TWENTY-five years ago, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Henry Leach, was First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy.

He famously persuaded Margaret Thatcher the Falkland Islands could be re-taken from the Argentines.

Sir Henry, now 83, lives in Wonston, near Sutton Scotney, and gathered with veterans and royalty in central London last Sunday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the South Atlantic islands 8,000 miles from Britain.

He was given a place of honour on a red-carpeted dais with other top brass from the services in 1982, Lady Thatcher and Tony Blair, as the Prince of Wales took the salute from thousands of veterans marching down Horse Guards Parade.

Sir Henry said: "It was paying due respect to those who fought the war and not least those who lost their lives in it. It was a proud occasion tinged with sadness by the wives and families who have lost their dear ones and that is always the way."

At home in his bungalow surrounded by pictures of the many ships he served on during 45 years of active service in the navy, Sir Henry recalled the events leading up to the Falklands War.

As First Sea Lord he fought swingeing cuts to the Navy under the first Thatcher government, almost getting the sack.

Ironically, slashing the fleet encouraged the Argentinian military junta to think the Falklands was theirs for the taking.

Sir Henry said: "To anyone observing the world scene it would appear that the UK was becoming increasingly disinterested in maritime affairs in general, and the South Atlantic in particular."

Lady Thatcher's former defence secretary, John Nott, in his memoirs said the cabinet was considering a diplomatic reaction to the threat of imminent invasion when the First Sea Lord, dressed in full naval uniform, joined the meeting on March 31, 1982.

"Leach, with great assurance, said that it would be possible to prepare a large task force that could sail the following week," said Sir John.

"That greatly boosted Margaret's confidence, but was met with scepticism among the rest of us."

Sir Henry said: "Almost her final question that famous Wednesday night was can we really recapture the islands?' "I said yes we can. It will be a high risk operation, but we can.' "That answered the question and I should have stopped there really, but I went one further and added and we must!' Why?' she snapped.

"I replied because if we don't do that, in a few months we will be living in a different country whose word will count for little.' "That struck a chord with the former Tory Prime Minister who proceeded to give permission for the task force to set sail to retake the Falklands."

Sir Henry said: "My greatest anxiety was in the very early stages.

"I was concerned that although the Prime Minister was fired-up, several of her cabinet were not."

When Sir John Woodhouse, then commander of the fleet, asked for more time to make preparations for war, Sir Henry refused and insisted it set sail on Monday, April 5.

"I was concerned that the political head of steam was splendid in terms of the Prime Minister herself, but not the others and they would pussyfoot and start to waffle about negotiations.

"Of course the fleet could have been recalled at any time, but that would have been perceived as a backdown and disastrous politically."

General Galtieri invaded the islands to bolster his military junta government at home.

However, the British Government had been preparing to give the archipelago to Argentina.

Sir Henry said: "The sadness, as history will show, was the next round of ministerial talks was only two months away and they would have been enormously favourable to the Argentines.

"Lord Carrington resigned on principle because he was in no doubt the interests and well-being of the islanders could have been adequately protected by treaty."

Asked if he thought so too, Sir Henry said: "Oh yes, I think it could. That was the tragedy of it.

"It was the internal Argentine situation that forced our hand.

"History will show it, like most wars, to have been an avoidable mistake. But when it came to the point, war was inevitable and had to be conducted."

One of the most controversial episodes of the Falklands War was the sinking of the Belgrano with the loss of 368 lives.

The ship was apparently outside the exclusion zone and sailing away from the Falklands.

Labour MP and anti-war campaigner Tam Dalyell made it a cause célèbre.

Sir Henry said he was gathered with the other chiefs of staff and the Prime Minister at Chequers when "word came through that the Conquerer had sighted the Belgrano and sought permission to take her out".

He said they took "precisely 10 minutes, considering the pros and cons", before giving the go-ahead.

Sir Henry defended the decision, saying ships zig-zagged in war situations and did not sail straight to a destination.

"Even the Captain of the Belgrano, who escaped, said that in the circumstances we were in, he would have done the same thing.

"But once you get a nutcase banging away in the House of Commons it sticks for quite a long time!"

Argentina responded by sinking HMS Sheffield, killing 20 men and the first British warship to be lost in 37 years.

The former First Sea Lord, who joined the navy as a 13-year-old cadet, had spent most of the Second World War at sea, mainly in the North Atlantic and the Far East.

But most of the government had no war experience.

He said: "There was almost a tangible wave of shock and horror that swept through Whitehall.

"It brought home to them that there was a war on, we were fighting it, and our people were being killed, though fortunately in comparatively small numbers, but that is what war is about. It is not a fun game."

Sir Henry, who lost his father, a distinguished naval captain in the Second World War, said it was right to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

He added: "But then I think the Falklands, like other conflicts, should be swept up on Remembrance Day on November 11.

"Now whether that will happen I don't know and I don't suppose I shall be around to see it."