332 | Remembering a Forgotten War: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Falklands War

Many people have never heard of the Falkland Islands, let alone the Falklands War. However, for History MA student, Ryan McLachlan, it is the source of much interest. In this episode, hosts Rosemary Giles and Ana Moyer get a crash course history lesson about the Falklands War from Ryan.

The small islands in the South Atlantic were the setting for a defining moment, and on 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands, which had been British territory for almost 150 years. What followed was a short, fast paced war, concluding with a British victory on 14 June 1982. Ryan’s research focuses on the empire-related nostalgia that was produced by the war and felt throughout the United Kingdom. After the Second World War, and over the following three decades, the sun slowly set on the British Empire. The Falklands were a source of pride when the British stood up against an aggressor, rejuvenating the spirit of the British people, and marked the rebirth of the nation. An integral part of Ryan’s research is the material culture produced during and after the war. These objects are part of a large collection that Ryan has amassed, which he soon hopes to build into an accessible, fully digitized website, which will allow a large audience to interact and appreciate these items.

 

Full video on YouTube

Recorded on June 22, 2021

Produced by Ariel Frame and edited by Gavin Tolometti

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot