C.S.M. clasp Northern Ireland ( (Pte. Para.), South Atlantic with Rosette (Cpl. . Para), UN Cyprus, , L.S.G.C. (E11R) (Sgt. Para.)
C.R. Dyer, Para
Served D Coy. (Patrols)
Approach to Mount Longdon – After crossing from Port San Carlos, securing Estancia House on Monday 31st, and next day moving Tac HQ and A Coy on to Mount Estancia, B Coy to the south of Mount Vernet and C Coy on to Mount Vernet itself, 3 Para prepared for its attack on Mount Longdon.
On Thursday 3rd, A and B Coys set up patrol bases near Murrell Bridge, and over the next week, D (Patrol) Coy and the other rifle Coys intensively patrolled towards their objective, at times penetrating Argentine positions and clashing with the enemy. Two members of D Coy were decorated for their reconnaissance patrols as well as guiding in B Coy on the night of the attack (1 DCM and 1 MM posthumous). This took place on Friday 11th, after 3 Para moved from Murrell Bridge to the attack start line.
The enemy was dug in on nearby Mount Longdon. The peak was one of three that formed a defensive ring around the Argentine-held capital of Port Stanley. Longdon, along with the other two mountains (Harriet and Two Sisters), would need to be taken before the town could be liberated. D Company, who had been leading the battalion across East Falklands, began a close target reconnaissance.
It was decided by brigade that 3 Para would take part in a three-phase plan to capture the trio of peaks. 3 Para’s assault on Longdon would begin at 00:00h Zulu Time; 42 Commando would attack nearby Harriet 30 minutes later; 45 Commando would hit Two Sisters at 01:00h.
During its reconnaissance, D Company had discovered that the Argentines were expecting to be attacked from the north. 3 Para’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Hew Pike, decided B Company would silently approach from the west. Minefields were known to exist on the north, west and southern approaches of the objective. It was decided to move through the defences with caution. If a mine was tripped, the attack would begin.
