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M.M. London Gazette 8 October 1982 ‘In the early hours of 12th June 1982, the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment assaulted
enemy positions on Mount Longdon, eight kilometres to the West of Port Stanley on the Island of East Falkland. Corporal Bailey’s
Section were tasked to aid a Platoon pinned down by heavy automatic fire.
Under covering fire, together with Sergeant McKay, he attacked the enemy’s position with grenades. Whilst closing on the enemy,
Corporal Bailey was wounded. His brave actions helped to destroy the enemy and relieve the pressure on the Platoon that was pinned
down.’
The posthumous award of Sergeant Ian McKay’s Victoria Cross was announced in the same Gazette as Corporal Ian Bailey’s M.M. and
the citation adds further detail to Bailey’s own award:‘During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
mounted a silent night attack on an emergency battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port
Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had
been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong,
mutually-supporting positions.
By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoon’s advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from
a number of well-sited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realising that no further advance was
possible the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge
itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon.
The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking
Sergeant McKay, a Corporal [Bailey] and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved
forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay.
It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided
to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and
deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the
enemy position.
The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal [Bailey]was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these
losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he
despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy
with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker.
Without doubt Sergeant McKay’s action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the
attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he
performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage. With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage
and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him.’
Sergeant McKays body was exhumed from the Falkland Islands some time later and brought back to England where it was re interred
with full military honours at Aldershot Military Cemetery. One of the pall bearers at this funeral was Corporal Ian Bailey.
Ian Bailey MM (front row kneeling to right of boy) at Teal Inlet on 1 June 1982
with part of 5 Platoon ‘B’ Company
www.dnw.co.uk
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