The Falkland Islands and Cyberpoint

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About the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are a United Kingdom Overseas Territory by choice. Supreme authority is vested in Her Majesty The Queen and exercised by a Governor on her behalf, with the advice and assistance of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

The current Falkland Islands Constitution has evolved since 1985 and, under its terms, eight Legislative Councillors are elected every four years. The Legislative Council (LegCo) is chaired by a Speaker and includes two ex officio members: the Chief Executive and the Financial Secretary. The Attorney General and Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands (CBFSAI) are also entitled to attend LegCo meetings. The Speaker is a non-elected position, chosen from the community by Councillors.

Each year the Legislative Councillors elect three of their number to stand as members of the Executive Council (ExCo), which includes the same two ex officio members who sit on LegCo. In addition, the Attorney General and CBFSAI may attend and speak on any matter. The Governor is obliged to consult ExCo in the exercise of his functions.

LegCo is empowered to pass legislation for the peace, order and good government of the Falkland Islands, subject to the approval of Her Majesty the Queen, acting through her Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. LegCo meetings are held in public, usually bi-monthly.

Elected Councillors have a substantial measure of responsibility for the conduct of affairs concerning the Falkland Islands, although the Governor retains responsibility for various issues, particularly external affairs and defence. The Governor nevertheless consults regularly with Councillors on these issues.

No political parties are represented on the present Legislative Council, all members being elected as independents. There is no formal opposition. Each Councillor takes responsibility for a particular portfolio and works closely with the relevant departments, but does not have the role of a Minister; instead, questions of policy are considered by ExCo.

The Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau

The Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau was set up in 1978 to run in association with but independent from the Post Office. Prior to this time, Post Office staff looked after the day to day running of philatelic needs. The volume of work increased to the point that a separate department was required. After the Falklands War in 1982, the sale of Falkland Islands stamps and philatelic material reached such heights that it became one of the largest earners for the Treasury. Other revenues have now grown and this is no longer the case, although Falkland stamps are still very popular. A strict policy for the issue of stamps is adhered to as much as possible and is something we believe helps to keep the Falklands in the top collectors list.

In addition to handling stamps from the Falklands, the Philatelic Bureau is also responsible as the principle agent for the production and sale of stamps for the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (formally the FI Dependencies) and sales agents for the British Antartic Territory (also formally part of the Dependencies). Prior to stamps being issued, the first in 1878, a frank was first introduced in 1869 and used to show that postage had been paid. Since that time, the only period when Falkland Islands stamps were not in use was during the Occupation by the Argentine Forces in 1982. However, very soon after the Islands had been liberated by the British Armed Forces, the Stanley Post Office was back in business.

The South Atlantic Medal Association (1982)

SAMA82 began its existence on April 2nd 1997, the fifteenth anniversary of the uninvited arrival of Argentine forces in the Falkland Islands. Soon afterwards, a task force was assembled in Great Britain and dispatched to the South Atlantic to restore Her Majesty's Sovereignty. On June 14 1982, Major General Jeremy Moore was able to announce to the world that the Falkland Islands were once again living under the Government of their choice. Seventy four days of occupancy had elapsed.

Even those who were not wounded physically found that they had changed on their return home. A few were suffering from the cluster of severe symptoms known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; others merely had disturbed dreams. For nearly all veterans of the short but sharp South Atlantic conflict, November 11th's Remembrance Sunday now became an intense emotional experience, along with feelings of sadness and loss on specific anniversaries such as the land battles of Goose Green, Mount Harriet, Tumbledown, Two Sisters, Wireless Ridge and Mount Longdon - or the death in action of a friend and comrade elsewhere, perhaps at sea, or closer to shore at Fitzroy Cove, or in the Battle of San Carlos Water. Three Falkland Islanders also died in the fighting; two hundred and forty nine members of the Task Force did not return to their homes ...

All these people are united in one thing. They, or their next-of-kin, received from Her Majesty's Government the South Atlantic Medal. It was awarded to all personnel who took part in operations in the South Atlantic for the liberation of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. To qualify, the recipient had to have at least one full day's service in the Fakland Islands or South Georgia, or thirty days in the South Atlantic operational zone, including Ascension Island. Additionally, those who qualified under the first condition were awarded a rosette to wear on the medal ribbon. What is perhaps surprising is that nearly 30,000 of these medals were awarded, underpinning the Government's seriousness in terms of generating the forces needed to carry out the difficult task of dislodging the Argentine invaders. The breakdown of medal awards was: Royal Navy 13,000; Royal Marines 3,700; Royal Fleet Auxilliary 2,000; Army 7,000; Royal Air Force 2,000 and Merchant Navy/Civilian 2,000.

The main purposes of SAMA82 are simply stated. We intend to maintain and promote a sense of pride and comradeship among all veterans of the South Atlantic campaign, and to keep them in touch with each other in a manner which respects both individual privacy and personal requirements. We also want to establish and maintain contact with other organisations involved in the welfare of the armed forces, and ensure that due consideration is given to the interests of South Atlantic veterans. SAMA82 will also investigate for consideration, by an appropriate organisation, any case of hardship or distress amongst South Atlantic veterans in which direct financial assistance is sought or recommended. Finally, and perhaps most importantly for the majority of SAMA82's members, we desire most strongly to re-establish and strengthen links with the people of the Falkland Islands.

Falklands 25 Pilgrimage

A party of 200 men and women will go on a Pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands. They will be a mixture of Combat Stress registered veterans, other veterans and a small number of relatives of people who died in the conflict. It is not a SAMA 82 pilgrimage as such and will therefore be open to any veteran of the conflict. Up to 100 of the pilgrims will be combat stress registered and this figure includes a small number of professional staff who will be on hand to help with any problems. The other 100 places will be split approximately 90/10 respectively between other veterans and relatives of those who died. In all categories, priority will be given to people who have never been back to the Islands since leaving in 1982, for whatever reason - postings, private visits, previous pilgrimages, etc. In the event that there are too many applicants (who have never returned) for the number of seats available, then a draw of names will be conducted by the pilgrimage committee to decide who will travel. If the seats are not filled by those who have never been back, remaining seats will be filled by those who have previously returned and again, will be decided by a draw of names conducted by the pilgrimage committee.

The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel

When the thunder of the guns was finally stilled in and around the Falkland Islands on 14th June 1982, 258 families were left to count the terrible cost. They had lost sons, fathers and husbands in the fierce actions fought at sea, on land, and in the air.

More than half the British casualties died at sea; the majority under fierce enemy attack which sank five ships and damaged eight more, some severely. Most of those killed have no grave but the sea. Others died in the fighting on land; many on dark hillsides in night battles. Yet more were killed while flying over land and sea. The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, located in the south of England has been built in their memory. Let them never be forgotten.

Falklands Task Force Rugby

As the rugby season draws to a conclusion in Spring 2007, the Nation will mark the 25th Anniversary of the British Armed Forces deployment to the Falkland Islands. The liberation of the islands will be commemorated with a rugby match and a fund raising dinner at the Twickenham Stoop - home of Harlequins Rugby - on Saturday 16th June 2007. All proceeds will be donated to the South Atlantic Medal Association (1982) - SAMA(82).

Whilst the event will be a traditional rugby occasion, the theme is one of commemoration and remembrance to honour the 255 men of the Task Force and the 3 Falkland Islanders killed before the Royal Marines were once again able to raise the Union Jack over Government House in Port Stanley. Also, 777 men were wounded in action, many of whom struggle to lead a normal life. So we will remember them, and it promises to be a memorable occasion. The match will be a Task Force Invitation team containing the current most talented players from the units that fought in the conflict, against a Penguins XV that will field famous names from the international scene.

Dr Rick Jolly

Surgeon Captain Rick Jolly is a former Royal Marine doctor with extensive experience of combat medical support gained in Northern Ireland and the Falklands War of 1982. Now a civilian, he still works as a doctor and gives lectures to medical establishments on his wide experiences. He offers entertaining lectures to non-medical audiences, having for a time served as ship's doctor on a cruise ship. "Doc" Jolly is also a successful author. His first book was the story of the medical base at Ajax Bay which he commanded during the Falklands War. It is the proud boast of the staff who manned that facility that every British soldier who arrived there, some with terrible wounds, left alive. He will always remember the courage shown by the Welsh Guardsmen who were flown there after the disaster at Fitzroy.

In 1997, Denzil Connick and Chris Pretty were setting up a group for Falklands War veterans. "Doc" Jolly was introduced and brought his usual drive and energy, he became the Founding Chairman and SAMA(82) is today a thriving and well-respected organisation. He created and runs Friends of SAMA as a fund-raising vehicle. FoSAMA has part-funded development work on the SAMA web site, in particular its unique Garden of Remembrance dedicated to those who gave their lives. It has also paid for the computers at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne.

A large part of the income for FoSAMA comes from other books "Doc" has written, in particular "Jackspeak", a guide to Naval slang and usage. A new edition is now on sale. An earlier book, currently being revised, is "In Confidence", a collection of humorous comments gleaned from confidential personnel reports on servicemen and women. "Doc" has also written a gripping novel based on his experiences in Northern Ireland. "For Campaign Service" is the story of a plot to stage a 'spectacular', and the army's attempts to foil it.

The Red and Green Life Machine

The Falklands War was a remarkable episode in the history of three countries: Great Britain, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. It brought about fundamental changes in each case. It was a dazzling military accomplishment too, and because of the intense worldwide media interest at the time the detailed record now available provides a unique case study for historians to examine a small war from every conceivable angle; militarily, politically, and sociologically.

As a military venture, Argentina made a number of catastrophic errors. Errors of judgement, errors of timing, errors of tactics, and errors of leadership. Despite all that they still had all the advantages, and once in possession of the Islands they should have been unmovable. Britain had to send a hastily assembled fleet half way round the globe, with minimal support at such extreme range, make a hazardous amphibious landing, and assault well-established defences to recapture the Islands. In accomplishing that objective, Britain showed the value of a well-trained, well-led professional force. The task force, as it was called, comprised around 100 ships of all shapes and sizes, many requisitioned and still crewed by civilians, and altogether almost 30,000 men and women. They were awarded the South Atlantic Medal for their part in the war.

Nowhere was that professionalism better demonstrated than with the medical services. From training the troops for immediate first-aid; to evacuating the wounded from the front line by helicopter and often under fire; to the life-saving field hospital at Ajax Bay (where no British causualties died); to the Hospital Ship Uganda close-in to the Islands; to the support ships evacuating causualties to Uruguay; and the RAF air bridge flying them back to hospitals in England. This is the story of the Field Hospital at Ajax Bay told in diary form by the commanding officer, Rick Jolly.

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