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Battle of Darwin and Goose Green (view source)
Revision as of 15:40, June 29, 2021
, 15:40, June 29, 2021→Darwin Ridge
==Darwin Ridge==
==Darwin Ridge==
By daylight, however, the British attack was held up by Second Lieutenant Ernesto Orlando Peluffo's 12th Regiment platoon on Darwin Hill, Second Lieutenant Guillermo Ricardo Aliaga's 8th Regiment platoon (3rd Platoon, C Company) on Boca Hill. During the morning fighting, the British fired over 1,000 81mm mortar rounds to suppress Argentinian defenders, otherwise British casualties would have been horrendous.
By daylight, the British attack was clearly held up by Second Lieutenant Ernesto Orlando Peluffo's 12th Regiment platoon on Darwin Hill and Second Lieutenant Guillermo Ricardo Aliaga's 8th Regiment platoon (3rd Platoon, C Company) on Boca Hill. The Paras were suffering heavy casualties, but continued to press home their attack. During the morning fighting, the British fired over 1,000 81mm mortar rounds to suppress Argentinian defenders, otherwise British casualties would have been horrendous.
Major Chris Keeble (2 ic) was called up from the rear, and leaving A Company to slowly wrestle control of Darwin Hill and pulling B Company back to Middle Hill, ordered D Company to move round Boca Hill, advancing from the nearby beach. Support Company used MILAN anti-tank missiles to destroy these trenches. Approximately, 6 hours after the start of the fighting on Darwin Ridge, the last Argentinian defenders on Boca Hill surrendered. Company Sergeant-Major Colin Price of 'A' Company, who was interviewed by BBC war correspondent Robert Fox soon after the fall of Darwin Ridge, is reported to have said he "admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought".<ref>"Price of 'A' Company, who had come down from Darwin Hill to fetch ammunition. He confirmed that the colonel had been killed and I taped a short interview with him. He said he admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought." Eyewitness Falklands, Robert Fox, p. 180, Methuen, 1982</ref>
An ammunition resupply by Land Rover and artillery and aggressive small arms fire stopped the many British assaults. Private Stephen Illingsworth was just 20 years old when he died during the fighting for Boca Hill. Illinsgworth, a member of 2 PARA's 'B' Company, rescued a wounded Para but was then shot dead as he strove to retrieve abandoned machine-gun ammunition to help the company, running desperately low after fierce fighting. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, although he had in fact been recommended for the Victoria Cross.<ref>[https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/day-1982-20-year-old-doncaster-soldier-becomes-second-town-victim-falklands-war-62435 Doncaster soldier becomes second town victim of Falklands War]</ref>
The 12th Regiment platoon under Peluffo, responsible for holding the central hillock, was typical. Half of the platoon were Guarani Indians. On Darwin Ridge Peluffo and his platoon uttered cries of 'Sapukay!'. This war-cry shouted by these young soldiers with their blood up and automatic rifle in hand no doubt sounded both strange and savage to British ears. Afterwards Captain Rod Bell, a Spanish-speaking Royal Marine Commando attached to 2 PARA, had an interesting conversation with Brigadier-General Omar Edgardo Parada and expressed his admiration for Peluffo. Peluffo had been a tireless platoon commander throughout the action, taking a hand in the sniping and shouting encouragement to his men. Volunteering for parachute training after the war, he served with the Argentinian Army 4th Airborne Infantry Brigade.
During a lull in the fighting the Regimental Medical Officer, Senior Lieutenant Juan Carlos Adjigogovich summoned over the radio, was up with Manresa on Darwin Ridge, organizing Private Claudio Cesar García and others, to act as stretcher bearers. The respite in the action also gave Second Lieutenant Aliaga the opportunity to send one jeep loaded with wounded down the track linking Goose Green and Darwin.
Major Chris Keeble (2 ic) was called up from the rear, and leaving A Company to slowly wrestle control of Darwin Hill and pulling B Company back to Middle Hill, ordered D Company to move round Boca Hill, advancing from the nearby beach. Support Company used MILAN anti-tank missiles to destroy these trenches. Gradually as the British companies managed in early April to obtain sixty-eight 7.62 mm machineguns, they started to gain momentum. Approximately, 6 hours after the start of the fighting on Darwin Ridge, the last Argentinian defenders on Boca Hill surrendered. Company Sergeant-Major Colin Price of 'A' Company, who was interviewed by BBC war correspondent Robert Fox soon after the fall of Darwin Ridge, is reported to have said he "admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought".<ref>"Price of 'A' Company, who had come down from Darwin Hill to fetch ammunition. He confirmed that the colonel had been killed and I taped a short interview with him. He said he admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought." Eyewitness Falklands, Robert Fox, p. 180, Methuen, 1982</ref>
In the meantime, the Argentinians helicoptered in their first reinforcements from Mount Kent, and the Malvinas Military Air Base near Port Stanley, flew in support missions. The first air strike took place in the morning when a ''Grupo 3'' Pucara was hit, probably by a Blowpipe shoulder-launched SAM, but the aircraft limped back to Stanley airbase. The next sortie by two more Pucaras caught two Royal Marine Scouts on their way in to evacuate Lieutenant-Colonel Jones. Captain Jeff Niblett managed to evade them, but Lieutenant Richard Nunn was killed by cannon fire and crashed down near Camilla Creek House. One of the Pucaras was later found to have crashed into high ground returning to Stanley after chasing Sea King Helicopters near San Carlos.
In the meantime, the Argentinians helicoptered in their first reinforcements from Mount Kent, and the Malvinas Military Air Base near Port Stanley, flew in support missions. The first air strike took place in the morning when a ''Grupo 3'' Pucara was hit, probably by a Blowpipe shoulder-launched SAM, but the aircraft limped back to Stanley airbase. The next sortie by two more Pucaras caught two Royal Marine Scouts on their way in to evacuate Lieutenant-Colonel Jones. Captain Jeff Niblett managed to evade them, but Lieutenant Richard Nunn was killed by cannon fire and crashed down near Camilla Creek House. One of the Pucaras was later found to have crashed into high ground returning to Stanley after chasing Sea King Helicopters near San Carlos.