The nation remembered the Falklands Conflict yesterday as hundreds of veterans from the campaign came together to mark the 25th anniversary of victory.

Old servicemen who fought to liberate the South Atlantic islands from Argentina commemorated fallen comrades and the achievements of British troops during a major televised event.

The sights, sounds and emotions of the campaign were evoked during the hour-long spectacle which featured the recollections of veterans and their families and began with a 'muster' of servicemen.

Spectators filled stands lining Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall and applauded as each contingent of veterans - Navy, RAF, Army and Royal Marines - and their modern day equivalents marched into the square.

The Duke of York, who flew naval helicopters during the campaign, was among invited guests, who also including Baroness Thatcher, Prime Minister at the time of the conflict, the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Duke described the spectacle as an opportunity for those who served to thank the country for its support during the 1982 conflict.

"I think it's very important those of us who were down there have an opportunity to say thank you to the great many people in this country who supported the action that took place in the South Atlantic 25 years ago.

"We tried on a number of occasions in the past to say thank you, but I think this is really the epitome of being able to say thank you for the support that we had, it was truly amazing."

The events of 25 years ago came alive through archive BBC news reports, broadcast on two giant screens, showing how the lead up to the conflict was reported.

One moment of courage from probably the most notorious battle of the Falklands - the fight to take Mount Tumbledown - was recounted by Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely, who described how the actions of a stretcher bearer encouraged those around him.

He told the audience: "He was the quietest, most modest, most self-effacing - and as it happens - the oldest man in the company.

"But there he was, by the light of the artillery illuminating shells, running forward in the open with his stretcher. The bullets ricocheting off the rocks around him. People shouting at him 'Get down, take cover'."

He added: "I've read that on the battlefield fear is infectious but it wasn't until then that I realised courage too is infectious."

The events in Horse Guards featured a link-up with a commemoration event in the Falklands at San Carlos Military Cemetery attend by the Earl of Wessex.

The London commemoration came to a dramatic finale with a march of veterans up The Mall and a flypast which sent plumes of red, white and blue smoke over Buckingham Palace.

Thousands of onlookers cheered, clapped and whistled as mustered veterans marched to the Queen Victoria Memorial where the Prince of Wales took the salute.

The mood moved to one of awestruck silence as the fly over began. The 49 aircraft taking part represented all of the squadrons involved in the campaign for the Falkland Islands.

Some were modern day planes or helicopters representing those aircraft and squadrons that served in 1982 but have since been decommissioned or disbanded.

The 27 fixed wing aeroplanes included Hawks, representing the iconic Royal Navy Sea Harriers and Royal Air Force Harriers.

The Harrier jet, which flew more than 1,300 sorties was a high profile absentee, but safety precautions meant it could not play a role.

Another notable absence was the Vulcan Bomber, which broke the record for a non-stop bombing mission on April 30, 1982 when it flew from Ascension Island to bomb Stanley Airport.

Salute to fallen comrades

A PARADE and service to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of the conflict was staged at Redcar's Cenotaph yesterday.

Relatives and friends of Chief Petty Officer John Caddy, who was killed on board the destroyer HMS Coventry, attended the moving ceremony.

The occasion, organised by the Redcar branch of the Royal British Legion and the Redcar and District Group of Ex-Service Associations, was also attended by Redcar and Cleveland Council's Mayor, Councillor Wendy Wall, the town's MP, Vera Baird, and Redcar Royal British Legion branch president Jack Lambert.

The 30-minute service featured the choir of Christ Church, Coatham and included a two-minute silence and the playing of the Last Post.

The name of John Caddy, 36, of Dormanstown, near Redcar, has been added to the cenotaph's memorial plaque.

Chief Petty Officer Caddy was acting chief weapons engineer artificer, serving with the South Atlantic Task Force, and among 19 sailors who lost their lives on May 25, 1982, when the warship was hit by bombs from two Argentinian aircraft.