Fearing a counter-attack, the British platoon withdrew into an undetected minefield, and were forced to abandon their dead. At 8:30p.m. on 13 June the diversionary attack began. Lieutenant Robert Lawrence led 3 Platoon around to the right of the Argentinian platoons, hoping to take the Argentinians by surprise. To see victory by dawn's first light. This close-quarters night battle was later dramatized in the BBC drama Tumbledown. Once they had secured the western side of the island, the British would fight their way east to seize Port Stanley and effectively end the conflict. For the courage displayed in the attack, men from 2 SG were awarded one Distinguished Service Order, two Military Crosses, two Distinguished Conduct Medals (one posthumously) and two Military Medals. The researcher said the first-of-its-kind survey proved the positions taken up by the Argentine 5th Marine Battalion were more extensive than historical sources had indicated. Such was the bravery of the British troops during the Battle for Mount Tumbledown that a number of medals, including 2 Military Crosses and 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals, were awarded following the conflict. At 8:30p.m. on 13 June the diversionary attack began. They were everywhere. I don't know if I killed anyone. Their orders were to move towards Sapper Hill only after these objectives were taken. On the eastern half of the mountain the platoon of conscripts of La Madrid were still holding out, so Colonel Scott ordered Right Flank to push on to clear the final positions. The Battle of Mount Tumbledown was an engagement of the Falklands War which took place on the 13th/14th June 1982, and was part of a series of battles that took place during the advance towards Port Stanley.The British force consisted of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards with mortar detachments from 42 Commando, Royal Marines and the 1/7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles with support from . + Follow. The fight for Goose Green was a bloody affair. HistoryLearning.com. I ran back to my position and ordered my men to open fire. Seeing their company commander among the Argentinians inspired 14 and 15 Platoons to make the final dash across open ground to get within bayoneting distance of the remaining 4th Platoon Marines. We ran over a mine. They were detected, however, and the British were briefly pinned down by gunfire before a bayonet charge overwhelmed the Argentinian defenders. At the foot of the hill there was an enormous minefield. James D. Ladd, By Sea, by Land: The Royal Marines 1919-1997: An Authorised History, p. 403, HarperCollins, 2000, "The firefight rolled backwards and forwards. Tumbledown was a key strategic position on the islands and its capture was essential for the British forces to . Lieutenant Paul Allen and Marine Wayne McGregor of 7 Troop were both wounded activating anti-personnel mines. I can remember saying some type of prayer hoping the British wouldn't shoot me in the back. Tim Spicer, Desde el Frente, Carlos H. Robacio, Jorge Hernandez, p. 180, Centro Naval, Instituto de Publicaciones Navales, 1996, "During the attack, Macleod's aircraft was hit by shrapnel which penetrated the rear equipment bay area of the aircraft and fractured the aft reaction control air pipe. The 2nd Scots Guards were tasked with launching the attack on Mount Tumbledown and they were led by Lieutenant Colonel Mike Scott. 40 years ago on the night of 13-14 June 1982, the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards launched an assault and captured Mount Tumbledown, during the Falklands War, in a . Major Drewrywe's Welsh Guards eventually reached the base of Sapper Hill, only to discover that the Argentine M Company was still in position. Ironically, many Britons at the time had no idea where the Falkland Islands were, let alone that they were part of the United Kingdom. In the gathering gloom a force of some 30 Scots Guards of Headquarters Company, supported by four light tanks of the Blues and Royals, moved south toward nearby Mount William in a bid to draw the enemys attention. A bullet also passed through the compass secured on the belt of the Left Flank Company commander, injuring Major Kiszely. Marine Private Jorge Sanchez recalled: The fighting was sporadic, but at times fierce, as we tried to maintain our position. The successive governments of Argentina had felt the islands to be theirs, however, and over the decades had lodged a series of formaland wholly ineffectualprotests. The first attack, a diversionary assault, aimed to scare off the Argentine troops by making the attack appear to be far bigger than it really was, thanks to the use of light tanks. This should be checked. Adding to their miseries, on this particular day they had come under intense artillery shelling. The team undertook a detailed drone survey of a number of areas of the battlefield to quickly and accurately record what currently survives in the field. They were well provisioned, outfitted for the frigid weather and, in some instances, better equipped than the British. 2015. While the British boasted nearly three times as many ships, the Argentines held a 3-to-1 advantage in combat aircraft. The bodies of 30 Argentine Army and Marine soldiers were found in and around the 5th Marine Battalion perimeter. "It's been emotionally very hard and enjoyable and a pleasure all at the same time - just like the four seasons in one day of weather in the Falklands.". Only the personal intervention of Colonel Flix Aguiar, the 10th Brigade Chief of Staff, brought the fighting to an end. By that time British forces had taken nearby Mount Harriet, Two Sisters Ridge anddespite prolonged Argentine artillery fire and heavy casualtiesMount Longdon. Contents 1 Overview 2 Nacar Company deployment 2.1 4th Platoon deployment 3 Early moves 4 Diversion 5 Night attack 5.1 Left flank 6 Morning 7 Aftermath 8 Tumbledown after the war 9 References "In the gloomy dawn, Captain Villarraza's Forward Observation Officer on Sapper Hill, Second Lieutenant Marcelo De Marco, radioed 3rd Artillery Group for airburst, which wounded eight Gurkhas." A half-hour into the engagement, shortly after 10 p.m., G Company commenced the assault on Tumbledown. [5] Two men were wounded covering the withdrawal and four more were wounded by mines. In 2012, Argentine journalist Nicolas Kasanzew wrote a tango called "Carlos Daniel Vazquez's Thermopylae", which is sung by Carlos Longoni. Seeing their company commander among the Argentinians inspired 14 and 15 Platoons to make the final dash across open ground to get within bayoneting distance of the marines. Emma Goss, heritage conservation officer at the Falkland Islands Museum, also said the project was unique in both using the perspectives of former combatants and "in the future, utilising the first-hand perspectives of islanders who were heavily involved in the war". It was released as a single by the Pipes and Drums of 2SG a year later.[16]. On Mount William's southern slopes, one of the tanks was taken out of action by a booby trap. Reaching the rear positions of N Marine Company, Second Lieutenant Franco took the time to set free several German Shepherds left behind in the Argentine retreat from Tumbledown. To its great surprise the company met with practically no resistance and quickly secured its objective. Two Marines were slightly wounded when the Argentineans fired on them as they withdrew." The Falkland Islandsan archipelago in the South Atlantic comprising two large islands and 776 smaller ones lie a few hundred miles off the coast of Argentina and nearly 8,000 miles from the United Kingdom. The British capture of heights above Stanley leads to the surrender of the town shortly afterwards. Halfway across the open ground 2 Platoon went to ground to give covering fire support, enabling us to gain a foothold on the enemy position. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. The delay caused by the mines probably saved many lives. We were supposed to finish the attack and they would give us covering fire from Tumbledown During the night we followed the Scots Guards and then our CO told us to stop. Each one who there his life laid down, [34], After first light on 14 June, Major Phillip Neame's D Company of 2 PARA in the final stages of the Battle of Wireless Ridge reported seeing hundreds of Argentinians regrouping on Sapper Hill. At the time of the battle, Marine Teniente de Navio (Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant) Eduardo Villarraza's N Company held Mount Tumbledown. It was released as a single by the Pipes and Drums of 2SG a year later.[52][54]. Unwilling to abandon the hill, Commander Carlos Robacio on Sapper Hill was planning to counter-attack and drive back the Guardsmen. [5] Major John Kiszely's Left Flank passed through them and reached the central region of the peak unopposed, but then came under heavy fire. Finally, they beached their craft within 2 miles of the Argentine positions on Mount Tumbledown. Marine First Class Private Jos Luis Fazio fought against Bethell's force: At about 2230 hours our battalion had its first intensive gun battle with British companies which appeared out of nowhere. Meanwhile, the United States, concerned Argentina might draw the Soviet Union into the fight as an ally, tried to stem the conflict diplomatically. Two Royal Navy frigatesYarmouth and Activelay offshore to provide naval gunfire support. [17] In his moment of victory on the eastern slopes, Lawrence was almost killed when a bullet fired by an Argentine stay-behind sniper tore off the side of his head. [citation needed]. By 6 a.m., Left Flank's attack had clearly stalled and had cost the British company seven men killed and 18 wounded. Wireless Ridge. The Scots Guards were tasked with taking the mountain from a well-entrenched Argentine force. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Williams' parents were informed of his "death" and a memorial service held for him. The Argentinian defenders held firm under the British 'softening up' bombardment, which began at 7:30 local time. They were held by the Argentine 5th Naval Infantry Battalion (BIM 5), a reinforced, cold weather trained and equipped, Marine battalion. The 2nd Platoon, led by Marine Second Lieutenant Marcelo Oruezabala, was dug in between Tumbledown and William. The Welsh Guards had lost one dead, the Royal Engineers had also lost one dead, and the Gurkhas had sustained altogether 13 wounded, including the artillery observation officer, Captain Keith Swinton. There a well-trained Argentine marine battalion was heavily dug into a series of intricate bunkers, cut in the rock.The firepower of the marines was intense and impressive.. The bodies of 30 Argentine Army and Marine soldiers were found over the 5th Marine Battalion perimeter. Also present on Sapper Hill were 155mm guns from the 101st Artillery Group, the 120mm Heavy Mortar Platoon from Captain Ramn Alberto Varela's C Company, and the Reconnaissance Platoon (under Lieutenant Norman Osvaldo Reynoso) from the 3rd General Manuel Belgrano Mechanized Infantry Regiment. From there 2 PARA was ordered to attack the Argentines at the Goose Green settlement. [14], As La Madrid and Mio withdrew after suffering reportedly five killed in the Argentine counterattack,[15] the platoons under Second Lieutenant Aldo Franco and Guillermo Robredo moved in from the eastern edge of the mountain to try to help La Madrid and Mio. [citation needed], The Royal Marines in Second Lieutenant Carl Bushby's 9 Troop protecting the landing zone successfully defended their position when the Argentine Marines under Davis launched a counter-attack, the last one of the ground campaign. Alongside the Scots Guards, mortar troops from 42 Commando, Scorpion light tanks, 1/7, This battle saw 43 British soldiers injured and 9 men killed, while Argentinas 5. Reaching its objective undetected, the company found the western end of the mountain undefended and occupied it easily, but later came under heavy shellfire that wounded Major Dalzel-Job in the head. Read about our approach to external linking. The attack was supported by naval gunfire from HMS Active's 4.5 inch gun. Lance-Corporal Graham Rennie of 3 Platoon in the book 5th Infantry Brigade in the Falklands (Pen & Sword Books, 2003) later described the attack: Our assault was initiated by a Guardsman killing a sniper, which was followed by a volley of 66 mm anti-tank rounds. The Falklands presented a more daunting challenge. Scots guards casualties on tumbledown mountain 1982. Meanwhile, two Royal Navy frigates, HMS Yarmouth and HMS Active, were pounding Tumbledown with their 4.5 inch guns. Mount Tumbledown was one of the key sites for the British Task Force to focus on during the conflict as its great height gave the Argentine troops a strong advantage and the Task Force aimed to remove this. Advancing out of the central region of Tumbledown Mountain, the British again came under heavy fire from the Argentinians, but by advancing in pairs under covering fire, they succeeded in clearing those Bravo Company platoons as well, gaining firm control of the mountain's eastern side.[16]. It was rugged going, over scree that gave way under the soldiers boots. Six Royal Marines were wounded by mines and small-arms fire[41][42][43] securing Sapper Hill, including four Marines from 40 Commando, one Sapper from Condor Troop and a forward officer (Major Brian Armitage) from 3 Commando Brigade HQs. We ran forward in extended line, machine-gunners and riflemen firing from the hip to keep the enemy heads down, enabling us to cover the open ground in the shortest possible time. Secretary of State for Defence Sir John Nott himself later wrote, I must confess that I wasnt much aware of the Falkland Islands before the invasion[and] was a bit horrified to see how far away they were. Regardless, although the distant Falklands and South Georgia had long since ceased to be of commercial interest to the United Kingdom, they remained British dependencies, and the Ministry of Defence began immediate preparations for an all-out response to the invasion of the South Atlantic islands. [49], Due to his actions on both Two Sisters and Tumbledown, Private Oscar Ismael Poltronieri of La Madrid's platoon was awarded the Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross, Argentina's highest military decoration. Archaeologists and veterans have been surveying what remains in the battlefields of the Falkland Islands. Llegados al lugar, se pudo comprobar la exactitud del aviso: sobre la playa haba un bote neumtico en posicin invertida." The initial advance was unopposed, but a heavy firefight broke out when British troops made contact with Argentinian defences. On the night of 13 June 14 June 1982, the British launched an assault on Mount Tumbledown, one of the highest points near the town of Port Stanley, the capital and succeeded in driving Argentinian forces from the mountain. "En la madrugada del da 31, dos ataques areos con aviones Vulcan y Harrier sobre las posiciones del RI 3, del RI 25 y la zona del aeropuerto, pusieron fuera de servicio, transitoriamente, el radar de vigilancia de la Fuerza Area." The Argentinian forces defending the mountains were Commander Carlos Robacio's 5th Marine Infantry Battalion (BIM 5). George Washington had complained vociferously about the flood of questionable foreign volunteers. Two Royal Navy submarines soon surfaced off the Falklands, while other warships sailed out of various British ports, and requisitioned civilian transport vesselsincluding the Cunard Line flagship Queen Elizabeth 2ferried ground forces to the islands. Backing them were six 81mm mortars, six 106mm mortars, a howitzer battery and two army artillery groups. The battle started at about 830 pm on 13 June, beginning with a diversion, since the argentines are fond of diversion. Europe largely supported the British action; most of Latin America sided with the Argentines. The Argentine Marine companies withdrew safely, although pursued by artillery fire and hit by a laser-guided bomb dropped by Flight Lieutenant Mark Hare in XZ133 killing two of the Marine canines, Negro and aro. MacLeod executed a very quick and professional landing in worrying circumstances. [20], While the bulk of the 5th Marine Battalion was deployed on Mounts Tumbledown and William, M Company were stationed along the Sapper Hill slopes, along with supporting Tigercat SAM launchers and Hispano Suiza 30mm guns from the 1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Battalion, plus extra security in the form of 5 canines (aro, Nego, Vogel, Warner and Xuavia,[21] their handlers, and accompanying riflemen) of the Marine Dog Platoon (Puerto Belgrano-based, under Sub-Lieutenant Miguel Paz). On Mount William's southern slopes, one of the tanks was taken out of action by a booby trap. [37] Earlier on, a Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre patrol under Sergeant David Lazenby had penetrated the frozen minefield to secure a landing zone for the British helicopters. In the face of such punishing fire, explosions and booby traps, the guardsmen struggled on toward the summit, one man advancing while another covered him. Fearing a counter-attack, the British platoon withdrew into an undetected minefield, and were forced to abandon their dead. For further reading he recommends Tumbledown: When the Fighting Is Over, by John Lawrence and Robert Lawrence; Reassessing the Fighting Performance of Conscript Soldiers During the Malvinas/ Falklands War (1982), by Alejandro L. Corbacho; and The Battle for the Falklands, by Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins. By 9:45 a.m., some 12 hours after the first shot rang out, the firing ceased. When he came to, the rest of the British soldiers had gone. Marine Captain Rodolfo Oscar Cionchi's M Company occupied Sapper Hill. Privacy Policy, The 2nd Scots Guards were tasked with launching the attack on Mount Tumbledown and they were led by Lieutenant Colonel Mike Scott. [8] Major John Kiszely's Left Flank passed through them and reached the central region of the peak unopposed, but then came under heavy fire.[9]. On the morning of June 13 helicopters flew the men of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, from Bluff Cove to a staging area near Goat Ridge, where they soon began to take heavy artillery and mortar fire. "Meeting the Falkland Islanders who are so grateful for their sacrifice meant that their war had not been forgotten.". Nick van der Bijl. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. There the group observed virtual and live firing demonstrations using rifles and pistols, before spending a night under the stars to try out night vision devices. According to Private Jos Luis Fazio: My companions from M Company opened fire on a Sea Harrier, with rifles. We thought we had suffered before, but what luxury and comfort compared to this. [35] Argentine artillery and Second Lieutenant La Madrid 6th Regiment platoon was still in action, firing on Neame's company and losing another two killed (Privates Horacio Echave and Horacio Balvidares[36]) on Sapper Hill. Wiser minds prevailed, and battalion commander Lt. Col. Michael Scott set the assault on Tumbledown for shortly after dusk on the 13th. Tanks of the Blues & Royals moved forward, to provide covering fire if necessary. The 1,000- man Argentine defending force, though comprising largely untested conscripts, outnumbered the British paratroopers nearly 2-to-1. The Argentinians had well dug-in machine guns and snipers. "Fue destacada para su reconocimiento la primera seccin del teniente primero Jos M. Duarte, la cual desde temprano esper en el antiguo cuartel de los Royal Marines, en Moody Brook, que las condiciones meteorolgicas permitieran la salida de los helicpteros asignados a la operacin. Simultaneously the Major opened fire, killing him.[4]. In the words of one veteran of Britains elite 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA), the war was short, sharp and very nasty and, often fought at close quarters with bayonets and grenades, like something out of World War I. Soldiers on both sides had little understanding of, or appreciation for, either the causes or the stakes; regardless, the battles were no less fierce, the deaths no less senseless, than those suffered in conflicts of greater global import. In a meeting with his company commanders the consensus was that the long uphill assault across the harsh ground of Tumbledown would be suicidal in daylight. Cold, exhausted and running low on ammunition, the Argentines finally surrendered. Carlos Robacio, BIM5 commander, was awarded the Argentine Nation to the Valour in Combat Medal and the battalion itself was decorated by the Argentine Congress in 2002 [13], Due to his actions on both Two Sisters and Tumbledown, Private Oscar Ismael Poltronieri of La Madrid's platoon was awarded the Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross, Argentina's highest military decoration. The project is the first time that war veterans have taken part in an archaeological survey of their own battlefield. At 4.30 p.m., on 7 June 1982, a British Harrier bombing positions held by the 5th Marine Battalion was reportedly hit by concentrated fire from M Company (under Marine Sub-Lieutenant Rodolfo Cionchi) on Sapper Hill. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. Prior to the British landings, the Argentinian marine battalion had been brought up to brigade strength by a company of the Amphibious Engineers Company (CKIA), a heavy machine-gun company of the Headquarters Battalion (BICO), a battery of the 1st Marine Field Artillery Battalion (BIAC), and three Tigercat SAM/Hispano-Suiza 30mm anti-aircraft gun batteries of the 1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Regiment, as well as a 2nd Marine Infantry Battalion platoon, a 3rd Marine Infantry Battalion platoon, a military police platoon and a canine platoon. A Scots Guardsman. Nor the memory of our dead neglect, "The long-term exposure to their feared stimulus, the battle, during the trip reduced levels of anxiety. Terms of Use| They had been waiting for it, it had passed several times through a sort of air corridor to the airport. These men earned his respect and the respect of the nation. The obverse features key events set against the Union Flag in full colour and an intricate engraving of the Islands. "Then some days later, a helicopter dropped in at battalion HQ containing an SAS patrol commanded by Corporal Nobby Noble of G Squadron, 22 SAS, and formerly of the Grenadier Guards. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. Adding to the other-worldliness of the scene was a surprise blizzard that sent snow swirling around the silhouetted fighting figures. [30] Argentine sources claim that the aircraft was hit by AAA immediately after the attack. Mount Tumbledown, Mount William and Sapper Hill lie west of the capital. The battle for Tumbledown began on the night of June 11th, 1982 and lasted for several days. For his bayonet charge Major Kiszely was awarded the Military Cross. A daytime assault was initially planned, but was postponed at the British battalion commander's request. The 5th Platoon, led by Lieutenant Hctor Omar Mio, was positioned behind the 4th Platoon, facing north in support of Lucero's men. Based on the experiences of Lieutenant Robert Lawrence, M.C.. "I was 33 and I had been serving for around 15 years. I reorganized and found that I was down to sixteen men. "A motorcycle messenger in the Welsh Guards was killed when he ran his bike over a mine after bringing rations up to the front line." "Battle for Mount Tumbledown". An Air Force mobile Westinghouse AN/TPS-43 long-range radar had been positioned on Sapper Hill in April. At 4.30 p.m., on 7 June 1982, a British Harrier bombing positions held by the 5th Marine Battalion was hit by concentrated fire from M Company (under Marine Sub-Lieutenant Rodolfo Cionchi) on Sapper Hill. He said the project had helped him "get through the journey without too many hiccups". On 1 May, a Royal Navy bombardment of Sapper Hill killed Private Daniel Cabiglioli (from M Company). Max Arthur. As the Guardsmen and Royal Marines consolidated their positions, the British lost a Volvo Bv 202 tracked vehicle to an anti-tank mine planted in the Sapper Hill sector. 2023 BBC. The Argentine marines, noted Lawrence, were wearing American-style uniform: big green parkas with webbing over the top.. The British plan called for a diversionary attack south of Mount Tumbledown by a small number of the Scots Guards, assisted by the four light tanks of the Blues and Royals, whilst the main attack came as a three-phase silent advance from the west of Mount Tumbledown. I went through another gap in the rocks and was surprised by three men speaking in English behind and above me and firing over the top of me. Coordinates: 514147S 57583W / 51.69639S 57.9675W / -51.69639; -57.9675. "It has been the trip of a lifetime to be part of the project and facing a few demons; it has been a life-changer," he explained. By this time we had ten or twelve dead including one officer [Second Lieutenant Oscar Silva, Argentine Army]. Captain Eduardo Villarraza's N Company from the 5th Marine Battalion, would defend Mounts Tumbledown and William. Some of the guys had surrendered, but I didn't want to do this. Galtieri and his most vocal war hawk, Admiral Jorge Anaya, were correct in their expectation of a patriotic surge; Argentines momentarily forgot the wildly inflated peso and the juntas harsh policies to rally behind the occupation. The Falklands War Documentary - The Battle of Mount Longdon (Soldiers Interview HD) Lifeisaticket 178 subscribers Subscribe Like 79K views 6 years ago Heroes of the Falklands War talk candidly. The decisive final battle of the war took place on Mount Tumbledown, Argentinian shoes in a rock sangar position, untouched for 40 years, Expended rifle round casings provide direct evidence of a moment in the battle, The project directors, Tim Clack and Tony Pollard, on the battlefield site, A 3D model of a section of Mount Tumbledown drone survey, Doug Farthing in a teaching session at the Falkland Islands Community School in Port Stanley, The remains of Argentine field kitchens known as ranchos at the eastern end of Tumbledown, Artist Douglas Farthing painted the mountain at the point of the advance, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. The engagement, shortly after 10 p.m., G Company commenced the on... 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