Sgt Ian Mckay VC Falkland Islands War -Sabaton back in control

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/vcday
Sergeant Ian Mckay was a member of 3 Para The Parachute Regiment. 3 Para was tasked with the attack on Mount Longdon on June 11th. Sergeant Mckay was in 4 Platoon B Company 3 Para.

Mckay was born on May 7th 1953 in Wortley, Yorkshire.

Argentine machine gun emplacements on Mount Longdon were well placed. 3 Paras advance up the slopes of Longdon was hard and on numerous occasions the accurate fire of the Argentineans was such that the advance was halted.

It was during one of these lulls in the advance that a group of 3 Para led by Mckay charged a machine gun post that seemed to be doing most of the damage to men advancing up the slopes of Longdon.

The charge to this machine gun was successful but the body of Mckay was found by men following up from 3 Para whose advance up Mount Longdon had been given new impetus.

Ian Mckay died on June 12th, 1982. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his bravery. His citations states:

During the night of 11/12 June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an enemy battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which after the initial objective had been secured, 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.

By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoon's advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of well-sited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realizing that no further advance was possible, the platoon commander ordered the platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon.

The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a corporal and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the platoon commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay.

It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position.

The assault was met by a hail of fire. The corporal was seriously wounded, a private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses, Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he dispatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to re-deploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker.

Without doubt Sergeant McKay's action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been only too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage. With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him.
Please sign my petition to push for a public holiday VC DAY
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/vcday

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[lilgreenfingerpuppet]

A beautiful barren landscape of which i have just spent 15 days on. I'm proud that it's a British colony and i really do hope it stays that way. To all the soldiers on both sides that lost their lives on the harshness of Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge and the other battles, not forgetting all the naval tragedies that we suffered, you will now always be a part of my thoughts.We need to teach our children about the islands as there isn't enough awareness anymore and that is sad.

[bobgladstone]

@lilgreenfingerpuppet  Unfortunately people care about the Falklands about as much now as they did in 1982. A few tiny islands 8000 miles away that really doesnt bother most people.

[ukelele13]

@kepuysac you've spelt malvinas wrong, it's F A L K L A N D S

[pinz2022]

How you guys took Mt. Longdon , I'll never understand. It looks so much like Mother Nature's answer to WWII 's Monte Cassino it's bloody insane. There is absolutely no approach to it. My hat's off to you lot.

[dario2015]

77 countries gave the if to Argentina when you gonna realize that colonialism pirate term and Latin America will be free .... !

[krackersdave]

@kepuysac The UN says otherwise.

[SoyuzMoguchy]

@ukelele13 No, both of you spelt it wrong, it's MALOUINES. Get your facts straight.

[lucianoestivill]

@DPT47 Hey my Friend!!!. Forget about impolitenes in youtube, it's almost a cliché (which is a disgrace). Nice to have you back here!!!.

In regard to RI7 is Regimiento de Infanteria Mecanizada 7, located 1 hour from my home. That unit was in Longdon and Wireless Ridge, defending Stanley from west, the front line of the defensive device. It's just an armoured infantry conscripts unit, which was sent to Malvinas without the M113 armoured vehicles. In Longdon one of RIM7 Coy was deployed.