When the thunder of the guns was finally stilled in and around the Falkland Islands on l4th June, 1982, 257 families were left to count a terrible cost. They had lost sons, fathers and husbands in the fierce actions fought at sea on land and in the air.

More than half the British casualties died at sea, the majority under fierce enemy air attack which sank five ships and damaged eight more some severely. Most of those killed have no grave but the sea. Others died in the fighting on land; many on dark, hill-sides in night battles. Yet more were killed while flying both over the land and the sea.

Although there are memorials in the Falkland Islands and elsewhere in the UK, which record the bravery and sacrifice of the 257 men who gave their lives in 1982, there is no one living church dedicated entirely to their memory.

It has long been the wish of the Trustees to provide the nation with such a memorial chapel.

Together with Anthony Hudson, Headmaster of Pangbourne College, a school which still retains strong naval traditions, they devised a plan to raise the £1.75 million required for such a venture. The College Governors generously agreed to provide the land on which to build the Memorial Chapel and then to act as custodians so that the chapel may be used by the general public and, in particular, by those families bereaved by the war.

The chapel which will be a fitting memorial to all those who were lost, will seat 550 for a calendar of annual public services of remembrance on significant dates. Stone plaques and a Book of Remembrance will record the names of each man who died, and there will be a Memorial Garden, reminiscent of the San Carlos Memorial, in which to reflect and remember. The project has the support of the Falkland Families' Association, and the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA), which have provided help and encouragement.

Within the chapel all those who died will have a kneeler dedicated to their memory and bearing their name. Although many kneelers are already being worked, the Trustees still seek further volunteers to embroider kneelers, and sponsors to fund them. Leaflets describing the kneeler scheme and the sponsoring of other items are available on request from the chapel office.

It is also the Trustees intention to represent each participating ship and unit.

The chapel architecture has been designed to live in harmony with that of Pangbourne College and includes provision for stained glass windows. The principal windows will reflect the sacrifices made in the Falklands Campaign. An existing window, originally donated to the College by Old Pangbournians, will also be incorporated into the chapel; significantly, of' the 40 decorations awarded to members of the Senior Service after the Falklands, 14 were won by Old Boys of the College.

With the culmination of the national design competition, plans for the Memorial Chapel are now in their final stages with building scheduled to begin in 1998 for completion by the Millennium.

The Trustees' fund-raising progresses well; £1.25 million has been raised with the help of many generous donors; trusts and foundations, livery companies, the services, public companies and many hundreds of individuals who have all provided valuable donations.

They now need your help to raise the last 500,000 to complete their task.

The Trustees.

Captain Michael Barrow, DSO RN
Captain of the County Class guided missile destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN that conducted shore bombardments throughout the war until hit by an Exocet missile in the early morning oj June 12^th, 1982.

Reverend David Cooper
Chaplain to the 2^nd Battalion Parachute Regiment during the Falklands Campaign.

Commander Sir Robin Gillet, Bt GBE RD RNR
Former Lord Mayor of London, Former Chairman of Governors and Old Pangbournian.

Captain David Hart-Dyke, CBE, LVO, RN.
Captain of the type 42 Destroyer HMS COVENTRY that fought constant actions from the first day of the war until sunk by three enemy bombs on the evening of May 25^th, 1982, 12 miles to the North of West Falkland.

Sir Brian Hill, MA, D Sc (hon), LLD (hon), FRICS, FCIOB.
Formerly Chairman and Chief Excecutive Higgs and Hill, Chairman Great Ormand Street Hospital, President of the Builders Employers' Confederation.

Admiral Sir Michael Layard, KCB CBE
Old Pangbournian. Senior Naval Officer on board the Cunard Freighter ATLANTIC CONVEYOR, until it was sunk by two Exocet missiles on the evening of May 25^th, 1982.

Admiral Of The Fleet Lord Lewin, KG GCB, LVO DSc
Chief of Defence Staff at the time of the Falklands War. Former Governor of Pangbourne College.

Brigadier J. F Rickett, CBE.
Commanded the 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards during the Falklands War.

Ron Sidell, RIBA Dip Arch.
A leading architect responsible for several significant British and Overseas building projects.

Air Marshal Sir Peter Squire, KCB DFC AFC RAF
Commanded No1 (Fighter) Squadron in 1982, and deployed and operated Harrier GR3 aircraft from HMS HERMES in the close air support and battlefield reconnaissance roles.

Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt MBE TD

Major General Julian Thompson, CB OBE
As Brigadier commanded the 3^rd Commando Brigade consisting of Royal Marines and Army Commandos and the two Parachute Battalions. The Brigade landed at St Carlos on 21^st May, and entered port Stanley on 14^th June, 1982, having fought several battles on the way.