A series of lectures, memorials, exhibitions and other events will be launched in the coming days to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War.
Here are the key events in the Falklands conflict of 1982.
March
March 19: Workers from Argentine Davidoff scrap metal company land on the island of South Georgia without permission.
In the ensuing dispute, HMS Endurance, which had been earmarked for retirement, is dispatched to the island.
April
April 1: Falklands Governor Rex Hunt is informed that an Argentine task force is gathering. UN Security Council meets at UK request.
April 2: The Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands begins, overpowering 80 Royal Marines and local volunteers.
April 3: Argentine forces take South Georgia.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announces that a task force will sail to the South Atlantic.
The United Nations General Assembly passes resolution 502 calling for the cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of Argentine troops and the resumption of sovereignty talks between Britain and Argentina.
April 5: Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington resigns. The task force, including the aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible, sets sail.
April 10: The EEC agrees sanctions against Argentina.
April 12: The UK announces a maritime exclusion zone 200 miles around the islands.
April 25: British forces retake South Georgia.
April 30: Britain declares a total exclusion zone around the islands.
May
May 1: The first British attacks sees the RAF bomb Stanley airfield in an 8,000-mile round-trip from Ascension Island.
May 2: Argentine cruiser General Belgrano is sunk by the British.
May 4: HMS Sheffield is hit by an Argentine Exocet missile. Twenty officers and ratings are killed, with 26 injured.
May 14-15: The SAS raids Pebble Island. Several Argentine Pucara aircraft are damaged or destroyed.
May 20: UN Secretary-General admits the failure of UN talks.
May 21: British forces land at San Carlos on East Falkland and establish a beachhead. HMS Ardent is sunk, killing 22 crew members.
May 23: HMS Antelope is attacked, it later explodes and sinks.
May 25: HMS Coventry is sunk by air attack, killing 19 of her crew. Container ship Atlantic Conveyor is destroyed by Exocet missile, killing 12. Atlantic Conveyor was the first British merchant vessel lost to enemy fire since the Second World War.
May 27: British Forces move forwards to Teal Inlet and Mount Kent.
May 28: There is a British victory in the battle for Darwin Hill and Goose Green (2 Battalion the Parachute Regiment) – 17 British servicemen are killed. Among those killed is the commanding officer, Lt Col “H” Jones, who is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
June
June 1: 5 Infantry Brigade arrive at San Carlos.
June 8: Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram are bombed at Fitzroy, killing 51.
June 11-12: British forces take Mount Harriet, Two Sisters and Mount Longdon. Among the 22 killed during 3 Para’s Longdon operation is Sgt Ian McKay, who is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
HMS Glamorgan is hit by land-launched Exocet missile, killing 14 Britons.
June 13-14: British forces take Tumbledown Mountain, Wireless Ridge and Mount William approaching Stanley.
June 14: Argentine General Menendez surrenders to British Major-General Jeremy Moore.
June 17: General Galtieri resigns as leader of the ruling junta.
June 25: Governor Rex Hunt returns to Stanley.
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