Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust
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    • Home
    • About Us
      • Policies and Objectives
      • Trustees
      • Our Services
      • The Lookout Gallery & EH
      • Meet the Staff
      • Awards
      • Become a Member
      • FAQs
      • Founding Partners
    • Historic Dockyard Museum
    • Etched in Memory
    • National Trust
      • Our Mission
      • HER
      • The Dockyard
      • Cartmell Cottage
      • Hawk's Nest Shanty
      • Cape Pembroke Lighthouse
      • Whale Bone Arch
      • Corrals
      • Cemeteries
      • Bodie Creek Bridge
    • Past Finders
      • About Past Finders
      • Mt Harriett
      • Cape Pembroke Walk
      • Art Session
      • Craft session
      • Fire Station
      • 5th Anniversary
      • Gardening Cartmell Cottag
      • Historical walk
      • Christmas Crafts
      • Goose Green Farm
      • Murrell Farm
      • Horticultural Show
    • News & Events
      • Everything Changed
      • John R. Murray Donation
      • Talks
      • Museum at Night
      • Falkland's Ball
      • Macmillan Coffee Mornings
      • Community Day
      • Christmas Lights
    • Articles
      • Early History
      • 1982
      • WWI Battles
      • WWII
      • Battle of the River Plate
      • The Warrah
Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Policies and Objectives
    • Trustees
    • Our Services
    • The Lookout Gallery & EH
    • Meet the Staff
    • Awards
    • Become a Member
    • FAQs
    • Founding Partners
  • Historic Dockyard Museum
  • Etched in Memory
  • National Trust
    • Our Mission
    • HER
    • The Dockyard
    • Cartmell Cottage
    • Hawk's Nest Shanty
    • Cape Pembroke Lighthouse
    • Whale Bone Arch
    • Corrals
    • Cemeteries
    • Bodie Creek Bridge
  • Past Finders
    • About Past Finders
    • Mt Harriett
    • Cape Pembroke Walk
    • Art Session
    • Craft session
    • Fire Station
    • 5th Anniversary
    • Gardening Cartmell Cottag
    • Historical walk
    • Christmas Crafts
    • Goose Green Farm
    • Murrell Farm
    • Horticultural Show
  • News & Events
    • Everything Changed
    • John R. Murray Donation
    • Talks
    • Museum at Night
    • Falkland's Ball
    • Macmillan Coffee Mornings
    • Community Day
    • Christmas Lights
  • Articles
    • Early History
    • 1982
    • WWI Battles
    • WWII
    • Battle of the River Plate
    • The Warrah

WWII

The Second World War

The people of the Falklands first heard  of the outbreak of war on the BBC World Service News at 7am on the morning of Sunday 3rd September 1939 and a proclamation was immediately  issued, calling out the Defence Force. Moves for the defence of the Islands happened rapidly, with gun batteries and signal stations set up at a number of points around Stanley. Sixteen coast watching stations were established in Camp. Mounted Rifle Sections of the Falkland Islands Defence Force were established on both East and West Falklands. 

Overseas Volunteers

 From a population of just over 2,300, more than 150 men and women left to join His Majesty’s Forces - 24 did not return. Volunteers served with the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, various units of the Army, and the Merchant Navy. Others worked in factories, became nurses or joined the Land Army. Many became involved in Civil Defence duties.  
In July 1944 volunteers serving in the armed forces were given shoulder flashes bearing the name Falkland Islands. 

Civilian Life

 Islanders  endured many of the same restraints and problems as their compatriots in Britain - blackout times were advertised in the Weekly News, ration books and billeting notices made their appearance, postal censorship and  travel restrictions were introduced.

A Civil Defence Force was  organised, the hospital prepared for emergency action by appealing for materials and organising extra staff and a Canteen for sailors was opened in the Church Hall. The public were urged to use extra ground to grow as many vegetables as possible to supply the garrison.

In  January 1942, with the entry of Japan into the war, Stanley children  were evacuated to Camp. More than 200 children were distributed between 14 different settlements. By September it was considered safe to return  the children to Stanley and by December they were all back in their homes.

Fund-raising was eagerly supported. In 1940 Legislative Council voted £50,000 from Colony funds for the purchase of 10 Spitfires for the Royal Air Force and money for a further Spitfire was raised by  the Fellowship of the Bellows. By 1945 the local branch of the Red Cross  had raised over £20,000 for the War Effort.

The Falkland Islands Garrison

In 1942 a garrison was posted to protect  the Islands in case of attack by the Japanese. The main body of this garrison was the 11th Battalion of the West Yorks, replaced by a smaller garrison of the Royal Scots in 1944. The garrison was housed in Nissen huts that were built on almost every available open space in Stanley, including Arch Green and the foreshore of Ross Road - the HQ was  situated just in front of the present Museum. A large camp was also  built on the Camber. 

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Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust

Historic Dockyard Museum - Stanley - Falkland Islands

+500 27428

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