10th ANNIVERSARY of LIBERATION
A unique set of 4 mini-sheets in a Presentation Pack
Feturing stamps from 4 different postal authorities:
The Falkland Islands
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Ascension Island
St Helena




Pack measures 10.75 inches x 6.75 inches


Falkland Islands


On 2 April 1982 the illegal occupation of the Falkland Islands began with the taking of Government House by Argentinian troops. Before the Falkland Islands were recaptured and Major General Menendez surrendered in Port Stanley at 9am on 14 June 1982, over 1,000 men had died and hundreds had been injured in the conflict.


South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands


The occupation of South Georgia began with the illegal occupation by Argentinian scrapmen who went to salvage an abandoned whaling station and ended on 26 April when Captain Alfredo Astiz signed the formal surrender after British troops had recaptured South Georgia.


Ascension Island


The vanguard of the task force arrived on Ascension Island in April to establish bases there. These bases were extremely important in the prosecution of the aerial campaign as well as being invaluable for the training of troops and the storage of supplies and equipment.


St Helena


The old RMS St Helena was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence on 20 May 1982 for service as a supply/support vessel with the British Task Force. Nineteen St Helenians (three women and sixteen men) volunteered for service with the RMS during her Royal Navy Charter. The absence of St Helena's only ship during the crisis period resulted in, amongst other things, the first "Mail Drop" as depicted on the 45p stamp.


A Message from Admiral Sir John Woodward GCB, Naval Task Force Commander

It surprises me to think that it was only ten years ago that the tranquility of the South Atlantic was shattered by the horror of the Falklands War. Peaceful and peace-loving communities found themselves in the battle line of a war. This was a war waged, in the main, by young men many of whom, from both sides, would have had difficulty in locating the Falkland Islands on a map a few months previously. Inevitably this war brought death, injury and destruction of livelihood and property for both civilians and Servicemen. Young lives were lost and broken while much of the achievement of civilian communities was overturned and, forever, disrupted.

The last 10 years has been of necessity, for all involved in those hard days of war, a time to rebuild lives, hopes and ambitions. The civilian communities have shown their determination to rebuild and live their lives in the way that they have chosen.

For some of those Servicemen who fought in the war there is no chance to continue as they were. Some are dead, some injured but all will have had loved ones and families who saw them off to was and who may now be alone or, for the rest of their lives committed to helping or looking after an injured son or relative.

It is therefore very appropriate that the money generated by the sale of these stamps should go to the Soldiers' Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association. This is a charity that I have known for all of my serving life and I recognise and applaud the important and excellent work the charity does to help the families of Service and ex-Service men and women.

Thank you for buying these stamps and by so doing perhaps helping a family of a Servicemen who did so much to defend peace and the rule of law in 1982.


This commemorative Presentation Pack has been jointly sponsored by the Crown Agents Stamp Bureau, the Soldiers' Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association, the Governments of the Falkland Islands and St Helena and the Administration of Ascension Island.

Cover illustration Copyright British Crown Copyright 1991/MOD reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Britiannic Majesty's Stationary Office.



Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited