Themes

Article highlights

• The career of a Falklands veteran

• Early career

• '42 Commando to the South Atlantic - Quick March'

• The 'Great White Whale'

• Taking Mount Kent

• The attack on Mount Harriet

• Post Falklands career

The attack on Mount Harriet

'[An] excellent plan, executed with verve and dash'.

After taking Mount Kent Vaux's next objective was to capture Mount Harriet. Mount Harriet was an important tactical position that British Forces needed to be take in order to gain the advantage in the Falklands War.

In co-ordinated attacks on the night of the 11/12 June with 45 Commando and 3 Para, who attacked other mountains in the area around Port Stanley, the operation was recognised as the decisive action of the campaign.

Vaux observed that the Argentineans' main defences were positioned to cover the road to Port Stanley, so he devised a plan to attack the Argentines from behind in order to surprise them and spare his men from a full-frontal assault.

It was a very dangerous operation, Argentinean troops had covered the area around the mountain with landmines and the commando had to undertake much patrol work to even get to a position to begin the attack on Mount Harriet.

As CO Vaux had to coordinate 42's attack and spent much time beforehand visiting his companies at their strong holds and planning their assaults.

It was tradition to codename objectives with the names of distant loved-ones so Vaux named 42's objectives after his daughters. He named Mount Harriet 'Zoya' and Mount Wall 'Tara' while Goat Ridge was christened 'Katrina' after an American cousin.

Tac HQ were not to be involved in the frontline of operations. It was a surprise attack through a tight course of minefields and was therefore not appropriate to have HQ and all its equipment clattering behind the attacking companies.

Vaux, therefore, had to satisfy himself by observing and listening to the radio network from atop of Mount Wall.

The attack took place at night in order to surprise the approximately 500 Argentines holding the mountain strong point.

Vaux's inspired plan involved an elaborate hoax with 'J' Company acting as a diversion at the front of the mountain as 'L' and 'K' Company attacked from the rear.

It was a complete success and by first light the next day 42 Commando had secured Mount Harriet and linked up with 45 Commando, who had secured the Two Sisters Mountain.

After the successful operations on the high grounds of the Falklands the Argentinean surrender was quick to follow.

During the Falklands Campaign two men died and 41 were wounded or injured in action from 42 Commando. Many suffered from trench foot due to the wet conditions and boggy terrain.

On 24 June Vaux and his unit travelled back to Southampton on SS Canberra and arrived back to a hero's welcome. In his sumptuous stateroom Vaux had his first shower in 30 days.