Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth understood the sacrifices by the men and women of the armed services and the pain of bereaved families. In addition to awarding military honours, she introduced the Elizabeth Cross. It was the first medal to which the Queen put her name. Instituted in 2009, it gives special recognition to the families of those who have died on military operations or as a result of terrorism, since 1948.
2023 Reunion Planning
In a major change for the Association we are looking at holding the service of remembrance in the National Memorial Arboretum, at our remembrance Anchor, on Saturday 27 May 2023.
Pangbourne Falklands 40
The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College held the Falklands 40th service of remembrance on Sunday 12 June 2022. Shipmate Nigel Langhorn shared some photographs of the event.
40th Service of Remembrance
With over 220 people in the church of St Nicholas in HMS Drake the HMS Ardent Association, led by the ships patron HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, paid tribute to the 22 fallen shipmates who were killed in action on the 21 May 1982 during the Battle for Falkland Sound.
Remembering the 22
Shipmates, families of the fallen and the general public remembered our 22 fallen shipmates around the UK and beyond on the 40th anniversary of the Battle for Falkland Sound, 21 May 1982.
IWM Podcast: Conflict of Interest
Actor Katherine Parkinson is given a HMS Ardent Association Challenge Coin after the recording of the IWM Podcast for the Falklands Conflict which also featured ARDENT survivor Richard (Richie) Gough.
Falklands 40 Documentary
The story of those who died when HMS Ardent was bombed and sunk in Falkland Sound on May 21, 1982, was first told in the book 'Through Fire and Water' published in 2001. It is now part of a streaming documentary produced by author Mark Higgitt to be released on 21 May 2022.
40 Years On: Lessons learnt during the Falklands Conflict are more important than ever!
On Monday 25 April, SSAFA commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict with a reception in the House of Lords.
Hosted by the Rt Hon. the Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, who was Captain of HMS Ardent which was sunk during the conflict.
Ardent Falklands 40 Painting
A painting by artist David Ball commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. It shows the carrier HMS Invincible, the frigate HMS Ardent, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Sir Galahad, Stromness and ‘The Great White Whale’, the commandeered and converted troopship Canberra sailing in the Atlantic Ocean on their way to the Falklands.
Plymouth Falklands Memorial
Work to refurbish the Falklands Maritime Memorial in the Belvedere Garden of Remembrance on Plymouth Hoe is complete and it is now fully restored thanks to the work of HMS Ardent Association founders Tony Ray and Lenny Yeatman.
Falklands 40 - Full Steam Ahead
Veterans are getting ready to mark the 40th occasion of our 40th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands Conflict with events planned around the UK and in the Falkland Islands.
Image copyright: Falklands Goverment
Cenotaph Remembrance Parade 2022
Tony Ray has managed to have the Association added to the list of organisations to be allocated places for the parade past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day next year. Tony will be the lead contact.