Former Falklands War Enemies Set To Climb Mt. Aconcagua Together
On 15 January 2026, a five-strong team of British veterans – led by former Welsh Guardsman Will Kevans – will embark on a 20-day mission to scale 22,831 ft Mt Aconcagua in Argentina – the highest mountain in The Americas.
And joining them will be a group of six Argentinean Falklands veterans including Ricardo Gonzalez, Horacio Nunez, Julio Penalba, Ameri Luis, Ricardo Pannuzio and Omar Godoy and Fernando Ramon Torres.
The expedition has been made possible with the help of Climb 2 Recovery, a British charity that helps military veterans rehabilitate through climbing, plus the Invictus Games Foundation. Team Forces and Flawless who are also major sponsors.
The Falklands War began on 2 April 1982 when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands, sparking one of the largest major conflicts since WW2.
The Welsh Guards formed part of the 5th Infantry Brigade of the British Task Force sent to liberate the islands and, on 8 June they were on board the Sir Galahad, waiting to be landed at Bluff Cove, when the ship was attacked by an Argentine air strike, killing 48 on board – 32 of them Welsh Guards.
Three islanders, 255 British military personnel and 649 Argentine soldiers were killed in the conflict, which ended on 14 June when an Argentine surrender returned the islands to British control.
Now, 42 years later, the Mt Aconcagua expedition (c. 1,300km from the Falklands battlefield) has two aims; to raise money for the military charity helping wounded veterans in their rehabilitation, Climb 2 Recovery – and to remember the conflict with an act of reconciliation.
The British contingent consists of former soldiers from the Welsh Guards, The Parachute Regiment, 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and the 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles.
While the Argentinean cohort comprises veterans of the Falklands invasion including Fernando Tranisto Ramon Torres, who mined the land around Port Stanley in preparation for the British landing. He is also a military paratrooper, military diving instructor, a commando troop instructor, a United Nations operational techniques instructor, and a private pilot of single-engine aircraft.
Will, 59, from Birmingham, first contacted Argentinean veterans some years ago to get their perspective on the conflict for a cartoon book he was writing.
His book, My Life in Pieces, was later used as a basis for a BBC Panorama documentary with a group of former Welsh Guardsmen revisiting the islands they fought on as teenagers. Will also wrote a song about the Falklands War called ‘Believe’ to help him with his post-war rehabilitation.
“Our initial contact sparked a conversation that in turn led to a long-lasting friendship.
“Military veterans on both sides have much in common – we were all young, we were doing our job and whether you won or lost the conflict, you have a shared experience of battle and of losing fellow comrades and friends. We also honour the memory of former Welsh Guardsman Ken Chappell a Falklands veteran and mountaineer who sadly passed away from a terminal illness this year. He had been considered for our team so it was a sad loss. We will carry his spirit and those we lost to the top of the mountain with us.
“This expedition is about the spirit of brotherhood & takes place in our former enemy’s homeland. It’s about sharing our stories with former adversaries and honouring the memory of those we all carry with us.”
“Today’s world is increasingly hostile with brutal wars going on and we want to demonstrate that reconciliation can be a positive force for good.”
For further information, images, or to interview any of the teams, please contact Mark Middlemas at The Athlete Media Group on +44 7952 304340 or email him on mark@athletemedia.co.uk
To support the trips fundraising efforts please visit www.peaks4peace.org &/or the Climb 2 Recovery just giving charity page here https://donate.justgiving.com/charity/climb2recoveryuk/donation-amount
