#2para

British troops are taking part in two separate missions in Afghanistan.

Operation Fingal is the UK-led peacekeeping mission. Almost 20 other nations have contributed to this operation based in the Afghan capital Kabul.

The second is Operation Veritas, an offensive mission led by US forces against Taleban and al-Qaeda units still operating in Afghanistan.

The men from 2 PARA started to deploy on 30th December to Afghanistan on Operation Fingal, the journey to Afghanistan took over a month due to limitations on the use of Bagram airfield. The airfield is the largest US military base in Afghanistan and is located next to the ancient city of Bagram.

2 PARA where responsible for the security/peacekeeping of southern Kabul, which had been left in a bad way with over 23 years of war. The Battalion set about its role of peacekeeping, using traditional styles of making friends and deterring potential enemies.

During this operation, the first ever battalion of the Afgan National Guard was recruited and trained by 2 PARA, these been the first group to then start training the rest.

By early April the Paras had handed over to 1 Royal Anglian and returned to Colchester.

On the night of May 27th, eight men from C Company, were sent out to recce the surrounding terrain at Darwin Hill and report back on enemy positions. They reported where the Argentine strong points were including heavy machine gun posts. However no one had seen the trenches the Argentines had dug along Darwin Hill.

The attack started at night, B company of the 2nd battalion The Parachute Regiment moved northeast at Burntside Pond along the western coastline. Meanwhile A company attacked from the east of Bruntside Pond along the east coast. They both came under heavy fire from the Argentines.

A company used a two-pronged attack on an Argentine position within a trench.  What they didn’t realise was there were another six enemy trenches to the west of where they were. The Argentines opened fire, aiming at the Paras assault, during this they killed Lieutenant-Colonel ‘H’ Jones, but by doing this they had given up their position. As a result A company used 66mm anti-tank rockets which destroyed the trenches, which within approximately 20 minutes of Jones death the Argentines garrison at Darwin surrendered.

B company supported by D company had moved forward to a position where they could attack Goose Green. D Company moved forward to a position by an airstrip, and thought they were about to take surrender of Argentine soldiers as they were seen flying a white flag. Lieutenant Jim Barry and a sergeant from D Company where killed whilst taking the non-surrender.

This is known as ‘The White Flag’ incident.

The Argentines where boxed in by the Paras and on May 29th the acting commander of 2 Para, Major Chris Keeble sent a message via a POW to the Argentine commander with the following option:

1 - That you surrender your force to us by leaving the township, forming up in a military manner, removing your helmets and laying down your weapons. You will prior notice of this intention by returning the POW under the White Flag, with him briefed to the formalities, no later than 08.30 hours local time. 

2 - You refuse in the first case to surrender and take the inevitable consequences. You will give prior notice of this intention by returning the POW without his White Flag, although his neutrality will be respected, no later than 08.30 local time.

3 - In any event, an din accordance with the terms of the Geneva Conventions and the laws of war, you will be held responsible for the fate of any civilians in Goose Green and we, in accordance with the laws, do give you prior notice of our intention to bombard Goose Green.”

The POW returned with the White Flag just after first light. It was only after this that it became clear just how large the Argentine force was at Goose Green and Darwin. At the actual surrender were 983 men; about 100 had been taken prisoner during the battle. More than 200 Argentineans had been killed in the fighting; 2 Para lost 17 men killed.

To learn more about the Parachute Regiment we recommend reading The Paras by Max Arthur, available from Amazon.