The Service, led by The Right Reverend Stephen Venner the Bishop for the Falkland Islands and The Venerable John Green QHC The Chaplain of the Fleet, offered veterans, serving personnel and Islanders alike the opportunity to reflect on the events of 25 years ago.

The 84-mile yomp (135km), or tab, across East Falkland from San Carlos made by 45 Commando Royal Marines, has become one of the iconic features of the 1982 conflict.

The memorial service at San Carlos, broadcast simultaneously with the commemorations happening in Horseguards Parade in London, paid tribute to all those who fell in the action to retake the Falkland Islands.

HRH The Earl of Wessex, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram, Alan Huckle the Governor of the Falkland Islands, Group Captain NJ Watson and Lord Parkinson, representing the 1982 War Cabinet, all laid wreathes in remembrance at the war grave, which is enclosed by a circular stone wall engraved with all the names of those of who died.

A number of veterans also laid wreaths; Lt Col (Rtd) Chris Keeble DSO (Paras), Maj Mike Norman (OC NP8901 1982), Capt Ian Bryden (Scots Guards) and South Atlantic Medal Association veterans Peter Thomas (Welsh Guards), Bill Aspinall (Royal Marines), Phillip Skidmore (The Parachute Regiment), John Hladkij (RAOC), John (Mac) McDermott (Royal Navy), Dai Henty Thompson (Welsh Guards).

The McAulay Family, escorted by Chief Petty Officer Graham Clark (a veteran of the conflict who was serving in HMS Glasgow), laid a wreath in the water by the shore of San Carlos. The previous day the family were flown over the final resting place of HMS Ardent by HMS Edinburgh's Lynx during which they released a wreath from the air.

Speaking ahead of yesterday's ceremony Lt Col Chris Keeble, who fought alongside Colonel H Jones at Goose Green, was keen to pay his respects to veterans and Islanders:

"It's important for people in the UK to understand that back in '82 it wasn't just about us coming down here to save the Islanders who were huddling in their houses. Many of them gave us a huge amount of help, and really put themselves in danger by doing it. They were a tremendous help collecting up our supplies from the beach and bringing them up for us to where we needed them in their own Land rovers.

"But I also think it is very important to give our veterans all the help they need to help cope with what happened. Coming back to the Falkland Islands has shown that it can really help, and I believe that we owe a duty of care to servicemen who have made this kind of sacrifice."

Forty troops, including eight from each of the Royal Marines, RAF, Falkland Island Defence Force and the Army, all dressed in number one kit, but carrying no weapons, mustered with support from 15 Royal Marine Band members. The parade of Royal Marines was led by Lieutenant Orlando Rogers, the only attendee to be wearing a weapon - a sword that was kept sheathed throughout - while four Royal Marine Bugles played the Last Post upon the hill behind the circular wall of the cemetery.

A drumhead ceremony was also performed in which HMS Coventry's historic cross of nails was passed by British Forces Chaplain, Sqn Leader David Norfield, to The Venerable John Green, to be placed on top of the drumhead. The cross, originally fashioned from nails from Coventry Cathedral and given to the destroyer HMS Coventry, which was sunk by Argentine aircraft on May 25 1982, was recovered by Royal Navy divers who had been sent down to the wreck, lying in 300 feet of water, to recover classified information and to make the wreck safe. It was passed on to the Royal Navy Museum at Portsmouth who permitted its use in the ceremony.

During the ceremony The Rt Rev Venner, gave the following blessing:

"God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest."

Twenty three bodies remain at San Carlos cemetery; the families of the other servicemen who died there decided to repatriate the bodies of their loved ones. Many died at sea and their bodies could not be recovered but lie in war graves at sea.