The veteran Issue 6

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HMS Sheffield 28 May 1982. Twenty lives were lost in a strike by an exocet missile. On 21 May, British forces were able to land on the Falklands. Contrary to what had been expected by Argentinian military officials, the amphibious operation took place in the east of the islands, avoiding the capital Stanley, where the Argentine forces had planned their major resistance points. During the night of 21 May, the British Amphibious Task Group mounted Operation Sutton, the amphibious landing on beaches around San Carlos Water, on the northwestern coast of East Falkland facing onto Falkland Sound. The bay, known as Bomb Alley by British forces, was the scene of repeated air attacks by low-flying Argentine jets. The 4,000 men of 3 Commando Brigade were put ashore as well as units from the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Armoured reconnaissance vehicles were also put ashore along with Rapier missile launchers. By dawn the next day, they had established a secure beachhead from which to conduct offensive operations. From there, Brigadier Julian Thompson's plan was to capture Darwin and Goose Green before turning towards Port Stanley. Hard fighting continued until British forces were able to surround the capital of Stanley and the main port. On the night of 11 June, after several days of painstaking reconnaissance and logistic build-up. British forces launched a brigade-sized night attack against the heavily defended ring of high ground surrounding Stanley. Units of 3 Commando Brigade, supported by naval gunfire from several Royal Navy ships, simultaneously attacked in the Battle of Mount Harriet, Battle of Two Sisters, and Battle of Mount Longdon. Mount Harriet was taken at a cost of 2 British and 18 Argentine soldiers. At Two Sisters, the British faced both enemy resistance and friendly fire, but managed to capture their objectives. The toughest battle was at Mount Longdon. British forces were bogged down by rifle, mortar, machine gun, artillery and sniper fire, and ambushes. Despite this, the British continued their advance. 3 Para medics attending to a wounded Argentine soldier, Mount Longdon, 1982 The second phase of attacks began on the night of 13 June, and the momentum of the initial assault was maintained. 2 Para, with light armour support from the Blues and Royals, captured Wireless Ridge, with the loss of 3 British and 25 Argentine lives, and the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards captured Mount Tumbledown the Battle of Mount Tumbledown cost 10 British and 30 Argentine lives. A simultaneous special forces raid by the SAS and SBS in fast boats to attack the oil tanks in Stanley Harbour was beaten off by anti-aircraft guns. 10
A daylight attack on Mount William by the Gurkhas, delayed from the previous night by the fighting at Tumbledown, ended in anticlimax when the Argentinian positions were found to be deserted. Following the capture of Stanley, further operations were launched to take the surrender of other Argentine troops on West Falkland. Royal Marines from HMS 'Endurance' also cleared the enemy from the South Sandwich Islands and Southern Thule. A total of 255 British servicemen and three female civilians were killed liberating the Falklands. 649 Argentines had been killed. Repatriating Argentine prisoners of war (POWs) was a long process. Some 5,000 prisoners were embarked on 'Canberra' and 1,000 on 'Norland' on 17 June. By 20 June, 10,250 prisoners had been repatriated. Men from 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles (7GR) make time for a brew On 14 June 1982, Argentina surrendered, officially marking the end of the 10-week undeclared war. A total of 907 people lost their lives during the 10-week Falklands War – 255 of them were British, 649 Argentinian and three were Falkland Islanders killed by friendly fire. Several people were also wounded, including 775 Brits and 1,657 Argentinians. Argentinians surrendering their weapons at Port Stanley, 1982 Memorial to the fallen. port Stanley Major General Moore the Commander of Land Forces gave the Royal Marine Commandos the honour of replacing the Argentine flag with the original Union Jack at Government House, June 1982 'Least we Forget' 11
Page 1 and 2: March 2022 - May 2022 Issue 6 The V
Page 3 and 4: Hamish McConnachie Alicante Branch
Page 5 and 6: Military awards, medals and decorat
Page 7 and 8: On the 40th anniversary of the Falk
Page 9: Less than six months before the con
Page 13 and 14: Branch Chairman John Pratt gave a s
Page 15 and 16: 'We Served' Ed Morris Alicante Bran
Page 17 and 18: In the autumn of 1983 she took part
Page 19 and 20: Congratulations to Ed & Sue Great G
Page 21 and 22: New Branch Community Support Member
Page 23 and 24: Britain therefore looked to the Tas
Page 25 and 26: As we moved closer to the Falkland
Page 27 and 28: Few vehicles could traverse the gro
Page 29 and 30: Branch Meetings As part of our Bran
Page 31 and 32: Our June meeting was held at the Bl
Page 33 and 34: Military awards and decorations of
Page 35 and 36: Forgive and Forget A British office
Page 37 and 38: Poets Corner 2 Para, June 82..... o

The veteran Issue 6

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