This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6519837.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Thatcher remembers Falklands dead | Thatcher remembers Falklands dead |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has attended a private ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands invasion. | Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has attended a private ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands invasion. |
| Lady Thatcher stood in silence during the London ceremony to remember the 255 Britons who died during the 74-day war. | Lady Thatcher stood in silence during the London ceremony to remember the 255 Britons who died during the 74-day war. |
| She laid a wreath bearing the message: "In memory of those who have given their lives for Britain and for the Falkland Islands." | She laid a wreath bearing the message: "In memory of those who have given their lives for Britain and for the Falkland Islands." |
| Earlier, Prime Minister Tony Blair met Falklands veterans in Fife. | Earlier, Prime Minister Tony Blair met Falklands veterans in Fife. |
| The war also claimed the lives of 655 Argentines and three islanders. | The war also claimed the lives of 655 Argentines and three islanders. |
| Wreath laid | Wreath laid |
| Lady Thatcher was prime minister when Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982 and dismissed advice from defence officials who feared the islands, 8,000 miles from Britain, could not be re-taken. | Lady Thatcher was prime minister when Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982 and dismissed advice from defence officials who feared the islands, 8,000 miles from Britain, could not be re-taken. |
| At the service on Monday, she wore a long black coat and black shoes and laid a wreath of yellow and white roses, lilies and orchids at the foot of the Falklands memorial at the cathedral. | At the service on Monday, she wore a long black coat and black shoes and laid a wreath of yellow and white roses, lilies and orchids at the foot of the Falklands memorial at the cathedral. |
| They were fighting in some of the most difficult circumstances. It took a lot of courage and a lot of commitment Tony Blair BBC scooped invasion news Argentina marks invasion Business as usual | They were fighting in some of the most difficult circumstances. It took a lot of courage and a lot of commitment Tony Blair BBC scooped invasion news Argentina marks invasion Business as usual |
| She was accompanied by Sukie Cameron, the Falkland Islands representative in Britain, who also laid flowers at the memorial. | She was accompanied by Sukie Cameron, the Falkland Islands representative in Britain, who also laid flowers at the memorial. |
| Lady Thatcher stood with her head bowed as Canon Lucy Winkett offered prayers, and did not speak for the duration of the ceremony. | Lady Thatcher stood with her head bowed as Canon Lucy Winkett offered prayers, and did not speak for the duration of the ceremony. |
| Earlier, Mr Blair met Falklands War veterans on board HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard, in Fife, and said he was honoured to do so. | Earlier, Mr Blair met Falklands War veterans on board HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard, in Fife, and said he was honoured to do so. |
| "I think we should sometimes just remember that we lost in the Falklands some 250 or more of the armed forces," he said. | "I think we should sometimes just remember that we lost in the Falklands some 250 or more of the armed forces," he said. |
| 'Tremendous sacrifice' | 'Tremendous sacrifice' |
| "And when we put that in context and we think of the losses in Afghanistan and Iraq which are actually less than that - we know just what a tremendous sacrifice and commitment those people made. | "And when we put that in context and we think of the losses in Afghanistan and Iraq which are actually less than that - we know just what a tremendous sacrifice and commitment those people made. |
| "And it was a very very tough endeavour for everybody. They were fighting in some of the most difficult circumstances. It took a lot of courage and a lot of commitment." | "And it was a very very tough endeavour for everybody. They were fighting in some of the most difficult circumstances. It took a lot of courage and a lot of commitment." |
| Mr Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificates | Mr Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificates |
| Mr Blair met veterans on board HMS Liverpool | Mr Blair met veterans on board HMS Liverpool |
| HMS Liverpool, a Type 42 destroyer, has just undergone a three-month refit and is set to return to active duty. | HMS Liverpool, a Type 42 destroyer, has just undergone a three-month refit and is set to return to active duty. |
| Among those meeting Mr Blair were Lt Cdr Nigel Smith, who was a 19-year-old able seaman on board HMS Active in 1982. | |
| Others included retired Navy officer Bill Gossam MBE, Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian, and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who took part in the battle of Mount Tumbledown. | Others included retired Navy officer Bill Gossam MBE, Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian, and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who took part in the battle of Mount Tumbledown. |
| Mr Blair was taken on a tour of the ship, watching a simulated air defence exercise and a demonstration of fire fighting techniques - many adapted from lessons learned during the Falklands War. | Mr Blair was taken on a tour of the ship, watching a simulated air defence exercise and a demonstration of fire fighting techniques - many adapted from lessons learned during the Falklands War. |
| He recently saluted Baroness Thatcher's courage in deciding to fight to reclaim the Falklands. | He recently saluted Baroness Thatcher's courage in deciding to fight to reclaim the Falklands. |
| His visit on Monday coincided with the announcement of a £6m contract, which will see another Type 42 Destroyer - HMS Gloucester - undergo improvements and repairs at the same yard. | His visit on Monday coincided with the announcement of a £6m contract, which will see another Type 42 Destroyer - HMS Gloucester - undergo improvements and repairs at the same yard. |