Thatcher in a private letter to a Conservative Party activist makes clear that she regards the Royal Marine presence in Stanley as sufficient to prevent an Argentine invasion
Great Britain · Warfare / Falklands War. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Thatcher in a private letter to a Conservative Party activist makes clear that she regards the Royal Marine presence in Stanley as sufficient to prevent an Argentine invasion
Thatcher confirms the retirement of HMS Endurance
MP Julian Amery asks if all necessary steps are in hand to ensure the protection of the Islands against unexpected attack but receives an evasive reply
MP Julian Amery asks if all necessary steps are in hand to ensure the protection of the Islands against unexpected attack but receives an evasive reply
Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington refuses to send a submarine to patrol off the Islands and South Georgia
Hercules aircraft operated by Argentine military airline LADE,on a mail run to an Antarctic base, lands at Stanley Airport, falsely claiming a fuel leak, and carrying senior Argentine officers who survey Stanley
Thatcher asks the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence for contingency plans in case of an Argentine blockade or invasion of the Islands
Davidoff sends 40 workmen on naval vessel Bahia Buen Suceso to dismantle Leith whaling station, the workmen fail to ask permission to land from the British Antarctic Survey base at Grytviken and hoist the Argentine flag
Carrington says a diplomatic solution is being pursued
British Foreign Secretary Carrington asks US Secretary of State Alexander Haig to intercede with the Argentine junta in an attempt to avoid military action
Britain begins contingency planning for the sending of a task force to the Islands
The Joint Intelligence Committee reports an invasion seems imminent, Thatcher orders 3 nuclear submarines south to the Islands
Governor Rex Hunt is informed Britain believes Argentina is planning a submarine landing on the Islands as a means of increasing pressure over South Georgia
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sir Henry Leach advises a crisis meeting headed by Margaret Thatcher that Britain could and should send a task force if the islands are invaded.
At a crisis meeting headed by Thatcher, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Henry Leach advises that Britain can and should send a task force if the islands are invaded.
Operation Corporate is the codename given to the British military operations in the Falklands War, the commander of task force operations is Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse
The invasion met a nominal defence organised by the Falkland Islands Governor Sir Rex Hunt, giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Royal Marines
BBC journalist Laurie Margolis was able to speak with an islander at Goose Green via amateur radio, who confirmed the presence of a large Argentine fleet and that Argentine forces had taken control of the island
The invasion met a nominal defence organised by the Falkland Islands Governor Sir Rex Hunt, giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Royal Marines
Governor Hunt is informed at 3.30pm FI time that Britain now believes a full invasion is planned and summons an immediate meeting of Government heads of department.
Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces"
Commodore Mike Clapp is in charge of the amphibious ships
In overall command is Commander in Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse at his headquarters at Northwood near London
Governor Hunt orders the surrender at 9.15am - by now the whole town other than Government House is under Argentine control.
Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces"
Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces".
MPs are recalled for an emergency Saturday sitting after the invasion.
Destroyers and frigates exercising off Gibraltar under Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward were ordered south. They were joined by the carriers Hermes and Invincible, loaded with Sea Harrier fighters as well as amphibious ships and merchant ships
UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply
British Government announces it will impose a 200-mile exclusion zone around the Islands on 26 April
Aircraft carriers Hermes and Invincible set sail from Portsmouth
A task force is sent by Britain to recapture the Falkland Islands from Argentina
Reagan terminates Haig's peace mission, declares US support for Britain, imposes economic sanctions on Argentina, and offers Britain materiel and other aid. British destroyer group takes up holding position in mid-Atlantic
The main task force sails south from Ascension Island. Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse chairs conference at Ascension Island with Admiral Sandy Woodward and 3 Commando Brigade which sets out detailed plans for the retaking of the Islands by force
Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse chairs conference at Ascension Island with Admiral Sandy Woodward and 3 Commando Brigade which sets out detailed plans for the retaking of the Islands by force
Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse chairs conference at Ascension Island with Admiral Sandy Woodward and 3 Commando Brigade which sets out detailed plans for the retaking of the Islands by force
British War Cabinet orders repossession of Islands
British task force arrives in Falklands waters
Britain warns Argentina that any military or civilian ship or aircraft representing a threat to the task force will be destroyed
QE2 leaves Southampton with 5 Infantry Brigade comprising Scots Guards, Welsh Guards and Gurkhas
War cabinet gives Admiral Woodward the go ahead for landing plan
Thatcher accuses Argentina of obduracy and delay, deception and bad faith, tells Commons of collapse of peace process, and orders task force into battle
Peter Blaker, Minister of State for Defence, announces that the official count of British military and civilian war dead is 255, with approximately 300 wounded
Peter Blaker, Minister of State for Defence, announces that the official count of British military and civilian war dead is 255, with approximately 300 wounded
British forces land on Southern Thule (South Sandwich Islands) - Argentines surrender without a fight. Britain formally declares an end to hostilities
Governor Rex Hunt returns to Stanley as Civil Commissioner
Thatcher appoints an official commission headed by Lord Franks to examine the causes of Britain's failure to prevent Argentine capture of the Islands
This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.