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0:00:02 > 0:00:04The Falklands in the south Atlantic.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09The reason for the most unexpected and unlikely war...
0:00:09 > 0:00:13..in Britain's recent history after Argentina occupied the islands.
0:00:13 > 0:00:18It cost hundreds of lives and the bombing of the Sir Galahad...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22..was a disaster for the Welsh Guards.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25But for Argentina, losing the war was dishonourable.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27The feeling of national disgrace continues.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33Blood is thicker than water so the war is still painful...
0:00:33 > 0:00:35..for Welsh Argentinians in Patagonia.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Welsh soldiers in the British Army and soldiers from Welsh descent...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43..in Patagonia were fighting each other.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47I love Welsh history and traditions.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50But I am also an Argentinian 100%.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52And the Malvinas?
0:00:52 > 0:00:56The Malvinas belongs to us, belongs to Argentina.
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0:01:20 > 0:01:222nd April 1982.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27Argentine tanks and heavy artillery rolled into Port Stanley.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Thousands of young soldiers followed to occupy the Falklands...
0:01:31 > 0:01:36..300 miles from South America and 8,000 miles from Britain.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Could the UK regain it?
0:01:39 > 0:01:43I think the islands must remain for Argentina...
0:01:43 > 0:01:46..and they will remain for Argentina.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51In the capital, Buenos Aires, there's rejoicing.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55The crowd unite to praise the military junta...
0:01:55 > 0:01:58..under the General Galtieri's leadership.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01They're not the Falklands now but the Malvinas.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04I was working in Buenos Aires.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08I was one of the thousands who went to celebrate.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12There was nothing but celebrations and singing...
0:02:12 > 0:02:14..and dancing.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17The Argentine flag was everywhere.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22Everybody was celebrating and we were very happy.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Gaiman in Patagonia.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Buenos Aires is far away and the Falklands crisis even further.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Although only 30 years have passed since the war...
0:02:38 > 0:02:40..it feels like another time.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Billy Hughes had just completed his military service in 1982.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51He was within a hair's breadth of going to the islands...
0:02:51 > 0:02:57..but as he was over 18, he was too old to be called up.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00But he wanted to fight for his country.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03SING IN SPANISH
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Were you ready to fight when the war was on?
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Yes, I was ready. Truly.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17I thought I would be called up.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23To be honest, I was waiting, I was expecting to be called up.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I have to say.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Were you hoping for the call?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30I don't know if I was hoping...
0:03:30 > 0:03:34..but I'd have happily gone to the Malvinas.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38We own the Malvinas, no doubt about it.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43You won't go far in this country without seeing signs like this...
0:03:43 > 0:03:46..saying the islands belong to Argentina.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50The call for them to be returned is louder than ever.
0:03:51 > 0:03:5530 years on, there's anger and tension...
0:03:55 > 0:03:59..with anti-British protests in Buenos Aires.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Argentina has taken its complaint to the UN.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Patagonia is the nearest South American region to the Falklands.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12During the war the residents feared the RAF would attack the mainland.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17That didn't happen but the blackout was a reality every night.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I was 10-years-old and lived with my grandparents.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26At night, I still remember it, the alarm from a factory...
0:04:27 > 0:04:30..near the river here, would sound.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35It would go off at about 10.00pm every night.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Every house in the town had to switch off their lights.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42How scared were people the Gaiman?
0:04:42 > 0:04:46I remember we moved to the other side of the river.
0:04:47 > 0:04:54I'd ask, what would happen if a bomb fell on the bridge?
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I'm never going to see Nain.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03The whole Patagonian coastline went into red alert.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08I remember me and my sister hiding under a table...
0:05:08 > 0:05:11..in the darkness.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16We just waited for the bombs to fall.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21That was quite a frightening period of time.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24I think that...
0:05:28 > 0:05:34..it was the first time I thought maybe I was going to die.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37But the threat to Patagonia's people was minimal...
0:05:37 > 0:05:40..compared to thousands of young conscripts...
0:05:40 > 0:05:44..who were sent to the islands to fight.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Many of them had just left secondary school...
0:05:48 > 0:05:51..and received a month's military training.
0:05:56 > 0:06:02The cold and hunger mean nothing.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Only God and your motherland.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32In Argentina's large towns you'll see centres like this one in Trelew.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35They help former soldiers scarred by the war...
0:06:35 > 0:06:39..and then treated as a national embarrassment.
0:06:41 > 0:06:42Gracias.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Thank you.
0:06:45 > 0:06:46Diolch!
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Iechyd da.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Salud. Iechyd da.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Iechyd da.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The manager is Horacio Kent.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59He's from Welsh descent and remembers his grandfather...
0:06:59 > 0:07:01..speaking the language.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06As an 18-year-old soldier he could hardly hold, let alone shoot, a gun.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16By the end, we were starving and cold.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22The cold and hunger together are terrible things.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30We scraped for food wherever we could.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35Some died from food poisoning.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43Nobody can suffer anything worse.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50In Trelew, in the shadow of Lewis Jones's memorial...
0:07:50 > 0:07:53..one of Patagonia's founders, I'm meeting Milton Rhys.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56He's another Argentinian of Welsh descent.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00He has unique evidence from the eye of the storm.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03He was General Menendez's translator...
0:08:03 > 0:08:06..the military governor at Government House, Port Stanley.
0:08:08 > 0:08:15I realized that Menendez wasn't the real boss.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21At the end of the war, as the British forces closed in...
0:08:21 > 0:08:26..on Government House, Milton Rhys overheard a row over the phone...
0:08:26 > 0:08:29..between Menendez and General Galtieri...
0:08:29 > 0:08:32..who refused to believe Argentina had been beaten.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41Menendez said it was all over for us.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45We didn't have heavy artillery to fight with.
0:08:47 > 0:08:54But Galtieri was shouting, "Cowards, go and fight."
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Without raising his voice...
0:08:57 > 0:09:02..Menendez said he didn't understand the situation.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07But the memories aren't all bad.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12At the church in Port Stanley, Milton Rhys met a Welsh nurse...
0:09:12 > 0:09:13..Bronwen Williams.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Neither could speak Welsh but as they sang a hymn...
0:09:18 > 0:09:21..they realized they came from the same lineage.
0:09:22 > 0:09:30They handed out hymn books and I sang the tenor part.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Bronwen sang contralto.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Singing four part harmonies is a Welsh tradition.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48It makes the blood run stronger!
0:09:50 > 0:09:52It was a very emotional moment.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Happy and sentimental at the same time.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02The cost of the war could be counted in more than just numbers.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05255 British personnel died.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08649 Argentinians were killed.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12But for some in Patagonia it hurt that Welshmen...
0:10:12 > 0:10:16..and Argentinians of Welsh descent were fighting each other.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18It was very sad.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21There was no reason for it either.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26The Welsh weren't claiming anything for themselves...
0:10:26 > 0:10:29..rather then English were doing that.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36It was such a pity that soldiers from Wales came to war here...
0:10:36 > 0:10:40..and suffered here in this part of the world.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Well, it was very sad. Very sad.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48How hard was it to comprehend that Welsh soldiers...
0:10:48 > 0:10:51..were fighting soldiers from Welsh descent?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53It was very sad.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58It's a big world and Wales is a small part of it.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01To think we were fighting on a small island.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It's odd that happened.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07It's also a pity.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09The individual doesn't choose...
0:11:09 > 0:11:14..but the governments from the countries who sent the soldiers.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Ricardo Andres Austin didn't go by choice.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20He's another of Patagonia's children.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24The 18-year-old farmhand had never left his home...
0:11:24 > 0:11:26..before going away to fight.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29He died during the war's first battle.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34A memorial for him was erected at the roadside near his mother's home.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36His grandfather spoke Welsh.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38His great-grandfather, Thomas Tegai Austin...
0:11:38 > 0:11:44..was one of the first Welsh people to come over on the Mimosa in 1865.
0:11:50 > 0:11:51For weeks after the war...
0:11:52 > 0:11:55..Celinda Austin received very little news about her son.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59One message arrived to say he was alive and well.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04It took the Army two months to send a letter saying that he'd died.
0:12:04 > 0:12:10She fought for many years to make the state pay a worthy pension.
0:12:13 > 0:12:20It's nice to be reminded of him, although it's just a statue.
0:12:26 > 0:12:33There's a bouquet of flowers in his hands - our family put them there.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Celinda has been to the islands to visit the Argentine cemetery...
0:12:42 > 0:12:48..in Darwin - close to where her son died on the battlefield.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Like many young conscripts...
0:12:51 > 0:12:54..he's lying in an unmarked grave.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Neither the bodies of the soldiers or the families of the dead...
0:12:59 > 0:13:02..got the respect they deserved.
0:13:04 > 0:13:11I was hoping to see his grave. No. Almost all the graves are unmarked.
0:13:24 > 0:13:32Known only unto god - those are the words on his grave.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Awful - terrible, terrible.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45In his last letter from the islands, her son was happy.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48He said he wasn't afraid.
0:13:49 > 0:13:56He wanted to protect his nation - he's a hero.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14June 14th, 1982.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19The Marines flying the Union Jack above Government House in Stanley.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24In Buenos Aires, three decades on, losing the war still hurts.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27The Malvinas are top of the political agenda...
0:14:27 > 0:14:31..and the ex-soldiers are finally getting the attention they deserve.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner...
0:14:37 > 0:14:41..is determined to reclaim the islands.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46And in the United Nations...
0:14:46 > 0:14:50..Argentina, with the support of other South American countries...
0:14:50 > 0:14:56..is arguing for the decolonisation and demilitarisation of the islands.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04In Trevelin in the Andes, like everywhere across the country...
0:15:04 > 0:15:09..the schools teach children that the Malvinas belong to Argentina...
0:15:09 > 0:15:12..in an historic and geographic sense.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Isias Grandis is a school teacher...
0:15:18 > 0:15:22..he preaches at the chapel and teaches at the Sunday School.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26The islands are part of Argentina.
0:15:27 > 0:15:33The majority of young people hate the English...
0:15:35 > 0:15:39..because they've stolen these lands.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Why did they come to conquer the islands?
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Why do they do that across the world?
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It makes us very angry.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Who do they think they are? What are they thinking?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Why do they want more lands?
0:15:58 > 0:16:02The Prime Minister, David Cameron, says the people of the Falklands...
0:16:02 > 0:16:05..have the right to self-governance.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07But there was anger in Buenos Aires...
0:16:08 > 0:16:12..when he accused the Argentinians of being colonialists.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16David Cameron has said Argentina is being colonialista.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18What do you say to that?
0:16:19 > 0:16:21He's pulling our legs.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25I laugh because when you put it like that...
0:16:25 > 0:16:30..England is famous for being a colonialista all over the world.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35You just have to look at the world to see where its colonies are.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40England is a colonialista. It's in the blood.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Argentina also claims...
0:16:44 > 0:16:48..sending Prince William to the islands was an insult...
0:16:48 > 0:16:51..on the eve of the 30th anniversary.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58It doesn't surprise me. They like to provoke.
0:16:59 > 0:17:05They know how to colonise and steal things.
0:17:05 > 0:17:11Britain, no matter who the Government is...
0:17:11 > 0:17:14..will never be prepared to give them back.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19There is more at stake than in 1982.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21The islands are prosperous today.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Rich fisheries bring in a good income.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Oil can also be found beneath the sea.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34It's hoped large profits could be made if it can be exploited.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38We're talking about fishing and we're talking about oil.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41People are not stupid.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46They say they are keeping the islands to look for anything.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49And now we can see...
0:17:49 > 0:17:54..the whole word is running out of petroleum, oil.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56So, now they search for petrol.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01A century ago, their strategy was to rule the world.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Now, it's natural resources.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07That's why they insist on being there.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10It's not because they're overly concerned...
0:18:10 > 0:18:13..about the rights of the 3,000 islanders.
0:18:13 > 0:18:19It's because there is such a rich fish stock there.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22And you also have the oil.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27I believe that is one thing that drives people to war.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Does Britain own these things?
0:18:29 > 0:18:32That's what they say, but we don't.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Buenos Aires is looking at the islands' natural resources...
0:18:38 > 0:18:41..and uses every diplomatic weapon to put pressure on Britain.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46It doesn't currently have the resources or the desire to wage war.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51I would like the Malvinas to become part of Argentina once more.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56The English can call them the Falkland Islands if they wish.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00But it should all be done peacefully.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03We should not talk about war again.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06People need to sit down and talk.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11If the only way for Argentina to reclaim the Malvinas...
0:19:11 > 0:19:14..is by going to war, I don't want the Malvinas.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16I don't want them through war.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Britain has no intention of giving up sovereignty.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Some families have been in the Falklands for seven generations.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It's their say according to David Cameron.
0:19:27 > 0:19:33People have been living there for hundreds of years.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35170 years.
0:19:35 > 0:19:41We have to think what would happen to these people, the British.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45What would we do with them if we get the Malvinas back?
0:19:45 > 0:19:50Throw them in the sea, bring them here or send them to Britain?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54It's difficult.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58You can understand their point. They were born there.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02They're English people. They are English people's children.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08They feel they are part of England or Britain.
0:20:08 > 0:20:14But such is the world, Britain isn't what it once was.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16It is no longer an empire.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Even the countries within Britain...
0:20:20 > 0:20:25..are separating from each other to some extent.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Scotland, and so on.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33There is no future for them as British citizens in the long term.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39Their best option is to integrate with Argentina. That would be best.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Integrating the islanders with the South American continent...
0:20:43 > 0:20:47..isn't a new or unlikely idea says historian Fernando Williams.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51There was always a strong link, especially before the war.
0:20:51 > 0:20:57This cemetery in Buenos Aires is proof of the link over 200 years.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Yes, there are many British people.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I do not want to sound offensive to the islanders.
0:21:03 > 0:21:09But I believe they may feel they have some sort of debt to pay...
0:21:09 > 0:21:15..so that they now try to make out that they are more British...
0:21:15 > 0:21:19..than they used to be before the war.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25They are trying to create an image of being British...
0:21:25 > 0:21:30..without any connections to South America.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35From the historic viewpoint, that is completely wrong.
0:21:36 > 0:21:42The islanders were part of a large community of British descendants.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45That also includes Patagonia.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Is there any hope of creating a new political model...
0:21:54 > 0:21:58..which combines a form of self government with shared sovereignty?
0:21:58 > 0:22:03Is there an opportunity for co-operation and discussion?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Self government is important.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13For us, as Argentinians...
0:22:13 > 0:22:19..we should be prepared to listen to the islanders' views.
0:22:19 > 0:22:25I do not think that ignoring the islanders is a good idea.
0:22:25 > 0:22:31We have to be more creative in order to move forwards.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33That's what I believe.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38So, you don't think President Kirchner and David Cameron...
0:22:38 > 0:22:41..are being very creative now?
0:22:41 > 0:22:47Not at all. They're not prepared to consider any new ideas.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51This can be a very dangerous thing.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55In the centre of Buenos Aires is a memorial...
0:22:55 > 0:22:58..to the soldiers who died.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03Few Argentinians want a war, but they still lay claim to the islands.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07But they do not wish to sacrifice another young life.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13In the past, the connection between Britain and Argentina...
0:23:13 > 0:23:16..had been a very successful one.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22I believe...
0:23:22 > 0:23:26..the Malvinas would be the perfect place to celebrate the fact...
0:23:26 > 0:23:32..the fact that this connection has been so successful.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52S4C subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:23:52 > 0:23:53.