Three Days in June, page 18
Captain Adrian Logan
Something rushed past me; it was on my right side, but I never saw it. It hit the west wall of the First Bowl and there was an almighty explosion. A blast wave was thrown out, but Chris Lovett was standing directly between me and the explosion. My left arm was extended, as I made a gesture. When I woke up, I was lying on my back looking up at the sky and for a moment I seemed to be on my own, within my own thoughts. It was beginning to get light. Then I was back in reality; my head was ringing, and I began to check myself. I could not feel my left arm. I held it up and thought, Well, it’s still there, even though I couldn’t feel it. I took my glove off, and to my relief, my hand was still there. I was in pain, my head was spinning, and I was still quite groggy. It all seemed to go quiet, and I remember someone saying in a panicky voice, ‘Is he okay?’ Someone else replied, ‘No, he’s dead.’ I turned and looked at Chris Lovett, who was lying dead next to me.
Pte Tony Barlow
I found myself on my hands and knees; everything had turned red, and I didn’t know where I was. I put my hands to my face, but I couldn’t feel anything. I started to panic and shouted loudly, ‘I’m blind, I’m blind.’ Simon Ward and Harry Harrison then grabbed me and took me to one side, and they bathed my eyes. I’m not sure how long it took for my sight to return, but it gradually came back. I then felt a bit better; I got up and walked over to where a body lay covered over with a blanket. I asked Phil Probets, ‘Who’s that?’ He hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, ‘It’s Chris Lovett.’ I said, ‘It can’t be; I’ve just been talking to him.’
I made my way back to my trench. When there was another artillery barrage, an Argentine prisoner climbed in with me! I told him to fuck off and I pushed him out. After what had just happened, I was not in the mood to cosy up with an Argy.
Shortly after the explosion that killed Chris Lovett, there is another explosion.
Spr Tommy Trindall, 20 yrs – 9 Sqn RE
I went along to the First Bowl to help with some of the casualties. As I walked in, Cpl Scotty Wilson came over and said, ‘Hi, Mark, how’s it going? Is everyone okay? Where’s the rest of the troop?’ Just to my right, Spr Steve Tickle was on his knees in a small hollow treating someone who was wounded. As we were talking, I heard this very high-pitched noise, unlike the artillery that we’d become accustomed to. I dropped to the ground and curled up in a ball.
There was a massive explosion about 15 metres away. I got covered in crap, dirt and rocks; my head was spinning. I uncurled from my position, and as I turned to look to the right, about a foot away from my face was the lifeless body of someone looking straight at me. I looked about for Scotty, then realized it was him; I cleared his airway and tried to give him mouth to mouth. I shouted for a medic. Some 3 PARA bloke came over and said, ‘Sorry, mate, he’s dead. It’s too late for him, but there are other blokes over here that need help.’ I had a sickening feeling, but he was right. We started to help carry the rest of the wounded down to the Regimental Aid Post; the ground was tortuous and we were still under artillery bombardment, which resulted in further casualties.
Tommy Trindall’s real first name is Mark – Tommy is just a nickname. Scotty Wilson was one of the few who used Mark’s real name.
Spr Steve Tickle, 9 Sqn RE
I was trying to calm Captain Logan, when I heard Spr Tommy Trindall, who called out my name and said something like ‘Look, it’s Scotty.’ I went over to where Tommy was kneeling. On the ground in front of him was Scotty Wilson, who was lying face down. We rolled him over onto his back; however, he showed no signs of life. We couldn’t find any wounds. Eventually we discovered a small wound to the back of his head. I wasn’t sure whether it was this or the concussion from the blast had killed him, but I was certain that his death had been instant.
Pte Grant Grinham
When we moved into the First Bowl I was with Tony Kempster. We were knackered after the long night, so we stuck a shovel in the ground and sat against it back to back and fell asleep. We were woken by Sgt George Duffus’s two gun teams firing in A Company. Shortly after this Cpl McLaughlin came up to me and said, ‘Here you go, Grant, have this.’ He gave me an Argentine folding FN rifle, which I was quite pleased with. He added, ‘We’ve got a bunker over there; John Ross is already in it. Go in and get a brew on.’
I went over and climbed inside and sat with Sgt Ross and Nigel [Lippy] Linton. Cpl McLaughlin climbed in after me, and we sat talking about the night. After a while, Sgt Ross said, ‘Right, Scouse, we need to check on the rest of the platoon.’ Cpl McLaughlin was nearest to the bunker entrance, so he climbed out first. I then shuffled out behind him, legs first. I was just about to pick myself up when there was an almighty flash. I next remember looking across to Cpl McLaughlin; he was leaning against a large rock, and was shouting, ‘I’m sucking, I’m sucking.’ I then noticed my right leg was hanging off, and the other one was badly injured.
Steve Phillips was one of the first people I remember reaching me. He was about to use his own morphine, but I warned him, ‘No, Steve, you have to use mine.’ Within seconds there were a number of blokes helping. I was trying to tell them what to do, but they said, ‘Grant, just fucking shut up.’ I remember Scouse McLaughlin was saying, ‘I can’t suck. I’ve got a christening to go to.’ He also yelled at someone, ‘Will you fucking shut up.’ And then John Ross gave me morphine.
More rounds began exploding above the bowl area; fortunately Steve Phillips lay across me to shield me from the falling debris. It was a very brave act and something I have remembered ever since.
Shortly after this it was decided to move me. Harry Harrison, Colin Edwards, Terry Mulgrew and Paul Hutchinson carried me to a more sheltered bit of cover, lower down in the bowl. I remember Harry Harrison held my hand while Cpl Phil Probets treated me. CSM Johnny Weeks shouted loudly to one of the radio operators, ‘Get some fucking stretchers up here now.’ I remember Major Argue saying the stretchers would be here in about ten minutes. But it seemed to take ages. I remember shouting to him, ‘You said it would take ten fucking minutes, where the fuck are they?’
Sgt John Ross
I said to Scouse, ‘We’d better check on the blokes.’ So Scouse McLaughlin got out first. It was quite awkward exiting the bunker. But, once he was out, Scouse stood up and Grant was in the process of getting out, and I was following behind him. Suddenly there was a bright flash; I wasn’t sure what had happened, whether it was artillery, or what. Grant Grinham turned to me and yelled, ‘John, they’ve blown my fucking leg off and I’m only 19.’ I still couldn’t see exactly what had gone on, as my eyes had been blinded by the flash. I got out and got my wits back together. I saw Scouse McLaughlin lying on the ground and Grant with his leg blown off. Scouse was saying, ‘I’m gonna suck.’ I said, ‘No, you won’t.’ He said quietly, ‘I will, I’ve been a bastard tonight.’
It seemed for a moment that no one was helping us; I started shouting, ‘Fucking get over here now!’ Grant was taken away, but Scouse refused to be casevaced. He really needed treatment, his whole left shoulder was open, and he was having trouble breathing. I was over by the bunker bathing my eyes, which were still sore. Once my eyes had settled down I was told that Scouse had gone to the RAP.
Cpl Phil Probets
Cpl McLaughlin was brought to me and I took off his smock and checked his wound. It was a large wound, but I tried to reassure him, saying, ‘You’ll be okay; it’s only a bit of shrapnel.’ Then Pete Higgs appeared from somewhere and said, ‘Phil, I’ll take him down to the RAP.’ And with some relief I said, ‘Okay, thanks for that, Pete.’ And off they went.
Pte Kevin Connery
I was standing next to Cpl Phil Skidmore when there was a huge explosion behind us; we were both picked up and slammed against the rock wall. I was lying there stunned for a moment; my ears were ringing, and my body felt very hot. I gradually became aware of Phil shouting for a medic. He had been hit in the back and was in great pain. I began feeling his back for a wound. Eventually, I found a small hole in the back of his smock: the shrapnel had gone straight through all his layers of clothing. I then found the wound in his back. He’d also suffered a leg wound which I missed, as I was more concerned with his back.
Cpl Phil Skidmore
I felt like I’d been hit by a sledgehammer. Kev Connery was the first to reach me, and then a medic arrived and began treating me. I remember hearing more incoming fire, and thought, Fuck that, I’m off. I jumped up and left the medic and ran for cover back into the bowl; CMS Johnny Weeks was shouting at everyone to get off the top area. I think Kev Connery took me down to the RAP.
LCpl Roger James
We were receiving sporadic shell fire from the Port Stanley area when there was a massive explosion on my right-hand side. I was facing down the western slope of Longdon with my back to Port Stanley. I could feel the heat from the blast down the right side of my body. It threw me through the air, and somehow I had completely turned around and landed on my stomach facing Port Stanley. I rolled over and began checking myself; I had a severe pain in my leg, so I felt along my leg all the way down to my foot and thought, Well, it’s still there, but the pain was terrific. I was amazed to see that Tony McLarnon was still standing there; he was in shock and was just looking at me. I yelled at him, ‘Fucking get down!’ as artillery rounds were still coming in. I shouted out ‘Medic’ really loudly, and almost immediately an incoming round landed very close to me. I crawled as fast as I could towards a crevice to get into a bit more cover, followed by Tony.
Along came this big bloke with longish hair, who was rather strange looking – I didn’t recognize him from the battalion. He carried out a bit of first aid on me, said, ‘Right, I am going to take you down the RAP.’ He put me over his shoulder using a fireman’s lift and warned, ‘Right, listen to the shells, if you think it’s going to be a close one, tap me on the back, and we’ll hit the deck.’ I couldn’t believe this guy, he was really strong because I’m not a little bloke. He ran out of the First Bowl, and down the northern side of Longdon. I tapped his back a couple of times, and we took cover. Then he was up and running again, when suddenly without warning he dropped me, and I went flying. I thought he’d been shot, I could hear him groaning, and I called out, ‘Are you all right, mate?’ And a voice came back, ‘I’m okay, just winded.’ He had tripped over a couple of dead Argentines who had been killed during the earlier fighting. He picked me up, and we started again to make our way to the RAP. When we got there, he put me down and asked, ‘Are you all right now, mate?’ He gave me a cigarette and then buggered off.
The man who carries LCpl Roger James is one of the naval gunfire team.
Part of Captain Willie McCracken’s operational report dated 1982
RO1 Brian [Stan] Hardy was dispatched to help with casualties while we were still under effective enemy fire. Bdr [Jacko] Jackson and Gnr [Titch] Barfoot had a very lucky escape as they were helping take casualties to the RAP when more shelling began and the two people immediately in front of them were killed.
These two people are Cpl Stewart McLaughlin and LCpl Pete Higgs.
Pte Paul Hutchinson
I was going to have a chat with Pte Andy Steadman, when suddenly there was a massive flash and an explosion. I was thrown through the air and landed in a heap. I sat up and checked myself; my ears were ringing, I was slightly disorientated, and I became aware of people screaming. I picked myself up and ran over to Andy Steadman, who was on the ground rolling about in agony. I helped him up and tried to get him into cover, as incoming artillery was still landing around our position.
I noticed Steve Phillips and Terry Mulgrew attending to Grant Grinham. A medic arrived and began putting a saline drip into him and administered morphine. Grant was in a bad way. His leg was only just hanging on and his other leg was badly damaged. I helped carry him down to the RAP. As I returned to the bowl, I met Cpl McLaughlin, and it was only now that I discovered that he had also been injured. He was making his way to the RAP helped by Pete Higgs. I said to him, ‘Fucking hell, Scouse, are you all right, pal?’ Scouse grimaced and said, ‘All right Hutch, yeah, this doesn’t feel too fucking good, though.’ I made my way up into the First Bowl and sat with Colin Edwards and Gordon Ellse. I remember Johnny Weeks coming over and rubbing Gordon Ellse’s head and saying in a tired voice, ‘How are you, son?’ as the strain was now beginning to show on all of us.
4.9 ‘He had fulfilled his destiny that night’
A Company informs the CO that they have secured the eastern end of Mount Longdon:
10.28hrs (zt): from C/S 19 to C/S 9: ‘Now on position, very extensive position with Support Gun at end.’
Pte Duncan Daly
I’m not sure where these prisoners came from; I think that it was possibly A Company that may have brought them in off the eastern slope. I now believe that these men were Argentine Marines. There were about ten of them. I started searching them and took various documents and pieces of equipment over to Major Argue as I thought they may have been of some interest. He had just given his zap numbers of our dead and injured to signaller Pte Mark Harding, and I noticed Major Argue had tears in his eyes.
Sgt John Ross
Tony Kempster, Lippy Linton and I made our way down Route 3 towards the RAP. We crossed onto Route 2 and saw some of the 3 PARA cooks standing over two bodies lying face down. I asked them who they were. They said one is Pete Higgs, but we don’t know who the other one is because of his head injuries. We carried on into the RAP where I met CSgt Brian Faulkner. I asked did Scouse McLaughlin get out okay? Brian Faulkner said, ‘Scouse hasn’t been through here.’ I replied, ‘Yes, he has; he was hit just before, and he came down here,’ and Brian Faulkner said, ‘John, I’m telling you, he hasn’t been through here.’ I said crossly, ‘Well, you must have missed him.’ Brian replied, ‘I’ve missed nobody; I know everyone who’s come in and everyone who’s gone out.’
We went back up to where we’d seen the two bodies, but by now the ACC stretcher-bearers had removed them. We went back towards the First Bowl, where I met Johnny Weeks. I said to him, ‘I can’t find Scouse, he’s gone missing, but Pete Higgs is dead and there’s somebody with him, but they don’t know who he is.’ Then Steve Phillips added, ‘That might be Scouse, as Pete Higgs took him down to the RAP.’ A great shudder ran through my whole body with the realization that Scouse may be dead. I quickly made my way back down to the RAP, where I met Brian Faulkner, who softly said, ‘I’m sorry, John; Scouse is over there.’
I went over and paid my last respects. When I finished, I took his webbing, which contained food, water and ammo, an act that Scouse would have fully understood as a professional soldier. He would not have needed them in Valhalla. Scouse McLaughlin was many things; he was a hard man, who would always lead from the front, but he was also a loyal friend and one of the most generous men you could meet. He had fulfilled his destiny that night.
Major Argue would later write of Cpl Stewart McLaughlin:
I have known Cpl McLaughlin since the day he was posted to 2 PARA (1973); he was eventually a member of Patrol Company in my troop. He has basically never changed, an out-and-out rogue with a big heart, but a vicious and physical temper which at times he had difficulty in controlling and which, as we know, got him into trouble on more than one occasion. Cpl McLaughlin, nevertheless, was a first-class soldier who revelled in adversity or in the survival situation. Such was his character that his section were proud to work for him. He took his job very seriously and on our voyage one could often find him sitting in some corner with one or two of his lads where he would be going through an aspect of survival or showing them how to get the best out of an item of kit. You have read my citation. Prior to his death, he led his section like a demon on the rocks of Mount Longdon. This was McLaughlin at his best. He leaves a wife (Ruth) and newly born baby boy Stewart and an elder son called Mark.
Have put in for award.
Spr Tommy Trindall
I was tasked with a number of members of 2 Troop, 9 Squadron to go back up and help with the recovery of the wounded. It was now light. We walked up onto Fly Half, where we came across Cpl (Jock) Ferry, Spr Mark Thomas and Spr Sam Robson. It was probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done, telling them about Scotty Wilson. Particularly as Scotty and Jock Ferry were best mates. I had all sorts of things running through my head, but Jock took it quite calmly.
Spr Martin (Spike) Glover, 19 yrs – 9 Sqn RE attached to 3 PARA
We were tasked to go back up and help look for any more wounded. This time we were sent around the northern side. It was quite sunny and about twelve of us made our way back to the First Bowl. We were coming under sporadic shell fire on the way up. At the entrance to the bowl, a badly wounded Argentine lay on the ground watching intently as we moved past him. As we moved up onto the forward edge of Fly Half, I could see some 3 PARA blokes leading prisoners down into the First Bowl. From up here I could see a group of bodies with grey blankets covering them. One of them, LCpl David Scott, was lying on his back where the memorial stone is now placed. Not far from him were another two 3 PARA fatalities [Stewart Laing and James (Doc) Murdoch]. I didn’t know either of them. Then four blokes dealt with Dave Scott and I helped with another fatality [Tony Greenwood]. We placed him in a body bag and zipped him up. The bodies were then placed on stretchers and taken away down through the bowl.
