Battle of Goose Green
The Battle of Goose Green (1982 May 27--28) was an engagement of the Falklands War between British and Argentinian forces. Goose Green had little strategic value to the overall aim of recapturing the capital Port Stanley but, as it was a significant Argentinian position and close to the beachhead at San Carlos Water, it could not be ignored. When the attack was first conceived, the objectives were to simply raid Darwin Hill, to cause as much damage as possible before hastily withdrawing. However, this was not to be, for the objective soon became the capture of Goose Green and Darwin.
The British force consisted of four companies of 2 PARA who had the following support: three 105mm artillery pieces with 960 shells from the 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery; two Blowpipe detachments; one Milan anti-tank missile platoon; Scout helicopters, and at dusk, air support provided by three Royal Air Force Harriers. They also had two mortars, M-79 grenade launchers and sixty-four 7.62mm belt-fed machineguns according to Brigadier Julian Thompson, author of the book Ready For Anything (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1989). The Argentinian forces, numbering around 1,000 men, consisted of the 12th Regiment and a company of the elite Commando-trained 25th Infantry Regiment, a battery of 105mm artillery pieces and smaller heavy anti-aircraft guns (such as 35mm Oerlikons). HMS Arrow of the Royal Navy performed brief naval gunfire support using its 4.5-in gun; at one point, its gun jammed for two hours, but upon repair it continued its support until forced to withdraw due to fears of Argentinian air-attack. RAF and Argentinian air-support was mostly limited due to bad weather for much of the battle.
The starting line of 2 Para was situated from the isthmus to the east of Burntside Pond. Major John Crosland's B Company and Major Philip Neame's D company were positioned on the isthmus, which led into Goose Green/Darwin, while C company was positioned on the west of Burntside Pond (which meant they were still on the isthmus), while A company were positioned on the east of the pond. At 3:30 am on 28 May, the battle had begun, with A Company, now positioned 2 miles ahead of the starting line, began the attack from the east, attacking Burntside House but finding no Argentinian presence, though they did find four local civilians. An hour later B Company, followed by D company, proceeded to a position known as Boca Hill situated south of the starting line, at first meeting no Argentinian troops but soon meeting stiff resistance by Argentinian troops in trenches and were soon bogged down, taking fire from Darwin Hill as-well. Though the Argentinian troops were defeated, it took several hours, with fierce fighting taking place in close-quarters on and around the hills.
As this occurred, A company were moving further south as well and as the morning became ever lighter reached Darwin Hill and soon attacked the hill, though the attack bogged down as the company came under a withering hail of fire that would leave a number of dead. The Argentinian 25th Regiment platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Roberto Estevez had entered the fray. Ahead of them was Major Dair Farrar-Hockley's A Company, advancing from the east coast. The Argentinian platoon reached Darwin Hill and was able to block the British company by taking up positions on the hill, from which the Argentinian lieutenant started calling in artillery and mortar fire. He thus succeeded in holding up the advance of the British battalion, inflicting heavy casualties, as he shouted encouragement to his men. Lieutenant Estevez fell, mortally wounded by enemy sniper fire, but not before he had proved himself in battle. His dying order was to a section leader, Corporal Mario Castro to continue to correct the Argentinian artillery's fire. The Argentinian position was being riddled by British fire, and the corporal soon succumbed to the withering hail. A private, Fabrizio Carrascull by name, took over the platoon radio and inevitably joined his companions. Both Estevez, Castro and Carrascull received posthumous awards for bravery. But the sacrifice of these brave men proved not to have been in vain. At 9:30 AM, the British A and B Companies broke off the attack and began to withdraw.
Lieutenant colonel Herbert Jones, fuming with impatience, made his way to A company's position and charged the Argentinian 25th Regiment platoon, but he too was shot at about 10.30 am. There still remains confusion as to why he did this. Lieutenant Colonel Jones was awarded the posthumous VC for his actions which played a prominent role in the British victory at Goose Green.
It was almost noon before the British offensive resumed. There were in fact two battles going on in the Darwin hillocks - one around Darwin Bay, and an equally fierce one in front of Boca Hill (also known as Boca House Ruins). Second Lieutenant Guillermo Aliaga's 3rd Platoon of C Company, 8th Regiment held Boca Hill. The 12th Regiment platoon under Second Lieutenant Ernesto Peluffo, responsible for holding Darwin Hill, was typical. Half the platoon were Guarani Indians. The Argentine conscripts fought well and bravely. The British demanded several times for Peluffo's platoon to surrender and each time the conscripts' answer was the Guarani war cry: "Sapukay"
The position of Boca Hill was finally quelled after heavy fighting by B company with support from the Milan anti-tank platoon. About the time of the victory at the Boca Hill area, A company overcame the Argentinian defenders at Darwin Hill, finally taking the position that had caused many casualties on both sides. Peluffo (promoted to Major), who himself was gravely wounded eventually received Argentina's second highest decoration for military valour, the Gallantry In Combat Medal. British historian Peter Harclerode in his book Para!: Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment (Orion Publishing Group, 1996) reported that the British parachute battalion had fired 1,000 mortar bombs into Darwin Hill and Boca Hill, all of which had been brought forward in helicopters. Upon the victory at the Boca Hill area C and D companies began to make their way to the small airfield in Goose Green as well as the Goose Green settlement, while B company made their way south of Goose Green settlement to cut the settlement off. A Company remained at Darwin Hill. C and D companies saw some action at the schoolhouse and surrounding area, which was east of the airfield.
As day became night, two Argentinian NCOs which were POWs were sent to reveal the terms of surrender to the Argentinian commander at Goose Green Lieutenant Colonel Piaggi. The acting CO of 2 Para Major Chris Keeble made the decision to personally begin negotiations with the Argentinians for the surrender of their troops at Goose Green/Darwin.
Later that night Piaggi surrendered all Argentinian forces in the area, including 1,000 men of the Argentinian Army. There is a comparison here with Major Mike Norman, the commander of the Naval Party 8901 Royal Marines who surrendered because they were surrounded. Both officers faced only two possible alternatives: surrender, or whole-scale slaughter of their troops, much of it at long range. 2 Para had suffered fifteen dead, sixty-four wounded (source), and one Royal Engineer and one pilot from the Royal Marines were killed. The Argentinians had lost fifty men killed and many wounded.
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