The Falklands conflict is being forgotten with many people knowing little or nothing about the crisis which began on April 2, 40 years ago.
A survey by Help for Heroes found that one in four young people have never heard of the South Atlantic campaign, which was triggered by an invasion of the islands (a British Overseas Territory) by Argentina in 1982.
A poll of 2,100 adults found only 4 per cent were able to answer questions about the conflict correctly.
Half of those aged 18-34 did not know when the war happened; one in ten of that age group believed Britain started the conflict by invading the islands; and a similar number thought the islands were in the English Channel.
Help for Heroes wants to ensure the soldiers who liberated the islands after ten weeks of fighting are not forgotten.
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“There have been big improvements in government support for veterans since [1982], but we are concerned veterans are falling through the gaps,” Carol Betteridge, the Help for Heroes head of clinical and medical services, said. The charity points out that assistance is available now for all veterans. “Just because people were injured 40 years ago, doesn’t mean they don’t still need help,” Betteridge said.
“Every one of them deserves our help and we would urge anyone who is struggling to ask for help.”
