Three Days in June, page 50
For many years, Falklands veterans met only occasionally, usually in Aldershot on Airborne Forces Day, which is celebrated annually on the first weekend in July. Communication in 1980s and 1990s was very limited, but now, with the help of modern technology, we are all able to keep in contact on a daily or weekly basis. I have found it particularly reassuring to know I can just reach out to a fellow veteran with any problems, and he to me.
Over the years we have sadly lost a few veterans due to physical or mental health problems brought on by their time in service, and nearly all of us suffer with knee, back or hip conditions. Serving your country can take quite a toll on your mind and body, but we will always be there for each other.
APPENDIX I
BRITISH FORCES ROLL OF HONOUR
Pte Richard Absolon MM
Pte Craig Jones
Pte Gerald Bull
Pte Stewart Laing
Pte Jason Burt
LCpl Chris Lovett MID
Pte Jon Crow
Cpl Keith McCarthy
Pte Mark Dodsworth
Sgt Ian McKay VC
Pte Anthony Greenwood
Cpl Stewart McLaughlin
Pte Neil Grose
LCpl James (Doc) Murdoch
Pte Peter Hedicker
LCpl David Scott
LCpl Pete Higgs
Pte Ian Scrivens
Cpl Stevie Hope
Cfn Alex Shaw REME
Pte Tim Jenkins
Pte Philip West
Cpl Scott Wilson 9 Sqn RE
ARGENTINE FORCES ROLL OF HONOUR
S/C62 Eduardo Elbio E Araujo
S/C62 Carlos A Hornos
S/C62 Miguel A Arrascaeta
S/C62 Alberto M Juarez
S/C 63 Claudio Bastida
S/C62 Julio Hector Maidana
Lt Juan Baldini
S/C62 Marcello D Massad
S/C62 Angel Benitez
Cpl Pedro A Orozco
S/C62 Omar Anibal Britos
S/C62 Rolando Pacholczuk
S/C62 Sergio A Carbadlido
S/C62 Miguel Angel Pascual
S/C62 Luis Alberto Diaz
Sgt Dante Luis S Pereyra
S/C62 Miguel Angel Falcon
S/C62 Alberto D Petrucelli
S/C62 Aldo Omar Ferreyra
S/C62 Ramon Omar Quintana
S/C62 Alfredo Gattoni
Lt Rolando Alberto Ramos
S/C62 Miguel A Gonzalez
Cpl Dario Rolando Rios
S/C62 Nestor M Gonzalez
S/C62 Isaac Erasmo Rocha
S/C62 Donato M Gramisci
S/C62 José Luis Rodriguez
S/C62 Guillermo E Granado
S/C62 Macedonio Rodriguez
S/C62 Ricardo Herrera
S/C62 Victor Rodriguez
S/C62 Jose Luis Del Hierro
S/C62 Julio Romero
Sgt Jorge Albert Ron
S/C62 Luis Fernandez (ARA)
S/C62 Enrique H Ronconi
S/C62 Sergio Giuseppetti (ARA)
S/C62 Alejandro P Vargas
S/C62 Jorge Inchauspe (ARA)
S/C62 Pedro Vojkovic
S/C62 Jorge Maciel (ARA)
S/C62 Manuel A Zelarrayan
S/C62 Claudio Scaglione (ARA)
BRITISH AWARDS
Sgt Ian J McKay
Victoria Cross
Lt Col Hew W R Pike
Distinguished Service Order
Major Mike H Argue
Military Cross
Major David A Collett
Military Cross
Captain Willie A McCracken, 29 Cdo
Military Cross
Sgt Brian Faulkner
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Sgt John S Pettinger
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Pte Richard J de M Absolon
Military Medal
Cpl Ian P Bailey
Military Medal
Sgt Desmond Fuller
Military Medal
Major Peter Dennison
Mentioned In Dispatches
Captain Matthew Selfridge
Mentioned In Dispatches
Lt Mark Cox
Mentioned In Dispatches
2nd Lt Ian Moore
Mentioned In Dispatches
Sgt Dick Kalinski
Mentioned In Dispatches
Sgt Peter Marshall ACC
Mentioned In Dispatches
Cpl Thomas Noble
Mentioned In Dispatches
Cpl Jerry Phillips
Mentioned In Dispatches
Cpl John Sibley
Mentioned In Dispatches
Cpl Steve Harding-Dempster
Mentioned In Dispatches
Lance Cpl Lenny Carver
Mentioned In Dispatches
Lance Cpl Christopher Lovett
Mentioned In Dispatches
Pte Kevin Connery
Mentioned In Dispatches
Pte Adam Corneille
Mentioned In Dispatches
Pte Darren Gough
Mentioned In Dispatches
Pte Dominic Gray
Mentioned In Dispatches
Pte Pat Harley
Mentioned In Dispatches
Captain Norman Menzies
Member of the Order of the British Empire
My friend and colleague John Kennedy somehow missed out on an award, but received a Certificate of Commendation, which I think is worthy of mention:
Commander of the Task Force 317 Commendation:
Presented to Private J J P Kennedy of Third Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
Pte Kennedy was a medical assistant working in the Regimental Aid Post throughout the campaign. His courage and outstanding energy in tending to casualties during the battalion’s attack on Mount Longdon on the night of 11/12 June, and subsequently during the defence of the position were beyond praise and in the highest tradition of the Army. Using initiative and authority far beyond what could be reasonably expected from one of his rank and experience, he rendered incalculable support in the work of running the Regimental Aid Post. He was constantly to the fore, his skill and confidence priceless in the tending of casualties, organizing of stretcher-bearer parties, and swift reaction to immediate calls after shelling. Under continual artillery and mortar bombardment, he displayed the utmost bravery and utter disregard for his own safety. No matter where the casualty occurred, Kennedy seemed always to be there to assist, frequently taking complete command of the situation.
His personal courage was matched by his fine medical skill under the most demanding and unpleasant conditions, and lives of wounded men were certainly saved by his constant bravery and superb application of his training. This young soldier was an inspiration to many and conducted himself magnificently throughout a fierce battle and the subsequent days of artillery fire. I commend him for his skill and courage, which was in the finest traditions of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.
Admiral John David Elliott Fieldhouse, 11 October 1982
ARGENTINE AWARDS
Unfortunately, we have not been able to gather a full Argentine awards list. However, these are the ones we have managed to locate.
Army
Sub-Lt Juan Baldini
Medal of Valour in Combat
Lt Raul Castaneda
Medal of Valour in Combat
Lt Francis Galindez
Medal of Valour in Combat
Sgt Rolando Spizuocco
Medal of Valour in Combat
1st Corporal Dario Ríos
Medal of Valour in Combat
1st Corporal Manuel Medina
Medal of Valour in Combat
CC62 Leonardo Rondi Marine
Medal of Valour in Combat
Marine Infantry
Lt Sergio Andres Dachary
Honour and Courage in Combat
Cpl Carlos Rafael Colemil
Honour and Courage in Combat
Cpl Domingo Lamas
Honour and Courage in Combat
CC62 Osvaldo A Colombo
Honour and Courage in Combat
APPENDIX II
BRITISH PERSONNEL
The Third Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and Attachments
CO Lt Col Hew Pike
2ic Major Roger Patton
RSM Lawrie Ashbridge
A Company
Commanded by Major David Collett / CSM Alec Munro
1 Platoon
2nd Lt John Kearton / Sgt Manny Manfred
2 Platoon
Lt Ian Moore / Sgt Gerry Carr
3 Platoon
2nd Lt Peter Osborne / Sgt Jim McCallum
B Company
Commanded by Major Mike Argue / CSM Johnny Weeks
4 Platoon
Lt Andrew Bickerdike / Sgt Ian McKay
5 Platoon
Lt Mark Cox / Sgt John Ross
6 Platoon
Lt Jonathan Shaw / Sgt Pete Gray
C Company
Commanded by Major Martin Osborne / CSM Geoff Guest
7 Platoon
Lt Barry Griffiths / Sgt Paul Robinson
8 Platoon
2nd Lt Mike O’Neill / Sgt Martin Bird
9 Platoon
2nd Lt Nicholas Tscharner-Vischer / Sgt Bill Hayward
D Company
Commanded by Major Pat Butler / CSM Ernie Rustill
Captain Matthew Selfridge / Sgt Johnny Pettinger
Support Company
Commanded by Major Peter Dennison / CSM Thor Caithness
Anti-Tank Platoon
Captain Anthony Mason / CSgt Steve Knights
Signals Platoon
WO2 Graham Mills / CSgt Chris Williford
MMGs / Drum’s Platoon
Lt Mike Oliver / DSgt Major Geoff Deaney
Mortar Platoon
Captain Julian James / SNCO CSgt Dave Robson
A Company Detachment
MFC A – Cpl Steve Baxter (Mortar Fire Controller)
MFC B – Cpl Mark (Geordie) Crowne
Battery Carrier – Pte Steve Fitton
CPO – Cpl Leuan (Bully) Bullivant (Command Post Operator)
ACPO – Pte David (Bert) Hughes (Assistant Command Post Operator)
Detachment 1
No.1 – LCpl Stephen Hoy-Priest
No.2 – Pte Peter (Ghost) Harvey
No.3 – Pte Andrew (Scouse) Ashworth
Detachment 2
No.1 – Pte Michael (Mac) McMenamin
No.2 – Pte Robert (Bob) Wade
No.3 – LCpl John Hunter
B Company Detachment
MFC A – Cpl Terry McGlasson
MFC B – Cpl Ronnie Cooper
Battery Carrier – Pte Neil (Midge) Mason
CPO – Sgt Dave Hallas
ACPO – LCpl Kevin Robison
Detachment 1
No.1 – Pte Duncan Watts
No.2 – Pte Kenny Fitzgerald
No.3 – Pte Andy (Taff) Williams
Detachment 2
No.1 – LCpl Terry (Tex) Grogan
No.2 – Pte Mal Whitaker
No.3 – Pte John (Taff) Ellis
C Company Detachment
MFC A – Cpl Paddy Rehill
MFC B – Cpl Christopher Fitzgerald
Battery Carrier – Unknown
CPO – Cpl Johnny Mountford
ACPO –LCpl Stephen Tucker
Detachment 1
No.1 – Pte Pete Cawse
No.2 – Pte Nigel (Nobby) Brandish
No.3 – Pte Michael (Naz) Nazroo
Detachment 2
No.1 – LCpl Charles Castledine
No.2 – Pte Anthony Hields
No.3 – Pte Stewart Murrant
HQ Company
Commanded by Captain Bob Darby / WO2 John Carey
Includes various support elements: MT, ACC, RAPC, Admin, Provo, Int Cell.
16 Field Ambulance
Commanded by Captain Mike Von Bertele / Cpl Davie Wilson / Cpl Neil Parkin
2 Troop, 9 Squadron RE
Commanded by Captain Robbie Burns / SSgt Pete Guerin
29 Commando Regiment RA
Battery Commander Major John Patrick, 6 x 105mm Pack Howitzers
HMS Avenger
Captain Hugo White, 1 x 4.5 inch gun
Naval Gunfire Forward Observation Officer
Captain Willie McCracken
ARGENTINE PERSONNEL AND POSITIONS
7th Mechanized Infantry Regiment and Attachments
CO Lt Col Omar Gimenez
A Company based on Wireless Ridge
B Company based on Mount Longdon
C Company based on Wireless Ridge north
B Company Headquarters
Based on Full Back:
2ic Major Carlos Carrizo-Salvadores, in charge of Mount Longdon ‘Silver Sector 2’.
Captain Eduardo Lopez, Officer Commanding 120 men of B Company.
Lt Hugo Quiroga, Officer Commanding 46 men of 10th Combat Engineers.
Lt Sergio Dachary, Officer Commanding 34 men of Marine Infantry Anti-Aircraft Platoon.
2 x Heavy Machine Guns manned by Marine Infantry located on Full Back, Gun number 2 facing north and Gun number 1 facing south.
Sgt Pedro Lopez, HQ Group in charge of 2 x 120mm mortars.
4 x Blowpipe anti-aircraft missiles.
On 16 May 1982 the Marine Infantry AA Platoon received:
6 x passive night-vision sights marked ‘Mizza’ for the Heavy Machine Guns.
3 x Head-mounted passive night-vision goggles marked ‘Litton’.
3 x Rifle-mounted passive night-vision sights marked ‘Litton’.
1 x 81mm mortar detachment. 1 x 120mm mortar detachment.
1 Platoon
Based on and around Fly Half:
Commanded by Sub Lieutenant Juan Baldini.
The platoon headquarters was based in ‘First Bowl’, the platoon area of responsibility was the western slope and north-west corner of Longdon.
1 x 105mm recoilless rifle commanded by Cpl Rios. (Fortunately, no ammunition had been delivered.)
8 x Cobra anti-tank missiles. 2 x 81mm mortars.
2 x 50 Calibre Heavy Machine Guns manned by Marine Infantry, Gun number 5 located on Fly Half facing west, Gun number 4 located on the northern edge of western slope facing north.
Based on and around the western slope:
Lieutenant Alberto Ramos, Artillery Forward Observation Officer, Sergeant Quinteros and radio operator from GA 3.
1 x Rasit radar facing west under the command of Sergeant Nista Roque.
1 x Sniper Sgt Cabral.
2 Platoon
Commanded by 1st Sgt Raul Gonzalez.
The platoon HQ was located in Second Bowl, and the platoon area of responsibility was the low ground along the northern side in front of the Third Bowl. The platoon was positioned facing north as this was thought to be the main threat; positioned with them was 1 x Rasit radar, located outside the entrance to the Second Bowl facing north. On the high ground behind them on the main ridge was a Marine heavy machine-gun position, Gun number 3, and further to the east of the Third Bowl was a 120mm mortar.
3 Platoon
Commanded by Lt Enrique Neirotti.
The platoon was located on the rocky south-west corner of the mountain. They were strengthened by 1 x 105mm recoilless rifle, 2 x 81mm mortars and a Marine heavy machine gun, Gun number 6. This platoon was not engaged.
Artillery Support: GA3 A and B Battery, 10 x 105mm Howitzers, Lt Ramos FOO.
GLOSSARY
2ic – Second in Command
2 PARA – 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
3 PARA – 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
2SG – 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
66mm – Disposable light anti-tank weapon
7.62mm (FAP) – Argentine heavy-barrelled automatic rifle
AA – Anti-aircraft
AAC – Army Air Corps
AB biscuits – hard biscuits
ACC – Army Catering Corps (cooks)
ASC – Advanced Surgical Centre
ATGW – Anti-tank Guided Weapon
Basha’d – A term used for erecting a tarpaulin shelter
Basher – Improvised shelter
BC – Battery Commander
Bergen – Large pack
BIM 5 – 5th Naval Infantry Battalion (Argentine Marines)
Bn – Battalion
Bde – Brigade
BM – Brigade Major
Brew – Make tea
Brig Gen – Brigadier General
Brimstone – Padre
BV – Volvo Bandwagon 202, a Swedish-made tracked vehicle, also known as Snowcat
CAP – Company Aid Post
Carl Gustav – 84mm light anti-tank weapon like a bazooka
Casevac – Casualty evacuation (pronounced Caz-evac)
Casevact – Casualty evacuated
CBU – Cluster bomb unit
CO – Commanding Officer
CP – Command post
Coy – Company
Cpl – Corporal
CPR – Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
CQMS – Company Quartermaster Sergeant
Crack on – Just keep going
Crap Hat – What Paratroopers call regiment or corps not wearing the maroon beret
C/S – Call sign
CSgt – Colour Sergeant
CSM – Company Sergeant Major
D-Day – Day of operations
