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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Falklands warning note discovered | Falklands warning note discovered |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A note demanding Argentina remove its flag from the UK territory of South Georgia - ahead of the Falklands conflict - is to go on public display. | A note demanding Argentina remove its flag from the UK territory of South Georgia - ahead of the Falklands conflict - is to go on public display. |
| The message - from the then Governor of the Falklands Rex Hunt - was radioed to members of the British Antarctic Survey to pass to the Argentines. | The message - from the then Governor of the Falklands Rex Hunt - was radioed to members of the British Antarctic Survey to pass to the Argentines. |
| The Argentine military landed on the island, 800 miles from the Falklands, on 19 March 1982. | The Argentine military landed on the island, 800 miles from the Falklands, on 19 March 1982. |
| The National Army Museum will display the note in a Falklands exhibition. | The National Army Museum will display the note in a Falklands exhibition. |
| The written version of the transmission was scribbled down by British Antarctic Survey plumber Neil Shaw on 20 March, after he and colleagues spotted the Argentine flag being flown by a party claiming to be scrap-metal workers. | The written version of the transmission was scribbled down by British Antarctic Survey plumber Neil Shaw on 20 March, after he and colleagues spotted the Argentine flag being flown by a party claiming to be scrap-metal workers. |
| Mr Shaw - who recently found the note while clearing out at home - wrote in his diary that they had taken the note to the Argentine ship, where it was read out to the captain. | |
| No military personnel are allowed to land in South Georgia, no firearms are to be taken ashore Message from Governor Rex Hunt | No military personnel are allowed to land in South Georgia, no firearms are to be taken ashore Message from Governor Rex Hunt |
| The captain said they had clearance to come ashore from the Argentine government. | The captain said they had clearance to come ashore from the Argentine government. |
| Mr Shaw has loaned it to the museum for its Task Force Falklands exhibition, which begins on April 2, the 25th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the islands. | Mr Shaw has loaned it to the museum for its Task Force Falklands exhibition, which begins on April 2, the 25th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the islands. |
| The 0530 message from Mr Hunt said: | The 0530 message from Mr Hunt said: |
| "SAT. MARCH 20th 1982. FROM THE GOVENOR [sic] OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. You have landed illegally at LEITH without obtaining proper clearance. | "SAT. MARCH 20th 1982. FROM THE GOVENOR [sic] OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. You have landed illegally at LEITH without obtaining proper clearance. |
| "You and your party must go back on board [their ship] the BAHIA BUEN SUCESO immediately and report to the BASE COMMANDER AT GRYTIVKEN for further instructions. | "You and your party must go back on board [their ship] the BAHIA BUEN SUCESO immediately and report to the BASE COMMANDER AT GRYTIVKEN for further instructions. |
| "You must remove the Argentine flag from Leith. You MUST NOT interfere with the BAS [British Antarctic Survey] depot at Leith. | "You must remove the Argentine flag from Leith. You MUST NOT interfere with the BAS [British Antarctic Survey] depot at Leith. |
| "No military personnell [sic] are allowed to land in SOUTH GEORGIA. NO FIREARMS are to be taken ashore." | "No military personnell [sic] are allowed to land in SOUTH GEORGIA. NO FIREARMS are to be taken ashore." |
| The note signals that it was already clear to the British government that Argentina's claim to the sovereignty of the islands posed a real threat. | The note signals that it was already clear to the British government that Argentina's claim to the sovereignty of the islands posed a real threat. |
| Dr Alastair Massie, head of archives at the National Army Museum, said: "There are some documents which, almost by accident, survive down the years and evoke a response from later generations because of the momentous events with which they are associated. | Dr Alastair Massie, head of archives at the National Army Museum, said: "There are some documents which, almost by accident, survive down the years and evoke a response from later generations because of the momentous events with which they are associated. |
| "This note, the British response to Argentine aggression, marked the countdown to the Falklands conflict and perhaps the least expected war in history." | "This note, the British response to Argentine aggression, marked the countdown to the Falklands conflict and perhaps the least expected war in history." |