TWO secret Falklands War files related to the Sir Galahad bombing could soon be released, a minister has said.

The Sir Galahad, an unarmed Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, was sunk by the Argentinian air force on June 8, 1982.

The 48 fatalities included Guardsman Mike Dunphy, from Llechryd.

The 23-year-old former Cardigan Secondary School pupil was among 32 Welsh guards who died as the Sir Galahad was engulfed in a fireball.

The Welsh Guards had previously been blamed for not leaving a ship vulnerable to attack earlier.

But declassified documents released last year revealed confusion, delays and missed opportunities to move them to safety.

These included testimony from the captain of the Sir Galahad revealing the soldiers were taken to the wrong place, at the wrong time, on an undefended ship that received no warning about the attack.

Former Welsh Guardsman Mike Hermanis, who survived the attack, claimed last year that the Welsh Guards and Sir Galahad’s crew has been ‘sitting ducks’ during the attack in Bluff Cove.

In 2011, Guardsman Dunphy’s sacrifice was recognised with an Elizabeth Cross, presented to his younger brother Jimmy at a ceremony in Carmarthen. On the 40th anniversary of the conflict a Falklands Islands landmark was named Dunphy Islet in his memory.

Mr Dunphy, who died in March 2019, said at the time he was pleased his brother had received some recognition.

“My mother would have been glad to have received it, but sadly passed away last year,” he said.

“I was angry at the time. The Government paid for thousands of us to visit the Falklands to see where our loved ones had died. All I can remember thinking was how desolate the place was.

“The landscape was very similar to the Preseli Mountains, but it was barren. It made no sense to me why this place had caused so much conflict.”

Last week Defence Minister Andrew Murrison told the Commons that the UK government was considering releasing the files related to the disaster within months, subject to legal checks.

Former minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith was among MPs urging the government to unseal the files to exonerate soldiers who had their ‘reputations trashed’.

Sir Iain told MPs: "There is no question now that there was some kind of a cover-up that took place."

He asked whether the release of the documents would mean "that those who have died and have had their reputations trashed can actually stand up and say proudly it wasn't them?’.

Dr Murrison replied: "The board of inquiry is quite clear about the attribution of blame and the Welsh Guards were absolutely exonerated, and that is the government's position."