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The attack began under the cover of darkness of 28 May with heavy naval and artillery support.  

The attack began under the cover of darkness of 28 May with heavy naval and artillery support.  

At 3.35 am, Major Dair Farrar-Hockley's A Company moved off on the left and attacked Burntside House believed to be occupied by the Argentinian 12th Regiment's Reconnaissance Platoon (Lieutenant Carlos Morales), but found no-one there other than four civilians. Major John Crosland's B Company started forward from the other side of Burntside Pond down the right flank with Major Philip Neame's D Company following them long the middle. With artillery support on both sides, B and D Companies were soon in close-quarter combat with the 12th Regiment's A Company (under Senior Lieutenant Jorge Antonio Manresa and Sergeant-Major Juan Carlos Coelho). Leaving No. 13 Platoon of A Company to provide covering fire from the north side of Darwin Bay, the remainder started to circle round to take Darwin Settlement.

At 3.35 am, Major Dair Farrar-Hockley's A Company moved off on the left and attacked Burntside House believed to be occupied by the Argentinian 12th Regiment's Reconnaissance Platoon (Lieutenant Carlos Morales), but found no-one there other than four civilians. Major John Crosland's B Company started forward from the other side of Burntside Pond down the right flank with Major Philip Neame's D Company following them long the middle. With artillery support on both sides, B and D Companies were soon in close-quarter combat with the 12th Regiment's A Company (under Senior Lieutenant Jorge Antonio Manresa and Sergeant-Major Juan Carlos Coelho). During the fight for Burntside Hill, Corporal Edmundo Federico Marcial and Privates Juan Carlos Monzón, Carlos Agustín Díaz and Fernando Jesús Lugo from the 2nd Rifle Platoon (under Second Lieutenant Gustavo Adolfo Malacalza), gave their lives to cover the retreat despite British calls for them to surrender. While this fighting was in progress Senior Lieutenant Carlos Alberto Chanampa and his airborne gunners from the 4th Airborne Artillery Group brought their Italian-built Oto Melara 105 mm pack howitzers into action with considerable accuracy. Fortunately for the British parachute battalion, the damp peaty ground absorbed the impact of the shells and reduced the killing power of the splinters.

The Argentine platoon under Lieutenant Roberto Néstor Estévez, from the 25th Infantry Regiment's C Company, received orders to counterattack at 07.30 local time. Ahead of them were 2 PARA's A and B Companies, advancing along both shorelines. The officer reached the frontline and was able to block the enemy by ordering his men to take up positions on Darwin Ridge, from which, although wounded, he started calling in artillery fire. He thus succeeded in holding up the advance of the British paratroopers, dispersing both companies, as he covered the withdrawal of the 12th Infantry Regiment's A Company. Estévez fell, mortally wounded by enemy sniper fire, but not before winning posthumously the Heroic Valour Cross. His dying order was for  Corporal Mario Rodolfo Castro to take charge, who continued to call for artillery support. Darwin Ridge was being riddled by British machine-gun and mortar fire, and the squad leader soon burnt to death from a phosphorus grenade.<ref>" El Tte. Estévez murió en la acción. El Cabo Castro se hizo cargo del equipo de comunicaciones y continuó trasmitiendo, pero al ser alcanzado por proyectiles rasantes que incendiaron su cuerpo, moría poco después." Malvinas: Relatos de Soldados, Martín Antonio Balza, p. 31, Círculo Militar, 1986</ref>Private Fabricio Edgar Carrascul took over the radio and was also killed calling in fire support. But the sacrifice of these brave soldiers proved not to have been in vain. At 09.30 local time, Major John Crosland's B Company disengaged and began to withdraw

<ref>"The Argentine platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Estevez, which had fewer men than its British  counterpart, entered the fray. Ahead of them was British Company B, advancing from the west. The lieutenant reached the first line and was able to block the enemy by penetrating to Boca Hill, from which, although wounded, he started calling his artillery's range. He thus succeeded in holding up the advance of the British paratroops, inflicting heavy casualties, as he covered the withdrawal of the 12th Infantry Regiment. Estevez fell, mortally wounded by enemy fire, but not before he had proved himself in combat. His dying order was to his squad leader, who continued to call the artillery's range. The position was being riddled by British fire, and the squad leader soon succumed to the withering hail.  A private took up the position and soon joined his companions. But the heroic sacrifice of these brave men proved not to have been in vain. At 0930 hours, the enemy broke off the attack and began to withdraw." The History of the South Atlantic Conflict, Rubén Oscar Moro, pp. 259-260, Praeger, 1989</ref>

 

The British march became confused as companies lost touch with each other. Lieutenant-Colonel 'H' Jones' Tactical Headquarters headed for Port Darwin, but came under heavy fire from the Argentinians entrenched on Coronation Ridge. Advancing towards Darwin Settlement, three Paras in Major Philip Neame's 'D' Company were shot dead by Argentinians hunkered along Coronation Ridge. Much valuable time was lost clearing this position, but Neame's company took Coronation Ridge at about 6 am.

 

The 12th Regiment's 'A' Company delayed the Paras for six hours, but with tragic loss. Twelve members of 'A ' Company were killed during the night action.

 

Leaving No. 3 Platoon ((under Second Lieutenant Guy Wallis) of A Company to provide covering fire from the north side of Darwin Bay, the remainder in the company started to circle round to take Darwin Settlement.

 

Perceiving an urgent need to stabilize the precarious defence line on Darwin Ridge, Piaggi ordered 24-year-old Lieutenant Roberto Nestor Estévez's 1st Rifle Platoon, C Company 25th 'Special' Infantry Regiment to take Middle Hill, the hillock south of Coronation Ridge. As Estévez's platoon moved away from Goose Green Settlement, the green-bereted conscripts sang the 'Malvinas March' and that certainly raised their spirits. Reaching Darwin Ridge around 7 AM local time, the first British soldiers suddenly appeared out of the mist on the shoreline that was Darwin Bay.

 

The Argentinians mistook the British as Argentinians and greetings were exchanged at times. ''"It was a very confusing situation when we saw troops approaching"'', said 2nd Lt. Peluffo. ''"At first we were not sure whether it was the enemy or part of our 12th Regiment that was withdrawing towards our line. We thought they could be our troops".''

 

Eventually shots were exchanged and the fight for Darwin Ridge really got underway. With daylight the nature of the battle changed. The British companies who had had the initiative under cover of darkness, were now caught in the open, holed up in small hollows in the ground or behind tufts of heather. The situation provided the Argentinians a brief session of revenge as they cut them down as the Paras scurried from cover in search of more suitable protection.

 

In the meantime, the supporting British mortarmen were stuffing bombs down their barrels as fast they could, plastering any group large enough to engage while the machineguns, manned by Number 3 Platoon  from 'A' Company, were now engaging the Argentinian platoons from Coronation Ridge.

 

Lieutenant Estévez, although hit and bleeding heavily, kept his platoon organized and under control. Estévez was hit in the right leg and left arm as he moved about in the confusion encouraging his men and finally a British sniper marked him down and put a bullet into his right eye. Finding their way blocked by Major Farrar-Hockley's 'A' Company, Corporal Mario Rodolfo Castro took the radio from his dying lieutenant and was shot dead shortly afterwards. Private Fabricio Carrascull took over the radio and he too met the same fate.<ref>" El Tte. Estévez murió en la acción. El Cabo Castro se hizo cargo del equipo de comunicaciones y continuó trasmitiendo, pero al ser alcanzado por proyectiles rasantes que incendiaron su cuerpo, moría poco después." Malvinas: Relatos de Soldados, Martín Antonio Balza, p. 31, Círculo Militar, 1986</ref>But the sacrifice of Estévez's soldiers proved not to have been in vain. At 09.30 local time, 2 PARA's A and B Companies disengaged and started to withdraw.<ref>"These British reverses occurred between 9.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. It took two hours for 2 Para's second-in-command to reorganize the attack." The Falklands War, D. George Boyce, p. 131, Macmillan International Higher Education, 2005</ref><ref>"The Argentine platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Estevez, which had fewer men than its British  counterpart, entered the fray. Ahead of them was British Company B, advancing from the west. The lieutenant reached the first line and was able to block the enemy by penetrating to Boca Hill, from which, although wounded, he started calling his artillery's range. He thus succeeded in holding up the advance of the British paratroops, inflicting heavy casualties, as he covered the withdrawal of the 12th Infantry Regiment. Estevez fell, mortally wounded by enemy fire, but not before he had proved himself in combat. His dying order was to his squad leader, who continued to call the artillery's range. The position was being riddled by British fire, and the squad leader soon succumed to the withering hail.  A private took up the position and soon joined his companions. But the sacrifice of these brave Argentinians proved not to have been in vain. At 0930 hours, the enemy broke off the attack and began to withdraw." The History of the South Atlantic Conflict, Rubén Oscar Moro, pp. 259-260, Praeger, 1989</ref>

==Darwin Ridge==

==Darwin Ridge==