In April 1982, Argentinian troops invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, unleashing a 74 day war that claimed the lives of 255 Britons and 655 Argentinians. This programme tells the story of the conflict from the perspective of the Islanders themselves. They describe the brutality of life under occupation, revealing stories of local resistance and individual bravery.

As one of our many interviewees, Graham Bound was born into one of the original Falkland Island families and at the time of the conflict was the editor of the local newspaper, the Penguin News. During the occupation Graham sheltered in a local hotel taking clandestine photographs of Argentine positions.

Still a resident of the Falklands, Trudi McPhee recounts her story. Helping the British forces, Trudi became the leader of ‘The Fighting Farmers’ who utilised their knowledge of the Islands and often worked through the night helping the British forces. Trudi and her team moved 300 paratroopers, rations, ammunition and water across trackless terrain as well as evacuating badly wounded soldiers.

As one of the Cape Pembroke lighthouse keepers at the time of the conflict, Reg Silvey defied the Argentine ban on radios. His long-standing hobby as a radio ham was put to immense tactical use as he transmitted vital intelligence to Britain, at great personal risk, throughout the occupation.

Through unique archive footage and dramatic reconstructions Falklands: The Islanders’ War tells a staggering tale of invasion, occupation, liberation and recovery.

Sunday 17 June at 9.00pm, History Channel