White flags over Port Stanley

The Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher quickly assembled a task force to retake the islands, with the first elements sailing south on 5 April.

After a pause to reposition troops and ammunition, the British launched the 13 June attacks on Mount Tumbledown, a key feature in the defences, and Wireless Ridge, which overlooks Port Stanley.

[2] Major Bill Dawson, the second-in-command of the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles who were part of the advance, reported hearing from the unit's A Company that a white flag was visible in Port Stanley.

He was filmed leaving his communications tent on Two Sisters mountain, still wearing his headphones, to tell waiting reporters, "I can confirm that white flags are flying over Stanley, the Argentines have surrendered – Bloody marvellous".

[5] Lieutenant Colonel David Chaundler of the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which led the advance into Stanley recalled seeing no white flags and thought that Dawson was speaking metaphorically.

[6] Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had spent 13 June at the Royal Navy's Northwood Headquarters in Hertfordshire, observing the war's final battles.

[8] The House of Commons sat from 2:30 pm that day in a session dominated by routine answers to questions made by ministers for the Department of Industry and the attorney-general Michael Havers.

[9] At 4 pm, the House entered a lengthy debate on a motion by Labour member of parliament (MP) for Doncaster Harold Walker to send a humble address to Elizabeth II to annul orders made by the Conservative government abolishing eight industrial training boards.

Talks are now in progress between General Menendez and our Deputy Commander, Brigadier Waters, about the surrender of the Argentine forces on East and West Falkland.

He stated that there would be "widespread, genuine rejoicing", echoing a remark made by Thatcher in April 1982 following the successful liberation of South Georgia by British forces.

[12] Thatcher had requested the attendance of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, civil servant Antony Acland, and he had rushed to the chamber from a dinner at the Spanish embassy.

The Conservative leader of the House, John Biffen, dissented and requested that a motion relating to public health in Scotland be allowed to proceed.

[15] Upon leaving the House, Thatcher returned to her official residence at Downing Street, where she mingled with a crowd of supporters singing "Rule, Britannia!".