The conflict lasted 74 days, during which seven ships were lost to enemy action, nine aircraft were shot down, and 255 British personnel lost their lives. Their names are all inscribed on the Armed Forces Memorial at the Arboretum.
Registered attendees only
The Royal British Legion will host a special commemorative event centred around the Armed Forces Memorial, to mark 40 years since the end of the conflict. The commemorations will focus on the broad range of military and civilian involvement in all aspects of the Falklands campaign, which was unprecedented in modern times, and will feature veteran testimonies from key moments in the conflict as well as the Act of Remembrance.
The Falklands 40 Commemorative Event is open to veterans of the Falklands Conflict in receipt of the South Atlantic Medal, the bereaved family members of the 255 service personnel who lost their lives during the war, and civilians who supported the Task Force, such as the Merchant Navy and Dock Workers. All attendees are invited to bring one guest with them to the event.
Registration for the Falklands 40 commemorative event is now open and will run until Friday 29 April 2022.
All eligible veterans, bereaved family members and civilians wishing to attend the event must register firstly with their respective military or service association. You do not need to be a member of your association to register for the event. If individuals have no affiliation to any service or unit association, then please email falklands@britishlegion.org.uk.
For further information and FAQs for this event, please visit the RBL website using the button below, or contact falklands@britishlegion.org.uk
Pre-booked services only
Associations attending the commemorative event will also be welcome to host their own short Acts of Remembrance at individual memorials prior to the main commemorative activity at the Armed Forces Memorial, but these must be booked in advance.
Advance booking strongly recommended
The National Memorial Arboretum will be open to the public on 14 June. Tickets to visit on this day will be made available on 7th April. Please note that these tickets are for those wishing to observe the services throughout the day and pay their respects and will not allow access to the RBL hosted event.
Please note that on Tuesday 14 June, the Armed Forces Memorial will be closed between 12noon and 4pm due to the Royal British Legion Falklands 40 Service. In addition to this, the area to the rear of the Armed Forces Memorial, which includes the Camp Bastion Memorial and the Soroptimist International Memorial Garden, will not be accessible on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 June due to the event and related preparations.
The Arboretum is likely to be very busy on 14 June, so a park and ride facility may be in operation. Please book your parking in advance as normal and follow the signs on the day.
If you are visiting the Arboretum on 13 or 14 June and want to check if the memorial you wish to visit will be available, please email info@thenma.org.uk, call 01283 245 100 or ask at the Welcome Desk upon your arrival and a member of our team will be happy to help.
While you are on site, make sure to take the time to visit our indoor exhibition featuring sketches by war artist Linda Kitson. Displayed at the Arboretum forty years later, her vivid drawings provide a unique window into the experience of those who fought on the front line, reminding us of the sacrifice that they made.
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