San Carlos to Stanley

San Carlos to Stanley is the first history of 40 Commando in the Falklands and dispels the belief that their only role was to look after the beachhead during this conflict. Commadore Clapp requested the men of 40 Commando remain at San Carlos as he knew he could trust them to defend his vital anchorage against Argentine counterattack from West Falkland, without which there could be no advance. Initially tasked to fly to the Falklands as tension heightened prior to the Argentine invasion, A Company, 40 Commando eventually left the UK onboard HMS Hermes ahead of the main task force.

After the Sir Tristram and Sir Galahad tragedy, A and C Companies, 40 Commando replaced the Welsh Guards’ losses and moved forward with that battalion to be the reserve force for the Scots Guards’ attack on Mount Tumbledown and the 1/7 Gurkhas attack on Mount William.

Men of 40 Commando were involved in the only daylight helicopter assault of the Falklands conflict, against an Argentine position on Sapper Hill, and if the Argentines had not surrendered and all British movements stopped, C Company followed by A Company would have been first to reach Stanley.

San Carlos to Stanley has many personal accounts from officers and men of 40 Commando including the Ajax Bay and San Carlos bombing which resulted in numerous casualties including two fatalities.