Veterans gather in London at weekend to remember Falklands dead

Jun 18, 2007, 11:11 GMT

London- Some 2,800 veterans of the Falklands Islands conflict between Britain and Argentina attended a commemorative ceremony in Central London at the weekend, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

Veterans of the conflict converged on Horse Guards Parade in London Sunday for the remembrance ceremony attended by 1,800 former members of the British Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Merchant Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force.

They joined serving personnel and massed military bands for the ceremonies attended by princes Charles and Andrew and former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

A further 1,000 veterans looked on from the stands with their families.

The conflict ended 25 years ago when the Falkland Islands, in the South Atlantic off the shores of Argentina, were 'liberated' by British forces on June 14, 1982, two-and-a-half months after they had been invaded by Argentina.

A total of 255 British servicemen and more than 650 Argentinians were killed in the conflict.

Traditional elements such as playing of the British national anthem were mixed with archive footage and personal histories relayed on giant screens for the ceremony which also featured Rod Stewart's I Am Sailing, the reports said.

The ceremony at the parade grounds was followed by a parade and a flypast over Buckingham Palace.