Hugh McManners

Forgotten Voices of the Falklands

Ebury Press, 2007    [History, Eng, I3]

–––––––––––––––––––––––

In March 1982, Argentina surprised the world by invading the Falkland Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The tiny islands had long been the subject of a fierce territorial dispute between Argentina and the UK, and the occupation quickly escalated into a terrifying full-blown conflict between the two countries.

From the initial invasion of the islands to the British landings, the sinking of the Belgrano to brutal combat at Goose Green, the Argentinean surrender through to its aftermath, Forgotten Voices of the Falklands is a unique and thrilling chronicle of the conflict recounted in the words of those from all sides and perspectives.

Drawing upon the vast resources of the Imperial War Museum’s Sound Archive, Hugh McManners - who himself fought in the Falklands War - has created the definitive oral history book on the subject.

–––––––––––––––––––––––

A strange book, built by simply transcribing the voices recorded by the many people involved at the time - mostly UK soldiers and officers, but Argentinians and people from the islands as well - with flashes of small facts and moods during the weeks which lead up to the war when the UK forces were assembling and moving south, and then when the fight developed up to the final victory.

The resulting story provides quite an unusual point of view, out of the official history, and displays in real time rivalries, human miseries, misunderstandings, and heroisms on both sides.

The top staff of UK Navy falls short and probably didn’t deserve all the credits it was given, the Argentinian forces were not supported by effective leaders, but the war was risky and unsure, and in the end British forces on the ground only prevailed because soldiers and field officers (both Marines and Army Corps) were well trained and fiercely up to the job.

The war was over. But the political problem is unresolved.