Falklands War 1982 — Goose Green, San Carlos, Mount Longdon & Campaign Guide
The political road to war, the South Atlantic campaign, its battles, commanders and remembrance.
The Falklands War of 1982 is best understood as a connected campaign rather than a string of isolated battles. This research hub brings together the political road to war, the Task Force and campaign timeline, the San Carlos landings, Goose Green, the final mountain battles, the air war, remembrance and the people who made the key decisions.
Start here
- Falklands War 1982 — The Political Road to War — sovereignty, diplomacy, the South Georgia crisis and the decisions before the fighting.
- Complete Falklands Campaign Field Guide — from the 2 April invasion to the 14 June surrender.
- Falklands War Dead — Losses, Roll of Honour & Remembrance — 255 British service personnel, three Falkland Islanders, 649 Argentine military personnel and the human cost of 1982. This remembrance page has no product links.
- Why the Map Lies About Distance — terrain, routes, peat, logistics, helicopter lift and the physical reality of moving across East Falkland.
- San Carlos, 21 May 1982 — landings, order of battle and the air attacks over the beachhead.
- Battle of Goose Green, 28–29 May 1982 — order of battle, map, timeline, first-hand accounts and British and Argentine perspectives.
- Mount Longdon to Stanley — the final battles of 11–14 June.
- Sea Harrier in the Falklands — fleet air defence and the South Atlantic air war.
Falklands War casualties: quick answer
How many people died in the Falklands War? The conflict killed 255 British service personnel, three Falkland Islanders and 649 Argentine military personnel. Read the non-commercial Falklands War dead and remembrance guide for sources and context.
Political leadership
- Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War — the decision to send the Task Force, War Cabinet, US diplomacy, military victory and the political consequences of 1982.
- Leopoldo Galtieri and the 1982 invasion — the Argentine junta, the decision for war, miscalculation of the British response and the collapse that followed defeat.
Goose Green: quick answers
When was the Battle of Goose Green? The battle was fought on 28–29 May 1982 during the British land campaign following the San Carlos landings.
Who fought at Goose Green? The British attack was made by the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment battle group. The Argentine position was held by Task Force Mercedes, centred on Infantry Regiment 12 with attached elements and airfield personnel.
Who commanded the British force? Lieutenant Colonel Herbert “H” Jones VC OBE commanded 2 PARA at the start of the battle. After he was killed near Darwin, Major Chris Keeble DSO took command and oversaw the final phase and surrender process.
Who commanded the Argentine defence? Lieutenant Colonel Ítalo Piaggi commanded Task Force Mercedes. His later treatment by the Argentine Army and the subsequent institutional review are covered in his full biography.
Who won the Battle of Goose Green? The battle ended in a British victory when the Argentine garrison surrendered on 29 May. The result removed a substantial Argentine force south of the San Carlos beachhead, but Stanley remained the decisive campaign objective.
How many British soldiers were killed? Eighteen British soldiers were killed in the battle and more than sixty were wounded. Argentine casualty and prisoner totals vary between sources, so the complete Goose Green field guide keeps disputed figures qualified rather than forcing false precision.
Battle of Goose Green
Goose Green is already one of the strongest search-entry pages in the Gallus archive. The full guide follows the battle from the political and operational context through the narrow Darwin–Goose Green isthmus, British and Argentine orders of battle, company-level fighting, the death of H Jones, Chris Keeble’s assumption of command and the surrender on 29 May.
Read the complete Battle of Goose Green field guide →
People at Goose Green
- Lieutenant Colonel Herbert “H” Jones VC OBE — 2 PARA commanding officer, killed during the battle.
- Major Chris Keeble DSO — took command after Jones was killed and oversaw the final phase of the battle.
- Lieutenant Colonel Ítalo Piaggi — Argentine commander at Darwin–Goose Green and subject of a later Argentine Army review.
- Major Dair Farrar-Hockley — A Company, 2 PARA.
- Major John Crosland — B Company, 2 PARA.
- Major Roger Jenner — C (Patrol) Company, 2 PARA.
- Major Philip Neame — D Company, 2 PARA.
Follow the campaign in sequence
- Political road to war
- Complete campaign guide
- San Carlos — 21 May
- Goose Green — 28–29 May
- Mount Longdon to Stanley — 11–14 June
- Losses and remembrance
Explore the history in the collection
The history comes first. For readers who want to carry the subject beyond the archive, the Falklands War collection brings together designs connected to Goose Green, Mount Longdon, Port Stanley, the Sea Harrier, Operation Corporate and the geography of the 1982 campaign.
