CHILDREN OF 1982 TRAVEL 8000 MILES TO BID FAREWELL

Aim: To fund our 1982 children to visit the Falklands and bid a final farewell to their fathers who were buried at sea during the Falklands War.

INTRODUCTION       

I am a Welsh Guards Falklands Veteran who has, since 2002 organised annual pilgrimages to the Falkland Islands for Welsh Guards veterans of the Falklands War, many who are still suffering with the physical and psychological injuries to the present day. In February 2026 I and our team of Welsh Guards veterans are planning a pilgrimage to the Falklands for the 1982 children who faced a future without their fathers.

THE CONFLICT 

The Falklands War was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in1982 over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its territorial dependency, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The conflict began on 2 April 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, followed by the invasion of South Georgia the next day. On 5 April, the British government dispatched a naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force before making an amphibious assault on the islands. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June, returning the islands to British control. In total, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the hostilities.

THE SIR GALAHAD TRAGEDY 

On 8 June, while preparing to disembark the Welsh Guards, in Port Pleasant, Fitzroy, together with RFA Sir Tristram, Sir Galahad was attacked by three Skyhawks of the Argentine Air Force. At approximately 1400hrs local time, Sir Galahad was hit by three bombs, which exploded and started fierce fires throughout the vessel. The explosions and subsequent fires caused the deaths of 48 crew and soldiers, 38 of these were members of the 1st Bn Welsh Guards.

SIR GALAHAD LAID TO REST

On 21 June 1982 the Sir Galahad was towed out to sea by the tugboat Typhoon and thereafter scuttled by submarine HMS Onyx using her torpedoes; it is now an official war grave, designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act.

THE SACRIFICE 

Since this incident, now forty three years ago families have suffered there unmeasurable loss to the present day and many are now of course deceased, however, the children of our servicemen who made the supreme sacrifice on the 8th June 1982 have grown up without their fathers and continue to suffer their loss.  They have never had the ability to say a final farewell and have no final resting place to visit, therefore, they look forward to a final closure at the Welsh Guards Memorial in the Falkland Islands.

WHAT WE STRIVE TO DO

We would very much like to help grant that closure if at all possible and therefore we are planning an initial visit to the Falkland Islands for a group of Welsh Guards children of the deceased soldiers of 1982. This visit to the Falklands, which is a 16000 mile round trip will include visits to the many locations of the 1982 campaign, they will also be hosted by local Falkland Islanders and hopefully will meet the Governor at Government House, the highlight of course will be an all important service at the Welsh Guards Memorial which carries their father’s names, the memorial also overlook’s Port Pleasant where the Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram were attacked and bombed on that fateful day forty three years ago.

FUNDING PLAN

With regard to the financing of this venture, all members of the group are contributing towards daily expenses like food, fuel, accommodation and vehicle hire etc, accomodation is also part funded by the local Falklands Veterans Foundation and transport is further part funded by local companies . Because of the great distances involved the flights are extremely expensive, albeit, we have been given discounted rates by the Falkland Islands Government, thereafter, we hope to gain final funding for the group flights from the generosity of understanding people like yourselves who I’m sure can appreciate how important this visit is to the 1982 Children of our deceased Soldiers who were buried at sea all those years ago.

PLEASE NOTE:-  The two photographs highlighted are representing the group of Nine 1982 children, all with similar circumstances 

With Very Best Wishes and Many Thanks for your consideration of this request.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 15th September 2025 at 11:30pm