Falklands veterans are amongst those holding a memorial service in north Wales to mark the 20th anniversary of a notrious bomb attack on their ships.

Fifty men died during the Argentinian attack on the British troop ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram at Bluff Cove in 1982, many of them Welsh Guards.

Simon Weston was among the platoon

Over 200 people, mainly guards, were attending the service in Wrexham's parish church at 1100 BST on Saturday.

Event organiser ex-Corporal Mark Pemberton was badly burned during the bombing and 22 out of the 30 men in his platoon were killed.

He said those memories are still clear despite the passing of time.

"The only escape for the guys who got off was to go back through the fire," said Mr Pemberton.

It was a lottery, guys who were sitting to the left of you, guys sitting to the right of you, guys opposite you, they died, and you got of

Former Corporal Mark Pemberton

"The one thing that you hold dear is the fact that I don't think anybody suffered who died - it would have been very quick."

The Sir Galahad was bombed on 8 June, 1982 - just six days before Argentina surrendered.

Mr Pemberton was the only corporal out of three in his platoon - which included the former Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston - to return home.

He said: "It was a lottery. Guys who were sitting to the left of you, guys sitting to the right of you, guys opposite you - they died, and you got off.

"So you carry guilt, and a great deal of thankfulness that you did get off."

Mr Pemberton wants to pay his respects to the victims

The Argentine invasion led to Britain's biggest deployment of ships, aircraft and men since World War II, as a taskforce headed 8,000 miles south to recapture the islands.

The conflict cost the lives of 655 Argentinian and 255 British servicemen.

But the attack on the landing ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram has been described as the worst of the 10-week conflict - with 50 men killed and 150 injured.

Mr Pemberton said the gathering in Wrexham would bring together former colleagues have lost touch.

Strength and courage

"For me, it'll be to pay my respects to those who didn't come back," he said.

"For some of these guys, it'll be the first time that they have ever attended anything like this and had the chance to really discuss it with people who have been through the same thing.

"A lot of the guys have said to me they won't talk about it to anyone else. But obviously when we're together, they do because we can relate."

Simon Weston, who, for many, became a symbol of strength and courage as he overcame his terrible wounds is among 200 at the memorial service.

Those who served will join families of those who died to pay tribute to their ultimate sacrifice.