Remarks visiting the Falklands (Fitzroy, Goose Green and San Carlos)

Document type:	Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue:	Falkland Islands
Source:	IRN Archive: OUP transcript
Journalist:	Nicholas Witchell, BBC, reporting
Editorial comments:	MT visited Fitzroy (0830-0945 local time), Goose Green (1010-1125) and San Carlos Bay (1255-1405). She laid a wreath at the military cemeteries at Goose Green and San Carlos Bay then flew on to Port Howard and Fox Bay before returning to Government House at 1815. BBC Radio News Report 1800 10 January 1982 has further material from her visit to the cemetery at San Carlos Bay. Asked if her emotions were deeply stirred, MT replied, "Very deeply. It’s invidious to pick out anyone - all of them were extremely brave men, and to restrain evil deeds you require people who are brave and bold". At Fitzroy she visited the settlement and inspected a battery of field artillery. She was filmed with Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse firing one of the guns; ITN indexes record her saying "I think that went off, don’t you?" At Goose Green she spoke to local people at the Community Hall, thanking them for the presents she had received (BBC indexes)
Importance ranking:	Minor
Word count:	351
Themes:	Autobiographical comments, Defence (Falklands)

Nicholas Witchell, BBC

At the airstrip Mrs Thatcher laid a wreath on the grave of Lieutenant Nicholas Taylor, the Harrier pilot who was shot down in a raid there right at the beginning of the campaign. Then she went down to the settlement to be welcomed at the Community Hall where 114 people had been kept locked up by the Argentines during their occupation. What happened there, she told them, was part of our history and their history:

We have always had a total belief in freedom and justice and in living your own way of life, bringing up your own family in the way in which we believe. We couldn't let you down and you never let us down.

Nicholas Witchell, BBC

At San Carlos the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the cemetery which contains the grave of H. Jones and thirteen other men who died in the campaign.

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Nicholas Witchell, BBC

It was in the confined space of this hall that all 114 of the settlement were held captive for a month.

Can I say thank you very much for these lovely things, for this badge which says “Kelpers Forever, Grateful for the Task Force”.

Nicholas Witchell, BBC

The sky grew more sombre as the Prime Minister headed on for her major task. With Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse who directed the task force operations from London at her side, the Prime Minister walked slowly into the small plot to lay her wreath at the foot of a plain wooden cross. That done, she went first to the grave of Lt. Colonel H. Jones, VC. Then she went on to inspect the other graves one by one, lingering by each. It was a sombre moment, one clearly of great significance to Mrs Thatcher. [end p1]

We wrote on the card for the wreath “They died in battle that we might live in freedom” and we can't in fact be anything other than deeply grateful for what they did.