"There are no limits!"
Dear Fellow Earthlings, On the 26th of May 1982 the leaders of the British ground forces were involved in a great deal of discussion about how best to make a move toward Port Stanley so that they could pressure the Argentines to surrender. With the loss of the three Chinook helicopters and all of the tentage for the ground troops that the British had suffered on the previous day with the sinking of Atlantic Conveyor, major changes would now have to be made in the way the British would move their ground forces the roughly 100 kilometers from the San Carlos bridgehead to Port Stanley. Field commanders felt great pressure to make a move. It had been four days since the
landing at San Carlos and the troops were not only restless -- but suffering from the cold,
wet conditions.Some were succumbing to trench foot, and ALL were succumbing to
inactivity. Due to the lack of progress in moving on from the bridgehead, politicians in Britain and
UN members from all over the world were pushing for a ceasefire. But the British did not
wish to have a ceasefire when the territory they had recaptured was still so tiny, representing
only 1.3% of the total land area of the Falklands. What kind of negotiating position could that
tiny amount of secured territory possible empower? Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Jones (known as "H") was the leader of 2 Para, one of two
parachute regiments slated to spearhead the recapture of the Falklands. "H" shared the
other paratroopers' philosophy that there is nothing you cannot do, that "There are no limits." The need to move forthwith could not be ignored. Brigadier Julian Thompson, Commander
of the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade, directed 2 Para to raid the Darwin/Goose Green
area. Meanwhile 45 Commando and 3 Para were to begin moving on foot toward the Mt. Kent/ Estancia area. At 8 p.m. on May 26, 1982 2 Para began its arduous trek from Sussex Mountain (located
some 20 kilometers north of Darwin), with D Company leading the way. The men had abandoned
their heavy packs but were still burdened with 48 hours' worth of arctic rations
and the immense weight of extra ammunition and equipment.
Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.