A GURKHA who fought in the Falklands War has said it is important for young people to remember what happened, as today marks 34 years since it ended.

On June 14, 1982 Margaret Thatcher announced in the House of Commons that the war to retake the Falkland Islands was over.

A total of 255 British military personnel lost their lives in just two months of fighting in the conflict. Argentina lost more than 640 combat troops.

Narendra Limbu, who is president of the Wales Gurkha Community, is a Falklands veteran and now lives in Cwmbran.

Mr Limbu, who is also president of the Wales Gurkha Community, was with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers – a unit in the brigade which are still used by the British Army today.

The 58-year-old remembered some of his time spent on the island to mark the anniversary of Liberation Day today.

“After the war we stayed there six months to clear the area and secure the minefields,” he said. “That was our task after the war.

“We lost my senior commander clearing the minefield. One of my very close friends lost his right eye because of the Argentinian bombs.

Around 50 ex Gurkha engineers live in the Cwmbran area, Mr Limbu said.

He said it is important for the younger generation to learn about the Falklands war.

“It’s important to give some of our memories of what happened to the younger people, to our children,” he said.

“So when we are not here they can remember us.”  The Wales Gurkha Community was established in 2006 by the retired members of the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas who settled in South Wales.