Three Days in June, page 22
CSgt Steve Knights
When Chris Howard fired the Milan, I was behind him and got covered in shit. I said, ‘What the fucking hell have you done?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, it just blew up on me.’ I said, ‘Where’s the fucking missile gone?’ and he replied, ‘I don’t fucking know! It’s gone down the range somewhere. I think it’s heading for Stanley.’
Sgt Chris Howard
We found out later that the first Milan missile landed quite close to Port Stanley, not far from a 105mm artillery piece. I moved back down the western slope where I found Pte Andy Dunn. I borrowed his Milan frame, and we set up again and this time the missile launched, and I tracked it all the way down to Full Back where it impacted with an enormous fireball.
Cpl Peter (Tomo) Thompson
When I asked for a volunteer, all the men of the three gun groups volunteered in unison. I explained I could only take one person with me. Again they all volunteered. I picked the person who was furthest up the slope. I reached out and grabbed his leg and said, ‘Who’s that?’ He replied, ‘It’s Rolly.’ I knew he had a tripod, so I turned to Rick [Westray], my gunner, and said, ‘Give me your gun, here’s my tripod and rifle.’
I gave the group a very brief set of orders: me and Rolly would set up the gun on the top of Fly Half and begin engaging the enemy; the rest of the group were to supply us with ammunition. Cpl Mick Matthews of the Anti-Tank Platoon whispered, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ I said, ‘You go to CSM Caithness and ask him to get all the ammunition-bearers to bring all the ammunition to this location and my lads will ferry it over to us, as we need it.’
Rolly and me moved up to Fly Half. We crawled over the forward slope and began setting up the machine gun in the low mount next to the body of one of our men. We then started to load up the gun and lay the ammunition out. With the machine gun loaded and ready to engage, I now considered which target to engage. I decided on Full Back as this was where the main machine-gun and rifle fire was coming from. I put my hand on Rolly’s arm and said, ‘I’m about to fire, get ready.’ I knew the enemy would throw everything they had back at us once I took hold of the trigger and opened fire.
LCpl Mark (Rolly) Rawlings
We linked up about four or five bandoliers of ammunition and began firing. Initially we had quite a few stoppages due to the ammunition. Cpl Thompson kept recocking the gun and firing it, but once we began using ammunition taken out of ammunition liners we had no problems. We were just aiming at the green flashes. Cpl Thompson would shout, ‘UNLOCK!’ and I would automatically unlock the cradle-locking lever. Cpl Thompson would roughly align with the next target and shout, ‘LOCK!’ He would then fine-tune the sight, and shout, ‘ON!’ Some of the targets were quite close on our left; this would be along the main spine west to east in the area of the Second Bowl. We were basically just firing at whoever fired at us. We knew there were wounded to our front, but we couldn’t be sure where they were, or if by now they were still alive or dead.
The next radio message relates to Support Company telling the CO that four of 6 Platoon’s wounded have managed to extract themselves, under the covering fire of Cpl Thompson’s SF machine gun. LCpl Steve Wright, Pte Stuart Grey and Pte Dennis Dunn are now back on the western slope:
03.20hrs (zt): from C/S 59 to C/S 9: ‘Four casualties taken by C/S 59 stretcher party.’
Cpl Peter (Tomo) Thompson
I was aware that if we carried on firing at this rate, we would soon run out of ammunition, so I decided to fire only at targets when they engaged us or I could clearly see the enemy. We were also in contact with the wounded as we were within shouting distance of each other. We kept calling out to reassure them.
All the time we had been firing there had been British and Argentinian artillery falling in a rolling barrage on our position: you couldn’t tell the difference. It fell extremely close to our position; the vibrations were shaking the entire mountain and waves of hot air would blow over us. Some artillery rounds were landing as close as 30 metres away to the south of our position; how they never got us I will never know.
At some point while we were firing away a dark figure appeared at the side of me, and I said, ‘Who’s that?’ He said, ‘It’s Jock Begg’ [LCpl Alan Begg is the CO’s signaller] and I said, ‘What the fuck you doing here?’ He replied, ‘I’m just having a look.’ I said, ‘Jock, fuck off, you shouldn’t be here.’ About thirty minutes later, I received a message: ‘The CO is moving over to the left, prepare to give him covering fire.’ I said, ‘Not a problem, just tell me when.’ Shortly after this someone shouted, ‘Fire now!’ and they ran down into the First Bowl. At that time I thought, What the fuck is the CO doing this far forward? Where are the forward elements of C Company?
We were winning the firefight and slowly controlling the battlefield with this one gun, so I continued to engage targets that presented themselves. At one point, out of the corner of my right eye, I became aware of movement. I couldn’t see properly because of the darkness, but I could make out shapes. I shouted to Rolly, ‘Unlock the gun and move out of the way!’ I swung the gun to the right; they were really close to our position. As I took aim, a flare went up and illuminated the area. I immediately recognized the shape of the helmets and camouflaged uniforms of 3 PARA. I thought, What are they doing out there? I was told that there was nobody in front of us.
The men running back are Pte Phil Simpson, Pte Morgan Slade and Pte Bryn Cowley, making their way back to 6 Platoon. They come incredibly close to being shot.
Lt Col Hew Pike still cannot find Major Argue. Eventually the CO manages to contact him over the radio. Major Argue confirms his location: he is with 6 Platoon. The CO is also with 6 Platoon but in the general confusion, partly due to the darkness and rocky terrain, it is hard to locate anyone:
03.30hrs (zt): from C/S 9 to C/S 29: ‘Can you assess the situation?’
03.30hrs (zt): from C/S 29 to C/S 9: ‘Roger, I am now with Call Sign 2/3. There are a few well sited automatic weapons, but believe little resistance left, do not think it necessary for Call Sign 3 [C Company] to pass through us yet. We will keep knocking the enemy bit by bit.’
Captain Willie McCracken and his team of naval RO1 Stan Hardy, Bdr (Jacko) Jackson and signaller Gnr (Titch) Barfoot have moved up onto the western slope to grid 326751 in the rocks on Fly Half. Shortly after 5 Platoon clear the First Bowl, he moves his team into the bowl, and from here he calls in salvos of naval gunfire onto the Third Bowl approximately 120 yards away.
Lt Col Hew Pike
I finally made contact with Mike Argue. He made it pretty clear to me that all his attempts to get forward were being thwarted. I also realized that his company had taken quite a few casualties.
Captain Kevin McGimpsey, 30 yrs – Adjutant 3 PARA
We moved up to locate and liaise with Mike Argue. I thought that this was madness; we were running and ducking over exposed areas with sniper fire and tracer. The CO would keep on shouting that we had to get forward. For the first two or three hours after H-Hour, the CO’s Tac HQ kept moving back and forth between A and B Companies. The CO was encouraging and cajoling B Company to keep pressing forwards.
At approximately 04.00hrs (zt), Captain Tony Mason, who is located on Wing Forward, is ordered to bring his Milan detachment and two SF teams across to Mount Longdon and up to Fly Half.
3 PARA HQ informs Brigade that 1 x .50 calibre is still causing problems:
04.01hrs (zt): from C/S 0 to C/S 99: ‘Situation report, fighting hard, 1 x .50 Browning machine gun, also under mortar fire, number of own casualties and prisoners taken, once .50 Browning taken out should have no problem.’
04.16hrs (zt): from C/S 41B to C/S 29FDC: ‘C/S 3 End of mission ZU7920 on add 600 metres 55 rounds expended.’
Cpl Peter (Tomo) Thompson
A flare had gone up from around the Full Back area and I noticed a large group of figures moving forward towards us on the southern side. I said to Rolly, ‘I think we have a counter-attack coming in forward right of us. Link up all the ammunition, everything we’ve got.’ I traversed the gun about 30 degrees to the south-east. This was the first time I had seen actual figures to fire at, and I began to engage; we traversed the area and fired about 2,000 rounds. I didn’t have time to get other people to help us, as we had not been issued radios, and we had no night sights, so I just continually fired into that area for about 20 minutes. While we were firing we received accurate direct machine-gun/rifle fire from Full Back and the enemy’s artillery opened up onto us again. We then had a resupply of ammunition and I told Rolly to go silent and waited to see that if the counter-attack materialized from the right. Fortunately it didn’t.
At approximately 04.20hrs (zt), Major Carrizo Salvadores sends 46 men of the 10th Mechanized Engineer Platoon under the command of 2nd Lt Hugo Quiroga along the southern flank to launch a counter-attack on the summit. They come under heavy fire and several are wounded and they withdraw. These may be the men Cpl Thompson fired at. This group of Argentines cause no casualties among the men of 3 PARA, and apart from Cpl Thompson and LCpl Rawlings no one else sees or hears the half-hearted counter-attack.
Acting Captain Giles Orpen-Smellie
I was wounded by a ricochet in the right arm about an hour after Tac HQ arrived on Fly Half. The Argentine defenders were firing GPMGs semi-blindly into the rocks where we were. A round from one of these ricocheted off a nearby rock and then into my arm. I turned and said, in a very calm and measured way, ‘I’ve been hit’ to Cpl John Sibley, who thought I was joking and told me to stop taking the piss! It was only when, by the light of a carefully shaded torch, he saw my hand was covered in blood, that he accepted my story and immediately launched into a swift and highly efficient assessment and began dressing my wound. That was the mark of the very professional medic that he was.
At approximately 04.40hrs (zt), Captain Tony Mason has now arrived on the western slope.
RSM Lawrie Ashbridge
I was moving about talking to the younger soldiers. I thought it was vital the soldiers see me up there with them. I remember hearing someone saying, ‘Fucking hell, is that the RSM?’ I said, ‘Yes, it is, are you all right, pal? It’s okay, let’s just crack on.’
04.40hrs (zt): After firing 121 salvos, HMS Avenger’s 4.5-inch gun ‘Big Bertha’, now has problems with her gyroscope and is unable to fire.
04.45hrs (zt): Lt Col Hew Pike contacts Major David Collett with regards to advancing forward, but is told it is not possible as the .50 Calibre in the Third Bowl and small arms are still dominating the northern approaches.
5.4 ‘Well, pal, he’s still alive, get him fucking out of here!’
Lt Col Hew Pike
It was around this time I thought, Right, we need to get A Company involved, but after speaking to David Collett I was able to establish that A Company was unable to move forward due to heavy machine-gun fire from various gun positions on the northern side of the objective.
04.50hrs (zt): Lt Col Hew Pike contacts Major Collett and tells him to make his way across to Longdon, to discuss the best use of A Company. Major Collett departs Wing Forward with Sgt Mac French and radio operator Pte Terry Kipling.
04.55hrs (zt): HMS Yarmouth takes over HMS Avenger’s targets.
3 PARA HQ informs Brigade that HMG No. 3 in the Third Bowl is still causing problems. The gun is no longer firing to the north against A Company; the crew have repositioned it facing west. From its new position, fortunately for 3 PARA, due to rock formations it cannot hit the area from where the SF team are firing:
05.03hrs (zt): from C/S 0 to C/S 99: ‘Situation report, no change still trying to take out the 1 x .50 Browning position.’
At approximately 05.10hrs (zt), BV vehicles carrying mortar ammunition begin to arrive at the Mortar Line.1
LCpl Kevin Robison, 20 yrs – Mortar Platoon, B Company Mortar Detachment
The Mortar Platoon moved as part of the vehicle convoy, consisting of a number of BVs and tractors carrying the battalion ammunition. Each of our mortar detachments had about 200 bombs. These were loaded on board the vehicles and the platoon walked alongside, but I think the Mortar Command Post Operators [Sgt Dave Hallas – B Company, Cpl Leuan Bullivant – A Company, Cpl John Mountford – C Company] went ahead with either Support Company or the rifle companies to mark out the Mortar Line. The Mortar Line was shielded by a rocky ridge.
We split into three groups, acting as independent sections at a set distance apart that matched the ground. We were working to fire missions firstly from Cpl Terry McGlasson and Cpl Ronnie Cooper, and then later, Cpl Mark [Geordie] Crowne and Cpl Steve Baxter. We fired smoke-adjusting rounds, at varying rates, but mainly fire for effect, with HE [high explosives]. The MFCs [Mortar Fire Controllers] were having trouble identifying their rounds among all the other explosions from HMS Avenger and 79 Kirkee Battery that were landing on and around the mountain. I was listening to the chitchat on the net, that was coming from the MFC describing what was going on, short situation reports. The other detachments were firing at the same time. I would estimate we fired about 150–200 rounds per barrel, mostly on charges six, seven and eight. Throughout the night counter-artillery fire constantly landed around the Mortar Line; I remember C Company Detachment having a very close hit, but fortunately they were all okay.
Lt Col Hew Pike
I reported back to Brigade HQ that we were having a tough time, we would get there in the end, but it was taking a hell of a long time. I have no idea of what time it was; I don’t remember looking at my watch all night. I mean, we were shelling, and they were shelling; artillery fire was coming down all around us, and we were so mixed up, we didn’t know whether it was ours or the enemy’s really.
LCpl Denzil Connick
The thing I remember most about this time was the urgency of it all; I looked on as an ‘O’ Group was held with Lt Col Hew Pike, RSM Lawrie Ashbridge, Major Argue, Major Dennison, Major Collett, WO2 Thor Caithness and CSM Johnny Weeks. All of them were now forcefully discussing our next move.
Major Argue tells the CO that he would like another go, he wants B Company to try a left-flanking attack; this would involve sending 4 and 5 Platoons along the sheep track on the northern side of the mountain.
HMS Avenger is still out of action; Captain Willie McCracken will now direct fire from HMS Yarmouth onto the main ridge with special attention to the Third Bowl area.
05.47hrs (zt): 2 salvos
05.52hrs (zt): 2 salvos
05.55hrs (zt): 2 salvos
05.59hrs (zt): 43 salvos
3 PARA HQ send a situation report to Brigade:
06.10hrs (zt): from C/S 0 to C/S 99: ‘At present winning firefight on last known position on eastern end of Mount Longdon, from POWs, there are 6 x 120mm mortars at grid 338748 our call sign investigating.’
06.12hrs (zt): NGS completed: this is the last of the naval gunfire. HMS Yarmouth and HMS Glamorgan head back to the carrier group leaving HMS Avenger, whose gun is now working, manning the gunline:
At approximately 06.15hrs (zt), A Company are given orders to withdraw from Wing Forward. Sgt Mac French of A Company is sent back across to Wing Forward to act as a guide.
06.30hrs (zt) approximately: B Company begin forming up for their left-flanking attack.
06.33hrs (zt): from C/S 29 to C/S 83(MO): ‘Approximately 10 casualties Call Sign 2 [B Company] for BV casevac.’
06.37hrs (zt): HMS Glamorgan is hit, port-side hangar and main galley. HMS Yarmouth and HMS Avenger go to assist.
At approximately 07.00hrs (zt) on northern side of mountain:
RSM Lawrie Ashbridge
As I walked across to the north-west corner not far from the RAP, I heard someone groaning and British voices coming from around the other side of some rocks. I found a group of B Company’s wounded. They were just sitting there, all huddled together in the dark. I particularly remember Cpl Kelly, Cpl Bailey and Pte Hindmarsh. As it was pitch dark, I happened to stand on someone who said, ‘Ahh, who the fucking hell’s that?’ I said, ‘Who’s that?’ He said, ‘It’s Cpl Bailey.’ I shouted, ‘Why the fuck is this man lying here?’ I was told by someone in a hushed tone, ‘Sir, he’s dying, he’s not going to make it.’ I said, ‘Well, pal, he’s still alive, get him fucking out of here!’
3 PARA HQ contact the CO and tell him, ‘Brigade wants to know what’s happening.’
07.25hrs (zt): from C/S 0 to C/S 9: ‘Send brief situation report for Higher Formation.’
The CO explains to 3 PARA HQ that B Company has taken considerable casualties, and he will pass A Company through before first light at approximately 09.40hrs (zt):
07.25hrs (zt): from C/S 9 to C/S 0: ‘Roger: Call Sign 2 has sustained considerable casualties whilst taking its objective, Call Sign 1 will pass through, and hopefully take Full Back by first light, there is fierce resistance on the feature, and it is difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the enemy amongst the rocks.’
3 PARA HQ then passed the message directly to Brigade:
07.25hrs (zt): from C/S 0 to C/S 99: ‘Situation report, Call Sign 2 considerable casualties whilst clearing feature, firefight still going on, once Call Sign 2 has secured saddle Call Sign 1 will pass through them and hopefully secure Full Back by first light.’
Brigade now informs 3 PARA that they intend sending 2 PARA to reinforce 3 PARA:
07.28hrs (zt): from C/S 99 to C/S 0: ‘We are going to reinforce you with 2 PARA, but need to know, which flank you want them on and how you will tie up with them.’
