Fitzroy, Falkland Islands


Fitzroy is a settlement on East Falkland. It is divided into Fitzroy North and Fitzroy South by a tidal river called Fitzroy River that is fed from a lake on the east side of Mount Whickham. The river was forded by Charles Darwin when he visited for a second time in 1834.
It is named after Robert FitzRoy, who commanded during Charles Darwin's voyages, and later developed a system of weather forecasting for the United Kingdom. Fitzroy is on the inlet known as Port Pleasant.
In early June 1982 during the Falklands War, the two ships and carrying contingents of The Welsh Guards, were bombed by the Argentine Air Force in the waters off Fitzroy whilst attempting to reinforce the British soldiers encamped at Fitzroy. A monument on each side of a small cove at Fitzroy commemorates each ship with dedications in English and Welsh on both.