Changes

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.

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.

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 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 from First Lieutenant Castañeda's 1 Platoon, C Company 7th Regiment before taking the eastern peak.

Mount Longdon was taken by 1100hrs on the 12 June. By this time, 3 PARA had been fighting for 12 hours and they would remain under heavy artillery fire for a further 36 hours from Mount Tumbledown. During this period an additional four soldiers were killed in action.

Mount Longdon was taken by 0930 hours on the 12 June. By this time, 3 PARA had been fighting for 12 hours and they would remain under heavy artillery fire for a further 48 hours from Mount Tumbledown. During this period an additional four soldiers were killed in action.

The Battles of Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge cost the British 1st Parachute Regiment twenty-six dead, including supporting SAS/SBS commandosl, and eighty wounded. Argentinean casualties were fifty-five killed, 245 wounded a 100 taken prisoner.

The Battles of Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge cost the British 1st Parachute Regiment twenty-six dead, including supporting SAS/SBS commandosl, and eighty wounded. Argentinean casualties were fifty-five killed, 245 wounded a 100 taken prisoner.