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==Darwin Ridge==

==Darwin Ridge==

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.<ref>"Nevertheless, the section's two mortar crews had fired over 1,000 bombs in the two hours of the A Company action, the mortars themselves sinking further and further into the soft peat until eventually only their muzzles were visible." Para!: Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment, Peter Harclerode, p. 329, Arms & Armour Press, 1992</ref>

By daylight, the British attack was clearly held up by 2d Lieutenant Ernesto Orlando Peluffo's 12th Regiment platoon on Darwin Hill and 2d Lieutenant Guillermo Ricardo Aliaga's 'Alpha' Platoon (3rd Platoon, C Company from the 8th Regiment) on Boca Hill. The Paras were suffering heavy casualties, but continued to press home their attack.  

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>

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.

The 12th Regiment platoon under Peluffo, responsible for holding the central hillock, was typical. Half of the platoon were of Guarani stock. 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 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.

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 and Platoon Sergeant Carlos Geronimo Maldonado the opportunity to send one jeep loaded with 'Alpha Platoon' wounded down the track linking Goose Green and Darwin.

At this point 44 men of 'Combat Team Eagle' (under Senior Lieutenant. Carlos Daniel Esteban) were flown by helicopter to Goose Green. It took sixty minutes for 'Combat Team Eagle' to spread over the schoolhouse position to face an attack coming from Darwin Ridge. It is an interesting speculation that if, 'Combat Team Eagle' occupied Darwin Ridge, the British battalion would probably have been forced to withdraw and the battle might have taken a different course.

At this point 44 men of 'Combat Team Eagle' (under Senior Lieutenant. Carlos Daniel Esteban) were flown by helicopter to Goose Green. It took sixty minutes for 'Combat Team Eagle' to spread over the schoolhouse position to face an attack coming from Darwin Ridge. It is an interesting speculation that if, 'Combat Team Eagle' occupied Darwin Ridge, the British battalion would probably have been forced to withdraw and the battle might have taken a different course.

Not until 1.15 pm where the British Paratroopers able to climb Darwin Ridge and winkle the Argentinians out. Now Major Neame moved to the assistance of Major Crosland who had taken casualties in their attempt to take Boca Hill. The new plan called for D Company to outflank the stubborn defenders on Boca Hill along the seashore, which they did.

Not until 1.15 pm where the British Paratroopers able to climb Darwin Ridge and winkle the Argentinians out. Now Major Neame moved to the assistance of Major Crosland who had taken casualties in their attempt to take Boca Hill. The new plan called for D Company to outflank the stubborn defenders on Boca Hill along the seashore, which they did.

No less than 18 Argentinians were killed on Darwin Ridge, and many more wounded, including Peluffo and Aliaga. Lance-Corporal Framingham and Private O' Rourke moved among the Argentinians and began to treat the wounded. The place smelt of cordite. British military historian Peter Harclerode in 'Para!: Fifty Years Of The Parachute Regiment' (Arms & Armour Press, 1993) revealed that 2 PARA had fired over 1,000 mortar rounds into the Darwin hillocks. The 25th Regiment platoon lost 5 men killed on Darwin Ridge. For their contribution to the defence, Lieutenant Estévez was posthumously awarded the Heroic Valour Cross, Corporal Castro was posthumously awarded the Gallantry In Combat Medal, and Private Carrascull received the same posthumous award for bravery. So far the British battalion had suffered 12 killed and 30 wounded.

No less than 18 Argentinians were killed on Darwin Ridge, and many more wounded, including Peluffo and Aliaga. Lance-Corporal Framingham and Private O' Rourke moved among the Argentinians and began to treat the wounded. The place smelt of cordite. During the fighting, the British fired over 1,000 81mm mortar rounds to suppress Argentinian defenders, otherwise British casualties would have been horrendous.<ref>"Nevertheless, the section's two mortar crews had fired over 1,000 bombs in the two hours of the A Company action, the mortars themselves sinking further and further into the soft peat until eventually only their muzzles were visible." Para!: Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment, Peter Harclerode, p. 329, Arms & Armour Press, 1992</ref>. The 25th Regiment platoon lost 5 men killed on Darwin Ridge. For their contribution to the defence, Lieutenant Estévez was posthumously awarded the Heroic Valour Cross, Corporal Castro was posthumously awarded the Gallantry In Combat Medal, and Private Carrascull received the same posthumous award for bravery. So far the British battalion had suffered 12 killed and 30 wounded.

The Argentinian defenders had courageously held the ridge for over six hours against a numerically superior British force. Gradually as the British companies managed in early April to obtain sixty-eight 7.62 mm machine-guns, they started to clear the Argentinian strong-points.

The Argentinian defenders had courageously held the ridge for over six hours against a numerically superior British force.<ref>"First B Company, then D Company, then Support Company were eventually involved in the battle for Boca House. It was a complicated engagement, the great bulk of it conducted at long range. It started at the same time as A Company made its rush for the gorse gully, just as it got light, and finished with the surrender of the Argentines south of Boca House some six hours later." The Battle for Goose Green: A Battle is Fought to be Won, Mark Adkin, p. ?, Casemate Publishers, 2017</ref>Gradually as the British companies managed in early April to obtain fifty-four 7.62 mm machine-guns, they started to clear the Argentinian strong-points.

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>

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>