EXERCISE ATLANTIC REFLECTION

In July 2016 a team of 17 personnel from the Army Training Unit (Northern Ireland) set off on a Battlefield Study in the Falkland Islands and Adventure Training on Ascension Island.

This was only the second such battlefield study and adventure training exercise the Unit has conducted, having studied the First World War battlefields in France and Belgium last year and an adventure training exercise in Canada two years ago. This therefore filled all our staff with anticipation right from the start and volunteers quickly threw their names at WO2 McFaul who had been tasked with planning the exercise.

The main focus of the exercise was to study 2 PARA’s involvement on the 1982 campaign and also to take advantage of the several thousand miles being travelled to stop off on Ascension Island to conduct some trekking and conservation work.

On arrival on the Falkland Islands we were given a welcome brief by Commodore Darren Bone RN, Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), which was followed by a discussion with Major General Simon Brooks-Ward, Deputy Commander Field Army who coincidentally was visiting other Reservists serving on the island.

Our battlefield study started, naturally, where the main expeditionary forces first stepped onto the island at San Carlos and we then followed the battle through its major engagements at Darwin, Goose Green, Fitzroy, Wireless Ridge and finally to advance into Stanley to raise the Union Flag and signal an Argentinian surrender.

Our guide for the battlefield study was Lt Col Geoff Weighell.  In 1982 he was a Platoon Commander in B Coy, 2 PARA and it was his personal account of the conflict that brought every element of study alive.

Right from the start Col Geoff took us through the journey following his actual footsteps and standing in the trenches and shell scrapes he had occupied all those years ago.  He recalled in detail how his platoon had to cope with adverse weather conditions and crippling weight of their equipment whilst under continual enemy fire.

Day 1 started at San Carols where we laid a wreath at the British Military Cemetery and visited Col Geoff’s trench on Sussex Mountain.  He spent 5 days on Sussex Mountain enduring the cold and watching Argentinian jets screaming down towards San Carlos Bay where he would watch HMS Antelope splitting in two and sinking.

On day 2 we visited an Argentinian grave yard before travelling to Darwin Hill and getting a view of the battle which led to Lt Col ‘H’ Jones being tragically killed and his citation for the Victoria Cross.  Col Geoff brought to light the struggle Maj Keeble then had as Bn 2IC in having to take over command of 2 PARA and his leadership in negotiating a surrender of the Argentinians in Goose Green.  At the memorial in Goose Green Cpl Crangle laid a wreath and the 2 PARA Roll of Honour was read out along with the names of the soldiers decorated for their actions, 1 VC, 1 DSO, 3 MC’s, 3 DCM’s, 9 MM’s and 19 MID’s.

Day 3 saw us leaving our transport and walking to the exact position Col Geoff occupied prior to the attack of Wireless Ridge.  He graphically tells us that whilst 2 PARA had some tough engagements thus far they all knew that this was to be their main event.  Initially Longdon was to be taken by the Scots Guards, but this was delayed 24 hours and Longdon, Two Sisters peaks, Wireless Ridge, and Tumbledown would all be attacked at the same time.  From Wireless Ridge we then walked into Port Stanley and Col Geoff explained that he could see Argentinian forces retreating into Stanley; they knew that an Argentinian surrender was likely but they also had to face the reality that there could be some resistance ahead.

It was in Port Stanley we then finished this phase of the exercise, having a dinner in a local hotel and thanking Col Geoff for taking us on his journey; it was a truly humbling experience listening to his story.

FROM SNOW TO SUN

For the next phase of the exercise we moved from the freezing cold of the Falkland Islands to the 35 degree heat of Ascension Island for some trekking and conservation work.  In 1836 Charles Darwin set out on board the Beagle and visited the Island, describing it as an “arid and treeless island”, which is probably why NASA built a test site and tracking station to support the Apollo Lunar landing in 1967.

On Day 1 we split into two groups.  A group led by SSgt McDougall and SMI Molloy trekked up Cross Hill and visited the guns which were formally on board HMS Hood.  These guns were installed in early 1941 and are believed to have seen action against German u-boat U-124 during the Second World War.  The guns remained in service until 1953.  The second group, led by our Commanding Officer, Lt Col Steve Pajger, climbed Sisters Peak and Perfect Crater.  This was a trek of 3.8km and mostly on loose volcanic rock, razor sharp and at an angle of 30-45 degrees.

Day 2.  Today we split into three groups.  SMI Molloy’s group trekked to Weather Post, the second highest peak on the island, starting at almost 1650 feet to a height of 1993 feet.  SSgt McDougall trekked most of his way alongside SMI Molloy, later breaking track and trekking to Devils Cauldron at a height of 1700 feet.  The CO’s group this time trekked to Letterbox.  This was a 14.75km hike taking 6 hours in blistering heat. The route started at the former NASA site, Devils Ash-pit, at a height of 1759 feet and the group walked to almost sea level before climbing up to Letterbox at 417 feet before the climb back up to the start at Devils Ash-pit again.

On day 3 all groups massed into one and we undertook some conservation work with the guidance of the Conservation Department of the Ascension Island Government.  We collected machetes from the conservation office and drove to Green Mountain.  We trekked up the mountain following an established path, clearing it of invasive plants and bamboo all the way to the peak at 2817 feet.  This backbreaking work took almost 3 hours to complete and was rewarded with a BBQ and swim in English Bay.

In conclusion the exercise was a unique experience.  Having Col Geoff to bring to life the conflict was truly humbling and made us all think of how we would have survived the conditions and lead from the front as he did.  Using Ascension Island not just as a re-fuelling point but to conduct a few days adventure training made best use of the journey from the Falklands, it would have been a sin not to have seized the opportunity, and ‘clear the way’ during the conservation day.

By Unit Adventure Training Officer
Army Training Unit |(Northern Ireland)