San Carlos to Stanley: 40 Commando in the Falklands War

San Carlos to Stanley: 40 Commando in the Falklands War


San Carlos to Stanley tells 40 Commandos untold role in the Falklands with many personal accounts from the officers and men of 40 Commando including being stranded in a minefield for several hours and a daylight helicopter assault onto Argentine positions on Sapper Hill under heavy fire. San Carlos to Stanley dispels the belief that 40 Commando just looked after the beachhead during the Falkland's. Commadore Clapp requested the men of 40 Commando remain at San Carlos as he knew he could trust them to defend his anchorage and use his assets with intelligence as without this there would be no advance. Elements of 40 Commando was initially tasked to fly from RAF St Mawgan to Ascension Island and then to the Falkland's via an RFA as tension heightened with Argentina. A Company, 40 Commando eventually left the UK onboard HMS Hermes ahead of the main task force. San Carlos to Stanley has many personal accounts from officers and men of 40 Commando. The Ajax Bay and San Carlos bombing which resulted in numerous casualties including two fatalities at San Carlos. One from 40 Commando and one from 59 Ind Commando Engineers Squadron. After the Sir Tristram and Sir Galahad tragedy, A and C Companies, 40 Commando replaced the Welsh Guards losses and moved forward with the Welsh Guards. This composite unit of Royal Marines and Welsh Guards spent several hours in a minefield which resulted in two casualties for C Company. The composite unit was to have been the reserve force for Scots Guards attack Mount Tumbledown and the 1/7 Gurkhas attack on Mount William. Thankfully, this reserve unit was not required.