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| | On 10 June 1982, Lt Col Hew Pike gave his orders in the Regimental Headquarters at Estancia House for the attack on Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge. They were told to expect around 800 Argentine soldiers defending the the positions who were well dug in and provided with artillery cover from 18 Argentine 105mm howitzers from 3rd Artillery Group and a further 18 105mm howitzers near Stanley. In addition, the area had been heavily mined. | | On 10 June 1982, Lt Col Hew Pike gave his orders in the Regimental Headquarters at Estancia House for the attack on Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge. They were told to expect around 800 Argentine soldiers defending the the positions who were well dug in and provided with artillery cover from 18 Argentine 105mm howitzers from 3rd Artillery Group and a further 18 105mm howitzers near Stanley. In addition, the area had been heavily mined. |
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| − | Mount Longdon is a long narrow feature of rocky terrain, running from east to west with two summits. As a result of its geography only one company attacking could advance along it. The plan was that the rifle companies would be led to the start line at the stream, west of Mount Longdon by members of D (Patrol) Company. H hour was set for 0001hrs, 12 June. The start line would be known as ‘Free Kick’. | + | Mount Longdon is a long narrow feature of rocky terrain, running from east to west with two summits. As a result of its geography only one company attacking could advance along it. The plan was that the rifle companies would be led to the start line at the stream, west of Mount Longdon by members of D (Patrol) Company. The start line would be known as ‘Free Kick’. |
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| − | B Company, on the right would take the two summits named ‘Fly Half’ and ‘Full Back’ following the ridge line. Meanwhile, A Company would be on the left to take ‘Wing Forward’, a spur running from the western side of the summit. C Company would be held in reserve.
| + | Major Mike Argue'sB Company, on the right would take the two summits named ‘Fly Half’ and ‘Full Back’ following the ridge line. Meanwhile, A Company would be on the left to take ‘Wing Forward’, a spur running from the western side of the summit. C Company would seize 'Rough Diamond' before clearing the rest of Wireless Ridge. |
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| − | The start line was crossed at 0015hrs by A and B Companies. It was a silent approach until Cpl Milne stepped on a land mine, which alerted the enemy to the attack. At this point the enemy opened fire and fierce fighting ensued. 4 Platoon took the brunt of the enemy fire, with one man killed and an additional four wounded, including the Platoon Commander. Sgt Ian McKay, therefore, took command of 4 Platoon and moved forward to attack a heavy machine gun position up a steep slope. It was whilst engaging this position he was killed in action. He would later receive a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions.
| + | It was a silent approach until Corporal Brian Milne stepped on a land mine, which alerted 2d Lt Juan Domingo Baldini's 1st Rifle Platoon to the attack. At this point the Argentinian sentries opened fire and fierce fighting ensued. Lieutenant Ian Bickerdicke's No. 4 Platoon took the brunt of the enemy machine-gun fire, with several killed and wounded, including the Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant. Sergeant Des Fuller, therefore, took command of the remnants of 4 Platoon and moved forward to attack a heavy machine gun position up a steep slope. It was whilst engaging this position that Sergeant McKay was killed in action. He would later receive a posthumous [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions. |
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| | Meanwhile, A Company was attacking from the northern side of Mount Longdon. They were coming under heavy, sustained and accurate enemy fire and so the decision was made by Lt Col Pike to withdraw them from that position. Instead they were to move through B Company and take ‘Full Back’. Having taken the western peak, they moved eastwards, under heavy artillery fire from Mount Tumbledown before taking the eastern peak. | | Meanwhile, A Company was attacking from the northern side of Mount Longdon. They were coming under heavy, sustained and accurate enemy fire and so the decision was made by Lt Col Pike to withdraw them from that position. Instead they were to move through B Company and take ‘Full Back’. Having taken the western peak, they moved eastwards, under heavy artillery fire from Mount Tumbledown before taking the eastern peak. |