Abandoned field kitchen on Mount Tumbledown

From the "Wikipedia" account:

"The battle took place on the night of June 13 - 14 1982. The British launched an assault on Tumbledown Mountain, one of the heights that dominated the town of Stanley, and succeeded in driving the Argentine forces from the mountain. The attacking 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 a troop of the Blues and Royals."

Look behind these words and you will find one of the toughest battles fought in the entire South Atlantic war. British troops came up against seasoned professional Argentine Marines on some of the roughest and rockiest terrain in the Falklands in an action that took place in the dark. It was a battle the British won ultimately; it secured Port Stanley and forced the Argentine surrender which ended the war. 

British casualties were 9 dead and 43 wounded; Argentina lost 30 dead and 30 of their men were taken prisoner of war during the action.

The Argentine positions were well-prepared and utilised the rough terrain to good advantage. In the end it became an old - fashioned battle with bayonet charges and close-range fighting using rifles and hand grenades.

The Scots Guards Memorial on the

summit of Mount Tumbledown

©Martin Dunkin

Lance Corporal Graham Rennie later described his part in the attack:

"Our assault was initiated by a Guardsman killing a sniper, which was followed by a volley of 66mm anti-tank rounds. 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. 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. From then on we fought from crag to crag, rock to rock, taking out pockets of enemy and lone riflemen, all of whom resisted fiercely."

The names of eight men appear on the Scots Guards' Memorial plaque:

Guardsman Derek J. Denholm

Guardsman David Malcolmson

L/Sgt. Clark Mitchell MID

Guardsman James Reynolds DSM

Sgt. John J. Simeon

Guardsman Archibald G. Stirling

Guardsman Ronald Tanbini

S/Sgt. Daniel Wight

Also killed on the night of13/14 June 1982 were:

L/Cpl. J. B. Pashley of the Royal Engineers (on attachment to the Scots Guards)

L/Cpl. C. C. Thomas - believed to be of the Army Catering Corps but listed on at least one other commemorative website as "Guardsman".

Friday 8th October 1982:

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL

24549305 Guardsman James Boyle Curran REYNOLDS, Scots Guards.

On the night of 13th/14th June 1982, on the Island of East Falkland, the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards attacked well entrenched enemy positions on the craggy ridge feature of Tumbledown Mountain, seven kilometres to the west of Port Stanley.

During the attack, Guardsman Reynold's Platoon came under fire from a group of enemy snipers. His Platoon Sergeant was killed instantly. A confused situation developed and his Section became separated. Guardsman Reynolds immediately took command. Having located the enemy snipers he silenced several of them himself.

That done and showing a complete disregard for his own safety, he moved forward to render first aid to a wounded comrade. He himself was wounded in the hand by enemy sniper fire, but continued to aid his colleague. Whilst doing so, he was killed by enemy mortar fire.

For a full version of the story of the Battle of Mount Tumbledown plus illustrative maps, visit this site:

http://www.naval-history.net/F58tumbledown.htm

On the summit of Mount Tumbledown 2002

©Martin Dunkin