8 Jun 2007 03:27 PM
Falklands conflict this week 1982: 11 -17 june

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (118/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 8 June 2007

11 June

* Battle for Stanley begins.

* 42 Commando attack Mount Harriet.

* 45 Commando attack Two Sisters.

* 3 Para attack Mount Longdon.

Gen Sir Hew Pike KCB, DSO, MBE - Commanding Officer of 3 Para

Brian Falkner - Was the Col Sgt in charge of the Regimental Aid Post (RAP), saving many lives including that of Denzil Connick. The RAP was situated 50-100 yards behind the fighting troops at the battle line. It was his job to go forward to assess the casualties (dead and injured) of both sides. He would then return to the RAP and brief the stretcher bearers and go back with them to collect the casualties returning them to the RAP. He was awarded the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) for his bravery.

Major (retd) John Francis MBE. Served as a Battery Sergeant Major of 7 Commando Battery Royal Artillery supporting 45 Commando o, and fought throughout the campaign. His was the first gun battery ashore with 3 Para at Port San Carlos, and moved three guns onto Mount Kent overnight 30-31 May. On 31 May they fired on Moody Brook, and gave direct fire support to Special Forces. They also supported operations at Two Sisters, Mount Longdon, Tumbledown and Wireless Ridge. Part of his ammunition built fortification from Mount Harriet to Mount Longdon is part of the battlefield tour to this day. He received a Mention in Despatches. John served in the British Army for 42 years and currently works for BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Servicemen Association) as a welfare officer and arranges adventure training weeks for the members of past and current conflicts.

12 June

* All attacks successful by dawn.

* HMS Glamorgan was hit by a land launched Exocet missile which destroyed the ship's Wessex HAS.3 helicopter and hangar. Fires broke out but were brought under control, and she was back in service 36 hours later with a loss of 13 of the ship's company.

* Black Buck 7 Bombing raid on Stanley installations.

13 June

* 2 Para attack Wireless Ridge.

* Scotts Guards attack Tumbledown.

* 1/7 Gurkhas attack Mount William.

Malcolm Simpson, 2 Para RSM retired as a Major and received the MBE. He lives with his wife Paula in Birkenhead. His memories of the battle for Wireless Ridge are fresh and detailed. He also remembers on the 14 June watching the Argentineans throwing down their weapons and literally running off Sapper Hill and into Port Stanley with the artillery firing all around them. He took the surrender of two Argentine attack helicopters which are now in a museum. At one point when he had 16 or 17 prisoners of war he met with General Menendez at Government House, who had an Argentinean television crew with him. He saluted the General and handed his men back to him. After this he went into Government House and into the Operations Room, where he sent a telegram to his wife Paula to let her know that he was alright.

Lance Sergeant Jamie Simeon, 34, is the son of a Falkland veteran who was mortally wounded during the battle for Mount Tumbledown and a serving member of the Scots Guards who will be marching at Trooping the Colour on Saturday 16 June and then again with the Falklands veterans and families on Sunday 17 June in The Mall. His father John was the Platoon Sergeant of number 13 Platoon Left Flank 2nd Battalion Scots Guards and was mortally wounded by a sniper on the night of 13/14 June. He had been a serving Scots Guardsman since 1965 and had completed numerous tours in Northern Ireland and had also been deployed to Malaysia and Borneo during the 60's. John travelled to the Islands on the QE2 and Canberra. The Bayonet Charge by Left Flank Company, led by the Company Commander Maj John Kiszely now Lt Gen, contributed to the success of 2nd Scots Guards in capturing Tumbledown.

14 June

* All objectives taken.

* 3 Para and 42 Commando advance to join 2 Para near Stanley racecourse while 45 Commando advance to Sapper Hill. All remained vigilant until the surrender negotiations had been completed. The only person to carry on walking was the journalist Max Hastings.

* All Argentine forces surrender.

Roll of Honour:

42 Commando Royal Marines

Cpl J SMITH

Cpl LG WATTS

45 Commando Royal Marines

Cpl PR FITTON

Sgt RA LEEMING

Mne 1 GC MACPHERSON

Mne 1 MJ NOWAK

Mne 1 K PHILLIPS

Cpl IF SPENCER

Cpl AB UREN

HMS Glamorgan

POAEM(L) MJ ADCOCK

Ck1 B EASTON

AEM(M)1 M HENDERSON

AEM[R]1 BP HINGE

LACAEMN(M) D LEE

Ck1 BG MALCOLM

POAEA(M) KI MCCALLUM

MEM(M)2 TW PERKINS

L/Ck M SAMBLES

L/Ck AE SILLENCE

Stwd JD STROUD

Lt DHR TINKER

POACMN CP VICKERS

HMS Invincible

NA1(AH) B MARSDEN

2 Para
SSgt GPM FINDLAY

Pte DA PARR

Pte FF SLOUGH

3 Para

Pte RJ ABSOLON

Pte G BULL

Pte JS BURT

Pte JD CROW

Pte MS DODSWORTH

Pte AD GREENWOOD

Pte N GROSE

Pte PJ HEDICKER

LCpl PD HIGGS

Cpl S HOPE

Pte TR JENKINS

Pte CE JONES

Pte SI LAING

LCpl CK LOVETT

Cpl KJ McCARTHY

Sgt IJ McKAY VC

Cpl SPF McLAUGHLIN

LCpl JH MURDOCH

LCpl DE SCOTT

Pte IP SCRIVENS

Pte PA WEST

Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers

Cfn A SHAW

2 Battalion Scots Guards

Gdsm DJ DENHOLM

Gdsm D MALCOLMSON

LSgt C MITCHELL

Gdsm D REYNOLDS DCM

Sgt SIMEON

Gdsm AG STIRLING

Gdsm R TANBINI

WOII D WIGHT

1 Battalion Welsh Guards

LCpl CC THOMAS

Royal Engineers 9 Para Sqn

LCpl JB PASHLEY

Cpl S WILSON

59 Cdo Sqn

Spr CA JONES

NOTE TO EDITORS:

1. Imagery is available from the Imperial War Museum website and from http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews

2. The majority of historical details for this diary are taken from 'The Official History of the Falklands Campaign' by Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor of War Studies at King's College, London.

3. Please note that 'Falklands Conflict This Week 1982', is not designed to replicate official histories, it is purely representative of some of the key events that took place during the Falklands Campaign. It would prove impossible to include the detail of all that occurred during one week, in one press release.

4. Further information on the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict is available from the online Falklands 25 Media Centre, http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/Falklands25MediaCentre.htm.The Media Centre includes information on sourcing veterans, images and visiting the Falkland Islands.