Port Howard | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
  Port Howard Port Howard within the Falkland Islands Show map of Falkland Islands Port Howard Port Howard (South America) Show map of South America | |
| Coordinates:51°36′58″S59°31′23″W / 51.616°S 59.523°W /-51.616; -59.523 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Territory | Falkland Islands |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 22 |
| Time zone | UTC-03:00 (FKST) |
Port Howard is the largest settlement onWest Falkland (unlessFox Bay is taken as one settlement, instead of two). It is in the east of the island, on an inlet ofFalkland Sound. It is on the lower slopes ofMount Maria (part of theHornby Mountains range).
Port Howard is the centre of an 800-square-kilometre (200,000-acre)sheep farm, with twenty-two permanent residents and around 40,000 sheep. Sometimes this population is doubled by transitory residents.
The settlement has twoairstrips which receive regular flights fromStanley, and it is also the West Terminal of the new East-West Ferry.[1] The Falkland Islands Government built a network of all weather roads aroundEast and West Falkland,[1] Port Howard is at the northern end of the West Falkland network.
Every three years, Port Howard hosts the West Falklands Sports. This week-long celebration of the end of the shearing season combines horse-racing with other festivities. TheWarrah River andChartres River are nearby fishing rivers.
Port Howard was founded by James Lovegrove Waldron and his brother, in 1866. The Waldron brothers later left forPatagonia, leaving the farm under local management. In 1956, JL Waldron Ltd built a school at Port Howard — possibly inspired by the "gift" of the FIC, a few years, earlier at Darwin.[2]
During theFalklands War, the settlement was occupied by around 1,000 Argentine troops, most of these from the FifthMotorized Infantry Regiment. A small museum has been set up, in a shed. It contains a number of items which Argentine troops left behind, including an ejector seat. Pinned to the wall is a poem,Ode to Tumbledown, which was written by an anonymousScots Guard.[3]
On 21 May 1982, anRAF Harrier (piloted by Flt Lt Jeffrey Glover RAF) was shot down by aBlowpipe missile (fired by members of the Argentine601 Commando Company[4]) and taken prisoner.[5] On 26 May 1982, at least four Argentine soldiers were killed and several wounded after another Harrier raid found its mark.[6][7]
The BritishSAS had a secret observation post on Many Branch Point, a ridge above Port Howard, which wasdiscovered on 10 June 1982 by an Argentine assault section of the 601 Commando Company. During the ensuing fire fight,Captain Gavin Hamilton was killed, and hisGoan signaler, Sergeant Fonseca captured.[8] That night witnessed inaccurate shelling on Port Howard carried out by British frigates.[9] This led to speculation among Argentinian officers that the mission of Hamilton was to act as a forward observer for naval gunfire support. Hamilton's grave can still be seen up the hill from Port Howard. The Argentines allowed theUnion Flag to be placed on his coffin before burial.
On 15 June 1982, one day after themain Argentine surrender, the garrison surrendered to the Royal Marines of BCoy,40 Commando andHMS Cardiff.[10][11]
In 1986, the farm was bought by Robin and Rodney Lee, who let the local population buy shares. In 2004, it was taken over by Myles and Christopher (Critta) Lee, Robin's sons, after the retirement of Rodney Lee.[3]
There is onelisted building here, the Mount Rosalie Dip.[12]