“What followed was one of the most bitter battles the British army had fought since the Korean War.”

By James O’Connell

IN 1982, when I was 22 years old, I was a member of the 3^rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment – known as 3 Para. At the time, we were Britain’s rapid deployment “spearhead battalion.”

The unit, in theory, could be deployed anywhere in the world with 24 to 72 hours’ notice; in practice we were more likely to be sent as reinforcements to Northern Ireland.

Unfortunately for us, that year war broke out 8,000 miles away, in the southern hemisphere in the Falkland Islands.

The Falklands was a British Overseas Territory and a Crown colony since 1841, but there had been a long-standing dispute with Argentina over the ownership.

The Islanders are proudly British and wish to remain so. In 1982, Argentina was run by a ruthless (and unpopular) military dictatorship, known simply as the Junta. It was headed by General Leopoldo Galtieri.

The Junta was responsible for the deaths of up to 30,000 Argentinians (known as ‘the disappeared’). In 1982, the rulers chose to take the country to war and re-claim the Falkland Islands, in an effort to win back popularity with citizens. The regime thought that the British government would condemn the invasion, but because of the remote location of the islands, along with domestic problems facing the United Kingdom, would ultimately do nothing. That would prove to be a mistake that would have fatal consequences.

On April, 2, 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. Almost immediately a British task force was organized and set sail for the South Atlantic. The fleet was made up of 127 ships: 43 Royal Navy vessels, 22 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and 62 merchant ships.

We (3 Para) sailed onboard SS Canberra, a luxury cruise liner that had been pressed into service.

While en route, frantic diplomatic negotiations were undertaken by U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig to try and stop any conflict. Talks failed and we prepared for war.

As we the British task force neared the Islands, the government in London announced a Total Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands that would extend 200 nautical miles around the Falklands in all directions. According to the declaration, any sea vessel or aircraft from any country entering the zone could expect to be fired upon without warning.

Four weeks later, on May 2, we neared the zone. That same day we heard the news that the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano had been sunk by the British submarine HMS Conquer. More than 320 sailors had been lost.

Argentina retaliated three days later with an attack against the British warship HMS Sheffield by Exocet missiles.

Although our ship, the Canberra, faced the threat of missile or aircraft attack, it wasn’t until May 21 that our war began in earnest. That day we took part in the British amphibious landing on East Falklands. 3 Para went ashore in LSL landing crafts and quickly secured the high ground around Port San Carlos. Almost immediately, Argentine air attacks began. We stayed in this location for several days.

On May 25, the vitally important supply ship SS Atlantic Conveyor was hit by two Argentine Exocet missiles, killing 12 sailors. Also lost was her cargo of six Wessex and five RAF Chinook helicopters. Eight Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers and six RAF Harrier GR.3 jump jets were also destroyed. The loss of the helicopters was a huge logistical blow for the British Task Force.

Two days later, 3 Para received orders to march to Teal Inlet, a small settlement about 30 miles away. Speed was essential. As such, we moved with just ‘fighting order,’ meaning with basic supplies and as much ammo as we could carry.

The terrain on the Falklands is awful for infantry. The ground is wet and boggy. And with the winter in the southern hemisphere closing in during late May, sunny weather can quickly turn to rain, sleet and snow.

It was an absolutely exhausting march. We moved night and day and were forced to wade through several rivers along the way.

We eventually reached Teal on May 29. We secured the tiny settlement and took a few prisoners. Once a sentry system had been sorted, most of us managed to find somewhere to sleep. I claimed a sheep shed and after my guard duty enjoyed a blissful four-hour sleep.

The next morning, we received orders to march to Estancia Farm, another 30 miles away.

We set off march in freezing rain. The cold and our own exhaustion, made for some extreme soldiering. During the march, our kit began to fall apart. We had been given second-hand fatigues from the King’s Own Scottish Borderers who had recently returned from Norway. Their cold weather gear was ready to go in the bin, but in the haste with which we deployed there was no time to scrounge anything else. Worse, our DMS boots were manufactured with compressed cardboard inners, which were deteriorating as we marched. I started the campaign with a new pair; those whose boots were already broken in were beginning to pay the price. Trench foot was common.

On May 31, we reached Estancia Farm. Our battalion headquarters was established around the farm; the rest of the battalion secured the high ground of Mount Vernet and the lower slopes of Mount Kent.

The enemy was dug in on nearby Mount Longdon. The peak was one of three that formed a defensive ring around the Argentine-held capital of Port Stanley. Longdon, along with the other two mountains (Harriet and Two Sisters), would need to be taken before the town could be liberated. D Company, who had been leading the battalion across East Falklands, began a close target reconnaissance.

It was decided by brigade that 3 Para would take part in a three-phase plan to capture the trio of peaks. 3 Para’s assault on Longdon would begin at 00:00h Zulu Time; 42 Commando would attack nearby Harriet 30 minutes later; 45 Commando would hit Two Sisters at 01:00h.

During its reconnaissance, D Company had discovered that the Argentines were expecting to be attacked from the north. 3 Para’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Hew Pike, decided B Company would silently approach from the west. Minefields were known to exist on the north, west and southern approaches of the objective. It was decided to move through the defences with caution. If a mine was tripped, the attack would begin.

There would be no artillery bombardment of Longdon in advance of the assault as it would alert the enemy that an attack was imminent. Also attacking uphill against alerted enemy positions would be particularly difficult and may prove costly.

It was thought if B Company 6 Platoon could advance up the western slope and get as close to the top of Mount Longdon (code named ‘Fly Half’), before being discovered; they could then fight their way to and secure ‘Fly Half.’ If possible they would then push further east and secure the eastern end of Mount Longdon (code named ‘Full Back’).

B Company 4 and 5 platoons would clear the northern side of Mount Longdon. 4 Platoon would move around the north west corner of Longdon and advance east clearing the lower slopes, while 5 Platoon would advance along the high ground of the northern side of Mount Longdon. Both platoons were to stop at ‘Full Back’.

A and C Company were to act as a strategic reserve located 600 metres north of Mount Longdon (code named ‘Wing Forward’), they would react to any contingencies that may occur during the night. If all went well, they would attack an Argentine Company position (code named ‘Rum Punch’) located 1,500 meters east of ‘Wing Forward.’

Of course, no plan ever survives contact with the enemy.

A corporal with 4 Platoon, Brian Milne, had the misfortune of stepping on an anti-personnel mine. The muffled explosion followed by his agonizing screams cut through the night air and woke the entire Argentine company up.

What followed was one of the most bitter battles the British army had fought since the Korean War.

Following their training and in the finest tradition of the service, the young men of 3 Para, instantly rushed into the darkness, using grenades, gunfire and bayonet thrusts to clear the enemy positions before moving on to the next. Chillingly, it was a battle fought by teenagers. Among 3 Para’s number to fight for Mount Longdon were ten 17-year-olds, and forty-two 18-year-olds. Yet these young men, some fresh from school, would fight like lions. Some would die on Mount London. Many of those who survived still bear the scars of those three days in June.

Fully 23 members of 3 Para battle group died on the mountain or would later succumb to their wounds onboard the hospital ship SS Uganda. As many 48 sustained life-changing injuries. They lost arms and legs and suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds. The Argentine defenders also paid a high price: 46 dead and 120 wounded.

In order to piece together my book about the Battle of Mount Longdon, 3 Days in June, I interviewed many members of 3 Para who were there. Here are some of their recollections:

“I have this clear memory of watching Lt. Ian Moore; having gotten to the far end, he then came back to reorganize. I remember seeing his group coming back through a thick mist, with bayonets fixed, looking as if they had fought and won a battle. It was an extraordinary sight, of tired, but triumphant men, and the shambles of the battlefield was beyond all imagination – corpses scattered about, starting to give off that distinctive odour of death; clothing, bloody shell dressings, discarded boots, belts of ammunition; life’s detritus spread all over the hillside. And then of course the shelling started again.” – Lt Col Hew Pike.

“We moved into the First Bowl, there were dead and dying Argentines laying about moaning and groaning asking for ‘Mama’. There were a few who were completely broken gibbering wrecks, crying, and some were praying. It was awful. However, at this moment in time, we had no sympathy for them; some of the Toms told them to ‘fucking shut up’. The CO said, ‘Okay, Adrian, tell your guys to secure the area.’” – Captain Adrian Logan.

“For some reason we then made our way across to Full Back. The scene of carnage was awful, with bodies and body parts scattered about. We met up with CSM Alec Munro and Major David Collett, who were now firm on the Full Back, and were busily consolidating and preparing their defences for a possible counter attack.” – Pte Mark “Zip” Hunt.

“The smell of the mountain was really intense, a smell of cordite, blood, sweat and death. It’s a smell that I will never forget. For the first time I had time to think. My mind was racing, I had lost all my fear of dying, and I seemed to be in a strange place where my life didn’t seem to mean much anymore.” – Pte Steve Richards.

The Battle of Mount Longdon never left those that fought in it. War is an absolutely shocking experience and leaves those from both sides in almost disbelief of what has happened to them and others.

This a book about war and the fragility of life, it’s a heartbreaking account, it was written so the memories of these men are not lost, already since writing several interviewees have succumbed to illness and accident.

Please bear witness to 3 Days in June. From the Class of 1982. Utrinque Paratus.

 

James O’Connell is the author of 3 Days in June: 3 Para’s Battle for Mt. Longdon. A veteran of the Falklands War, O’Connell was wounded in action and since 2014 has worked to get posthumous medals and memorials for his comrades lost in the conflict. He lives in Merseyside in the United Kingdom.

 

 

Win 1 of 3 copies of ‘3 Days in June,’ Falklands War vet James O’Connell’s hard-hitting account of the Battle for Mount Longdon from @Octopus_Books.https://t.co/FTsb7JFZNa

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— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) June 7, 2021