Blog 350 – The Falkland Islands Fighting – 6 April 2026

 

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Abandoned, rusty Argentine cannon left on top of Wireless Ridge, outside Stanley.  I took this photo on 11 February 2026.  A ferocious and bloody battle was fought here to liberate the Falkland Islands from Argentina.

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The view from Wireless Ridge.  I took this photo on 11 February 2026.  British Marines marched across the countryside just like this with heavy packs and arms on their backs so they could fight and defeat the Argentines.  The remarkable effort needed to reach the Argentines is summed up in the word “yomping”.

Yomping is a British military term which refers to a forced march over rough terrain, often with heavy equipment. It is a critical component of military training which builds physical stamina and mental toughness. The term gained prominence during the Falklands War, where British troops had to march across difficult terrain with heavy packs and weapons. Yomping is not for the faint-hearted and requires strength, endurance, and mental toughness. It is a skill that requires training and preparation, and it is essential for military operations.

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This photo shows the furthest reaches of the sea as we walked west from Stanley.  I took this photo on 11 February 2026.  Once the British had defeated the Argentines in the mountains that overlook Stanley, the task of liberating the Falklands was nearly complete.  The fighting was ferocious in this part of the Falklands and the war was over when the Argentines were defeated here.

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This photo shows Sam on 11 February 2026 as he toiled his way uphill into the mountains that look down on Stanley.  The wind howled ferociously around here.  Photo taken by me on Thursday 11 February 2026.

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Red phone boxes like this were everywhere in Australia in the 1960s.  The Australian phone box design came directly from Britain.  This antique phone box is located at the Waterfront Heritage Museum in Stanley.

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The Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentina in 1982.  The only town in the Falklands is Stanley.  The Argentines changed the name of Stanley, demanded that Falklanders drive on the right hand side of the road, as is done in Argentina and imposed Spanish instead of English as the official language.

The Falkland Islands had never been settled by Argentina or by the Spanish who ruled Argentina before it gained independence.

The British assembled the largest wartime fleet since WW 2 and sailed with soldiers to the south Atlantic where the Falkland Islands are located.  The British landed at a place called San Carlos on East Falkland Island and the soldiers then marched across the country to the mountains around Stanley.  Terrible battles were fought in the mountains and the Argentines were defeated.

The Falkland Islands were liberated from their Argentine conquerors.  In this blog, I talk about my visit to the mountains south of Stanley where the most bitter battles were fought.

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6.53 am Thursday 12 February 2026 Malvina House, Stanly, Falkland Islands I have showered and packed.  Today we stayed at Darwin House after visiting San Carlos.  We are to be picked up at 9.30 am and we meet for breakfast at 7.30. Yesterday Sam and I walked west along the Stanley seafront.  We kept going until the houses stopped and then kept walking to the end of the sea inlet that comprises Stanley Harbour.  There is an old, dreary looking building that we think was a barracks right at the end of the sea arm – abandoned long ago.  The road then turns to gravel, crosses cattle grids and curves up into the hills.  We followed the road up. This is where terrible fighting took place in the 1982 war with Argentina.  We reached Wireless Ridge where the Argentines were entrenched.  The British attacked from below in the teeth of superior Argentine men and superior Argentine troop placements. The wind howled across the heights.  Vast boggy plains stretched all around us.  On the way back down to the road, I passed one man with his dog and then I passed two other men.  This was such a lonely place, with rocky outcrops along the top of the ridge, plus a very large rusting cannon abandoned by the Argentines. This is where the war reached its climax and the Argentine defeat. Mountain Rest Spot The spot had some rocks around it. The rocks slightly slowed down the wind, So it was a fraction calmer here. It was also slightly warmer than on the top of the rocks. The wheel ruts were everywhere. Muddy, boggy slits in the grass, Places where vehicles had sometimes found traction, But mostly found mud.  The spot was slightly sheltered, But the storm had still overwhelmed all who had been here. The waves of suffering and sadness whipped through me. There were no ghosts here, There was only vast sorrow; An overflow of weeping sadness, sadness that made it hard for me to move. But I could not stay there. The waves of sorrow had to be abandoned. The Argentines had now physically gone, But they left their suffering sadness behind them. I trudged wearily away from that place. The bitter howling wind was preferable, Much preferable to the sorrow, The sorrow of the dead, the dying and the wounded. The more I walked, The easier it became. The spot had been wounded by death, But the wind recognised only life. It was better to leave the dead to rest. The mountains and the wind knew. Burdened spirits need time to recover. They need the wind to show them the way home.