British Prime Minister Tony Blair today met a group of Falklands veterans on the 25th anniversary of the invasion of the islands by Argentina.
They were drawn from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy and received veterans' badges and certificates from Mr Blair on the HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife.
His visit coincided with the announcement of a £6 million sterling contract, which will see the type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester undergo improvements and essential maintenance at the yard.
Mr Blair met the veterans onboard HMS Liverpool, which has just undergone a three-month upkeep period and is set to return to active duty.
Among the veterans were Lieutenant Commander Nigel Smith, from Plymouth, an executive officer onboard the Liverpool, who was a 19-year-old able seaman onboard HMS Active in 1982.
He also met Bill Gossam MBE, a retired Navy officer, who was staff chief communications yeoman to task force commander Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward, as well as Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian, and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who participated in the battle of Mount Tumbledown.
The Prime Minister said afterwards: "I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those whose courage and professionalism served this country so well 25 years ago.
"It's a day to reflect on just how much as a country we owe to our armed forces."
Mr Blair was met onboard by the ship's captain, Commander Henry Duffy, who said: "We are proud to recognise and host those who served in the Falklands conflict while also demonstrating some of the features within HMS Liverpool that makes her one of the most capable warships in the world today."
The PM was taken on a tour of the ship, which included witnessing a simulated air defence exercise from within the modernised operations room. He also observed a demonstration of naval firefighting techniques, many of which were adapted and developed from lessons learned during the Falklands conflict.