Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
3 Para gallantry award recipients
The next day I was tasked with the first recce or close target reconnaissance (CTR), onto Mount Longdon approximately twelve miles (18k) away to gain information about enemy positions and possible routes onto the mountain in preparation for the Bn attack. We were very aware that a compromise during this patrol onto the enemy position could possibly alert the enemy to the Bn’s intentions and our high “prone to capture” situation was certainly not favourable.
The four of us moved out before last light to cover some of the ground in daylight, as just east of Estancia are areas of ‘rivers of rocks’ which are open expanses of bare, loose rock, some of which were car size, and very difficult to cross even in daylight. At the same time, other patrols conducted similar recces on various areas forward of the Bn location.
I aimed for Murell Bridge which is about three miles (5k) short of Mt. Longdon to use it to cross the river. Tactically not very sound, but at that point we had no idea of the depth of the river, which we found out on later recces. This became our Patrol’s final rendezvous (FRV) to be used if we got split up. We approached in the darkness and spent time observing the bridge for any enemy movement. Our lead scout, Dickie Absolon, moved carefully forward to have a closer look and check for any booby traps etc. All was clear, and we quickly crossed at the bridge at around 22:00 moving further forward to a position by a shallow peat bank, crossing the Furze Bush stream, which was to later to become the start line for the Bn. This was approximately 600-800 meters short of the forward edge of the concave slopes of Mt. Longdon, and where I left Zip and Yanto, making this our first rendezvous point (RV), with the orders to open fire onto the mountain if they saw any form of firefight as it could possibly be Dickie and I trying to extract after a compromise and hopefully they could divert some attention.
Dickie and I crawled forward and onto the edge of the western end of the rocky out-crops of Longdon, unaware of any possible minefields; I was astonished at the height of some of the rocks containing the defended position that was in some depth eastwards. We worked our way into the enemy positions and around to the north of the rocks, cautiously probing in where we could. Numerous enemies were seen and heard, often only a few meters away, and machine gun and mortar (Mor) positions were found and noted. The time on the position was forgotten and went very quickly, as I had told the other two patrol members that if we were not back by 04:30 to report us missing and move back to the FRV at 05:00 so that they would be clear before first light. I eventually checked my watch to see it was almost 04:30; we were still on the enemy position having been there for about 5 hours.
I took the decision to place our weapons down by our sides and just walk off the position heading north; a tactic used in NI years before. To our surprise and fright, we discovered we had walked through several occupied enemy trenches with men talking. Nobody stopped us. Once clear, we ran as fast as possible back westwards towards our first RV. Zip and Yanto had left so we continued to move quickly back to the FRV. We caught up with them a short time later.
We returned to the Bn and I gave my report and de-brief to the CO Lt Col Hew Pike before re-preparing our equipment, cleaning weapons and then getting a couple of hours rest.
It became obvious that the CO was keen to move the Bn forward and attack Longdon as soon as possible, as the Brigade plan was now to move without delay onto the hills and mountains surrounding Port Stanley, with 3 PARA to attack and capture Mount Longdon, 45 Cdo to attack the mountain called Two Sisters and 42 Cdo onto Mount Harriet.
A few hours later, we deployed again back toward Longdon for a further recce. Unknown to us, the Bn later moved forward and was preparing to attack. We completed our recce, like to the first one, gathered further information of enemy positions and again walked off, this time avoiding the trenches. We linked up with Zip and Yanto and I was informed of the Bn move forward as Zip had received it by radio. We walked back very carefully, in fog, to the Bn front line where the soldiers were aware that in front of them somewhere was the enemy. We approached very cautiously to avoid a ‘blue on blue’ situation and eventually we heard the noise of men digging shell scrapes and voices. We went to ground and shouted that we were approaching their front line, which worked - thankfully.
However, there was to be a delay due to the arrival of General Moore taking command of Brigade operations. This delay at least gave us the chance to reassess the situation and conduct further patrols on and around Mt Longdon.
The Bn moved back to the mountains around Estancia and we (Patrol Coy) continued to conduct recce’s onto and around the area of Mt. Longdon, gaining more information with each patrol. This intelligence gave us the ability to build a large earthen model of the mountain and enemy positions therein, from which the CO and the Companies could use to brief from. During this patrolling phase, two patrols had contact and a fire fight with the enemy near Murell bridge, extracting without injuries.
Anti-tank mines had been found in an area west of Mt. Longdon, although no mines or markings for mines were found in the areas to the north and NW of Longdon which, on many occasions, were the lines of our approach and exit from the mountain. Later we were to find out that there were scattered anti-personnel (AP) mines in this area.
On the 11th of June, 3 Para started its advance onto Longdon to conduct a silent night attack with the Patrols marking the start line at Furze Bush stream. My task was to get B Coy across the start line then assist with casualties and prisoners of war (POW), but tactics and battles will always change once across the start line and into contact with the enemy.
After crossing the area of the start line, one of my patrols was to lead 6 Pl to the western slopes of Longdon and my patrol approached with B Coy HQ between 4 and 5 Pl. It was a bright moon-lit night and we were on an open concave slope with very little cover, somewhere I had already been on numerous occasions.
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