conflict.
Mr Hailwood, who was six months old when his father was killed, said: "We must remember those who knew them - I never knew my dad - because it's more difficult for them," he said.
Mark Jones, 46, of Fleet in Hampshire, a Royal Engineers Lance Corporal who served with 3 Parachute Regiment at Mount Longdon, said: "I feel quite emotional to be honest, anxious, but proud as well.
"I feel proud that we were able to do something for Britain.
"I'm here in respect of the boys who did not come home and their families.
"They paid the ultimate sacrifice and it's important they are never forgotten."
Baroness Thatcher earlier issued an extraordinary rallying call to British troops in war zones in a message to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falklands.
The frail former Prime Minister defied doctors' advice to make the speech, in which she said the 1982 victory showed "fortune favours the brave".
While there would be no "final victories" against tyranny, Britain was fortunate that none were braver than its armed forces, she said.
Prince Edward returns to the Falkland Islands to mark the anniversary of the liberation
A memorial to the dead, surrounded by poppy wreaths
Lady Thatcher, 81, led Britain through the crisis when Argentina invaded the Falklands, leading to the loss of 255 British and 649 Argentinian lives. In a radio message recorded for the British Forces Broadcasting Service, she said: "In the struggle against evil, we can all today draw hope and strength from the victory."
Lady Thatcher said the war had been in a noble cause. "The whole nation rejoiced at the success and we should still rejoice," she added.
"Aggression was defeated and reversed. The wishes of local people were upheld as paramount.
Britain's honour and interests prevailed."
But she confessed that she and her ministers had never been sure what the outcome of the conflict would be.
"Sending troops into battle is the gravest decision that any Prime Minister has to take,' she said.
"To fight 8,000 miles away from home, in perilous conditions, against a well-armed, if badly led, enemy was bound to be an awesome challenge.
At such times there is no lack of people, at home and abroad, to foretell disaster.
"But of two other things I could be sure - first that our cause was just, and second that no finer troops could be found in the world than those of our country."
Lady Thatcher, who ordered a taskforce to the South Atlantic after the invasion by Argentina, added: "The Falklands War was a great national struggle. The whole country knew it and felt it. It was also mercifully short.
"But many of our boys - and girls as well, of course - are stationed in war zones where the issues are more complex, the outcome is more problematic, and where life is no less dangerous."
And she commended the Falkland Islanders, saying: "Such intense experience unites us in spirit - even though a quarter century has passed."
dailymail.co.uk
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