The Parachute Regiment

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Today we remember the bravery of the men of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who fought in the Battle of Wireless ...
13/06/2026

Today we remember the bravery of the men of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who fought in the Battle of Wireless Ridge and honour the sacrifice of those who were killed during the battle on 13/14 June 1982.

Following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in April 1982, 2 PARA were deployed as part of a British Task Force to retake the Islands.

Following their emphatic victory in the first major land battle of the campaign at Goose Green, 2 PARA was deployed again in the engagements to clear the hill ranges around Stanley prior to the final advance into capital.

During the Battle of Wireless Ridge 2 PARA was supported by two batteries from 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery; naval gunfire support from HMS Ambuscade; a troop of light tanks from the Blues and Royals; and elements of 3 PARA who provided fire support.

The battalion moved out at last light, with D Company launching an assault onto an enemy position west of the northern spur as phase one of the attack. The Argentines responded with heavy mortar fire but when the positions were consolidated, D Coy then continued to come under fire from the enemy 155 mm guns, using airburst shells.

A and B Coys now began their advance to take the pond-covered hilltop as part of phase two of the attack. As they advanced the Argentines could be seen running away and the little resistance shown was soon silenced, while C Coy’s objective was also found to have been abandoned.

Whilst A and B Coy reorganised, D Coy began an assault on the western end of Wireless Ridge where considerable resistance was encountered and casualties occurred as the enemy mounted a fighting withdrawal from their bunkers. However, as D Coy closed, the Argentines broke and ran.

At daybreak, an enemy counterattack was repulsed, and this was almost the signal for the complete collapse of all enemy forces, which could be seen streaming away.

Permission was eventually gained from the Brigade Commander to advance on Stanley and A Coy, 2 PARA led the first British troops into that town since the Argentine occupation.

Wireless Ridge is a Battle Honour of The Parachute Regiment, with three men of 2 PARA killed and eight men wounded during the battle.

For more on the Battle of Wireless Ridge, see this link on ParaData: https://paradata.org.uk/content/4663545

12/06/2026

Members of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment earned coveted French Jump Wings when they took part in a jump over the iconic Mont St Michel in Normandy as part of commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

2 PARA jumped alongside NATO allies from the French 11e Brigade Parachutiste

As we honour the men of The Parachute Regiment who fought and fell on Mount Longdon during the Falklands War, we pause t...
12/06/2026

As we honour the men of The Parachute Regiment who fought and fell on Mount Longdon during the Falklands War, we pause to commemorate and honour the life, service and sacrifice of a hero of our Regiment – Sgt Ian McKay VC.

Sgt McKay lost his life 44 years ago today while serving with 4 Platoon 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, in the Falkland Islands.

Born near Barnsley, South Yorkshire in 1953, Ian John McKay was serving with B Coy 3 PARA, as Platoon Sgt of 4 Platoon in February 1982 and deployed with his battalion for the Falklands campaign after the Argentinean invasion in that April.

3 PARA had been tasked with conducting a night assault on an enemy battalion in prepared positions on Mount Longdon, part of the Argentinean defensive shield around Port Stanley.

After the initial objective had been secured, 4 Platoon was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually supporting positions.

The Platoon Commander, with Sgt McKay and a few others, moved forward to reconnoitre enemy positions, but the Platoon Commander was wounded in the leg and command passed to Sgt McKay.

It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to stall with increasing casualties. Sgt McKay decided, therefore, to attack even though he was in no doubt about the strength of the enemy positions.

The assault was met with a withering hail of fire with two soldiers wounded and one killed. Sgt McKay, with complete disregard for his safety, continued the charge alone and on reaching an enemy position cleared it with grenades, thereby relieving 4 and 5 Platoons.

He died from injuries sustained and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his act of heroism.

Sgt Ian McKay died on 12 June 1982, aged 29 years, and is now buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery.

For more on Sgt Ian McKay and further details of his heroic actions on 12th June 1982, see his entry on ParaData: https://paradata.org.uk/content/4639404-sergeant-ian-mckay

Today we remember the bravery of the men of 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who fought in the Battle of Mount Lon...
11/06/2026

Today we remember the bravery of the men of 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who fought in the Battle of Mount Longdon and honour the sacrifice of the 23 who were killed during the battle in June 1982.

Following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in April 1982, 3 PARA were deployed as part of a British Task Force to retake the Islands.

Having landed at Port San Carlos, they tabbed across the East Falkland from where they began to send out patrols to recce the area around Mount Longdon situated to the north-west of Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands.

Before British forces could retake Port Stanley, it was essential that the high ground around the capital was taken. This included Mount Longdon, Mount Kent, the Two Sisters, Mount Harriet, Mount Tumbledown, Wireless Ridge and Mount William.

Of these objectives, 3 PARA was tasked with taking Mount Longdon on the night of the 11/12 June 1982, to coincide with attacks on the Two Sisters by 45 Commando and Mount Harriet by 42 Commando.

At 1930hrs on 10 June 1982, Lt Col Hew Pike gave his orders for the attack on Mount Longdon. They were told to expect around 800 Argentine soldiers defending the Mount who were well dug in and provided with artillery cover. In addition, the area had been heavily mined.

Mount Longdon is a long narrow feature of rocky terrain, running from east to west with two summits. As a result of its geography only one company attacking could advance along it. The plan was that the rifle companies would be led to the start line at the stream, west of Mount Longdon by members of D (Patrol) Company. H hour was set for 0001hrs, 12 June.

B Company, on the right would take the two summits named ‘Fly Half’ and ‘Full Back’ following the ridge line. Meanwhile, A Company would be on the left to take ‘Wing Forward’, a spur running from the western side of the summit. C Company would be held in reserve.

The start line was crossed at 0015hrs by A and B Companies. It was a silent approach until Cpl Milne stepped on a land mine, which alerted the enemy to the attack.

At this point the enemy opened fire and fierce fighting ensued. 4 Platoon took the brunt of the enemy fire, with one man killed and an additional four wounded, including the Platoon Commander.

Sgt Ian McKay took command of 4 Platoon and moved forward to attack a heavy machine gun position up a steep slope. It was whilst engaging this position he was killed in action, and he later received a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Mount Longdon was taken by 1100hrs on the 12 June. By this time, 3 PARA had been fighting for ten hours and they would remain under heavy artillery fire for a further 36 hours from Mount Tumbledown. During this period an additional six soldiers were killed in action and others sustained severe injuries.

Mount Longdon is a Battle Honour of The Parachute Regiment and a number of gallantry awards were made to members of 3 PARA in recognition of their actions including the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Sgt Ian McKay.

The Battle of Mount Longdon cost 3 PARA 23 dead, including attached personnel, and 43 wounded. Accounts vary on the Argentinean casualties, with between 30 and 50 killed, a similar number taken prisoner, and up to 120 wounded.

Killed in action at Mount Longdon:
3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment: Sgt I McKay VC, Cpl Stevie Hope, Cpl Keith McCarthy, Cpl Stewart McLaughlin, L/Cpl Pete Higgs, L/Cpl Chris Lovett, L/Cpl James Murdoch, L/Cpl David Scott, Pte Richard Absolon MM, Pte Gerald Bull, Pte Jason Burt, Pte Jonathan Crow, Pte Mark Dodsworth, Pte Tony Greenwood, Pte Neil Grose, Pte Pete Hedicker, Pte Tim Jenkins, Pte Craig Jones, Pte Stewart Laing, Pte Ian Scrivens, Pte Phil West.
9 Parachute Squadron RE: Cpl Scott Wilson.
REME: Cfn Alex Shaw.

For more on the Battle of Mount Longdon, see the entry on ParaData: https://paradata.org.uk/content/4663335

The Acts of Remembrance for the 82nd anniversary of D-Day proved a very busy time for The Parachute Regiment's Pony Maj...
08/06/2026

The Acts of Remembrance for the 82nd anniversary of D-Day proved a very busy time for The Parachute Regiment's Pony Major Cpl Jamie Richards and his stand-in helper as they honoured Airborne Forces who fought and died in Normandy in the summer of 1944.

With Regimental mascots Pegasus and Bruneval staying back at stables in the UK, Cpl Richards had Newton standing in on mascot duties at events in France over two busy days of remembrance.

They were on duty at commemoration events at key Airborne locations from the battle including Pegasus Bridge, Le Mesnil-Bavent, Ranville, Merville Battery, Banneville and Putot en Auge.

A ceremony was held in Normandy to scatter the ashes of 8th Parachute Battalion veteran Pte Len Trewin. Amidst this wee...
07/06/2026

A ceremony was held in Normandy to scatter the ashes of 8th Parachute Battalion veteran Pte Len Trewin.
Amidst this weekend’s commemorative events to honour all the Airborne heroes who fought for liberty in Normandy in the summer of 1944, there was a pause to remember Len as his ashes were scattered at the Memorial to the 8th Parachute Battalion at Touffreville.
Len was one of the last surviving members of British Airborne Forces who took part in the battle to liberate Europe 82 years ago, before sadly passing away at the age of 101, in September last year.
Len was called up in April 1943, beginning his service with the Devonshire Regiment before volunteering for Airborne Forces, completing his parachute training at RAF Ringway in May 1944 and going on to serve with the 8th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.
He took part in some of the most significant operations of the war, landing in France in August 1944, crossed to Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, and in March 1945, took part in the Rhine Crossing at Hamminkeln.
He went on to serve in Germany until the end of the war and later deployed to Palestine before being discharged in 1947.
However, Len re-joined the Army shortly after, he was posted to the 4th/6th Battalion in Lubecke, which soon after was renamed the 1st Battalion. He remained with the battalion as part of 16th Independent Parachute Brigade in Germany and Aldershot until 1949.
In later life, Len remained a dedicated member of the Airborne family, regularly attending Normandy, Ardennes, and Rhine Crossing commemorations.
He was also awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest and most prestigious national decoration, which is awarded for outstanding merit to French citizens and deserving foreign nationals for their service to France.

06/06/2026

82nd anniversary Normandy Remembrance - Ranville Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery 6th June 2026

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