The
Sunday Times Insight Team produced this paperback in 1982, not long after the
end of the war, which was quite an achievement. The writing team consisted of
Paul Eddy, Magnus Linklater and Peter Gillman, though they were assisted
several reporters and researchers; participants from both sides of the conflict
were interviewed.
The
book contains black-and-white photographs, diagrams and maps.
On
the night of April 1, 1982 the first Argentine troops landed – variously called
the Amphibious Commando Company or the
Buzo Tactico - two distinct military groups; depends on whose report is
true. According to this book the Argentines attacked Moody Brook barracks with
indiscriminate bursts of automatic fire, using phosphorus grenades and riddling
each room with bullets. Fortunately, the barracks had already been abandoned by
the Royal Marines. ‘The Argentine government made much of the claim that its
troops had gone to great lengths to ensure that the invasion was bloodless.
That was largely the result but what happened at Moody Brook suggests it was
not the intention’ (p15).
According
to an Argentine officer, they only used tear gas and intended to take prisoners,
and only fired their weapons to alert other troops converging on Government
House. (The Argentine Fight for the
Falklands by Martin Middlebrook (1989)).
Mid-morning
on April 2 the Union flag was lowered, to be replaced by the blue and white
flag of Argentina.
Chapter
2 covers some of the diplomatic events taking place at the UN building in
February. Talks had been going on for about five years or more, with no headway
being made. Talk was that if negotiations got nowhere there would be an
invasion in July. Also ongoing was a dispute between Argentina and Chile
regarding the Beagle Channel.
Chapter
3 relates the history of the Falkland Islands and the assorted occupiers, going
back to the 1500s. In 1690 English Captain Strong stepped ashore and named the
islands after Lord Falkland, the commissioner of the admiralty. Frenchmen came
in his wake... The poet Byron’s grandfather
sailed into a bay off West Falkland in 1765 and established Port Egmont.
As it happened the French had set up a settlement on East Falkland in 1764,
Port Louis. In 1767 the French sold Port Louis to Spain for £250,000. ‘Spain formally
restored Port Egmont to the British – on September 16, 1771’ (p38).
In
1816 the United Provinces of the River Plate split from Spain and Argentina was
born. In 1820 an Argentinian frigate took formal possession of the islands.
Some argy-bargy ensued over the years, including the razing of Port Louis by
the American corvette Lexington, and the
establishment of a penal colony whose prisoners promptly murdered the colony’s
new governor. At that point the British sloop Clio hove into sight and was mostly welcomed by the Port Louis
settlers. The British raised their flag on January 2, 1833 and stayed.
Argentina protested for almost 150 years thereafter, ultimately appealing to
the UN whose resolution 1514 of 1960 ‘pledged to bring an end everywhere
colonialism in all its forms’ (p41). The UN’s 1965 resolution pressed Britain
and Argentina ‘to find a quick and peaceful solution to the problem, bearing in
mind the UN charter and the interests of the population of the said islands’
(p41).
In
January 1982 scrap merchant Constantino Sergio Davidoff visited the British
embassy in Buenos Aires to report his intentions: the scrap metal merchant had
a contract to dismantle South Georgia’s four old whaling stations (which were
closed in the early 1960s); they belonged to the Christian Salvesen shipping
firm in Edinburgh. The Argentinians saw an opportunity to bring forward their
intended invasion, using the scrap metal issue as both an excuse and a cover.
On
March 19 four British Antarctic Survey scientists were on a field trip to Leith
from their base in Grytviken (comprising about 30 BAS people). They spotted the Argentinian naval fleet
auxiliary Bahia Buen Suceso anchored
in the harbour. Onboard were a contingent of marines, arms, ammunition, radio
equipment, field surgical kit and food supplies. The troops were led by a slim,
boyish-looking man whose shock of fair hair earned him the nickname ‘el Rubio’:
Captain Alfredo Astiz. (p68). Astiz was a particularly nasty character,
responsible for torture and death. He landed about 50 men, some in paramilitary
uniform, and raised the Argentinian flag. The BAS scientists reported this to the
governor at Stanley.
On
March 20 HMS Endurance, with a
contingent of Royal Marines was directed from Stanley to South Georgia and
authorised to use force if necessary. Three days later Endurance was redirected to Grytviken; however, two marines were
landed surreptitiously to an observation post on a bluff overlooking Leith
harbour and, on March 25, they noted the Bahia
Paraiso arrive and disembark many troops and their equipment. They reported
by radio to London via a satellite link; but it was kept a closely guarded
secret – why?
MI6
had a base in Buenos Aires. ‘Every Wednesday a meeting is held after lunch
time, attended by, among others, the naval and military attachés at the British
embassy’ (p78). On March 24 their assessment was that something was up – naval exercises
with the Uruguayan navy were not plausible, judging by first-hand intelligence
from the naval bases. Their opposite numbers in the American embassy concluded
that an invasion was due on April 1.
The
machinations in the UN make for interesting reading as certain countries take
sides. ‘Guyana, worried about the claims on her territory made by neighbouring Venezuela,
was on the British side’ (p114). [And this situation is still contentious today!]
Interestingly, the Russians abstained – the issue did not affect their
interests. America sat on the fence initially, for Argentina supported the
fight against Communism that was spreading in Latin America: ‘We’re friends on
both sides,’ Reagan announced. (p115). Ultimately, the British ambassador Sir Nicholas
Henderson, with the help of General Haig, brought the Americans on-side. ‘On April
30... America would be allying herself publicly with the UK. “Armed aggression
of that kind must not be allowed to succeed” said the president’ (p137).
Chapter
12 – ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ – relates the travails and recovery of South Georgia
and the surrender of the Argentinians based there.
The
recapture of Port Stanley signalled the end of the conflict with the surrender
of the Argentine forces on June 14.
There
are chapters and sections on the air-battles and aircraft, the terrible loss of life, the
sinkings, and the bravery on both sides. As a piece of ‘instant reportage’ it
is an impressive book. Granted, after all this time, as many more facts (and
books) have surfaced some of this account will have been expanded upon and even
corrected. Still, it’s a worthwhile read for an overview of the conflict.
It
concludes: ‘At least the war has guaranteed one thing for the Falklanders on
their remote rocks in the South Atlantic. No one will ever again underestimate
the dangers they face’ (p265). [Famous last words?]
