Port Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Howard
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Settlement
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 Port Howard
Location in Falkland Islands
Port Howard
Location in South America
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Territory | Falkland Islands |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 22 |
| Time zone | UTC-03:00 (FKST) |
Port Howard is the biggest community on West Falkland island. It is located on the eastern side of the island, right by an inlet of Falkland Sound. The settlement sits on the lower slopes of Mount Maria, which is part of the Hornby Mountains.
Port Howard is the center of a very large sheep farm, covering about 800 square kilometers (200,000 acres). Around 22 people live there all the time, and they look after about 40,000 sheep! Sometimes, the number of people living there doubles when visitors or temporary workers arrive.
The community has two airstrips. These airstrips get regular flights from Stanley, the capital. Port Howard is also the western end of the new ferry service that connects East and West Falkland. The Falkland Islands Government has built a network of roads that can be used in all weather, and Port Howard is at the northern end of the West Falkland road system.
Every three years, Port Howard hosts the West Falklands Sports event. This is a week-long celebration that marks the end of the sheep shearing season. It includes exciting horse-racing and other fun activities. If you like fishing, the Warrah River and Chartres River are close by.
Contents
Port Howard's History
How Port Howard Started
Port Howard was started in 1866 by two brothers, James Lovegrove Waldron and his brother. Later, the Waldron brothers moved to Patagonia, leaving the farm to be managed by local people. In 1956, the company JL Waldron Ltd built a school in Port Howard.
Port Howard During the Falklands War
During the Falklands War in 1982, about 1,000 Argentine soldiers took over Port Howard. Most of these soldiers were from the Fifth Motorized Infantry Regiment. Today, there is a small museum in a shed in Port Howard. It displays many items that the Argentine troops left behind, including an ejector seat from an airplane. On the wall, there is a poem called Ode to Tumbledown, written by a Scots Guard soldier.
On May 21, 1982, an RAF Harrier jet, flown by Flt Lt Jeffrey Glover, was shot down by a Blowpipe missile. The pilot was captured. On May 26, 1982, another Harrier attack hit its target, killing at least four Argentine soldiers and injuring several others.
The British SAS had a secret observation post on Many Branch Point, which is a ridge above Port Howard. On June 10, 1982, Argentine soldiers from the 601 Commando Company discovered this post. During the fight that followed, Captain Gavin Hamilton was killed, and his signaler, Sergeant Fonseca, was captured. That night, British warships fired shells at Port Howard, but they were not very accurate. Argentine officers thought that Captain Hamilton's job might have been to help guide these naval attacks. Captain Hamilton's grave can still be seen on the hill above Port Howard. The Argentines allowed the Union Flag (British flag) to be placed on his coffin before he was buried.
On June 15, 1982, the day after the main Argentine forces surrendered, the soldiers in Port Howard also surrendered. They surrendered to the Royal Marines of B Coy, 40 Commando and HMS Cardiff.
Changes in Ownership
In 1986, Robin and Rodney Lee bought the farm. They allowed the local people to buy shares in the farm. In 2004, Robin's sons, Myles and Christopher (Critta) Lee, took over the farm after Rodney Lee retired.
There is one special building in Port Howard that is officially protected as a listed building. It is called the Mount Rosalie Dip.
See Also
In Spanish: Puerto Mitre para niños
