3 Para: Mount Longdon - The Bloodiest Battle (Elite Forces Operations Series)
£100.13
Well done 3 PARA! - It s been a while since I ve read about the Falklands War, and Jon Cooksey has revived my interest in this infantry vs. infantry show down in the southern Atlantic. The book is short, to the point and well illustrated. It doesn t concern itself much with the why there is a war on, which is okay with me, but moves quickly on to join 3 PARA on the arduous journey that takes the battalion to and through the battle of Mount Longdon....the paras fought through with rifle and bayonet and moved towards the crest of the ridge.... How I wish that somebody would do a thorough research on how many times the British soldiers and marines actually used their bayonets in anger. I m sure most fixed bayonets, but I don t think much stabbing and gutting was done!? I m convinced it should ve said ...the paras fought through with rifle and grenade.... It s a small number of details like this one that precludes the book from earning the fifth star. Every now and then you come across a short narrative by a man who was there - mostly paras but even a local islander and an Argentine. These parts are very good indeed.Last but not least the book sports a short but none the less interesting reading list, from which I ve only read the ones by Vincent Bramley and of course The Falklands War 1982 by Martin Middlebrook - all recommendable.
At Last! - Having seen an advance copy of this book, I can only compliment Jon Cooksey on the accuracy of 99% of the content.Reading some of the comments from the contributors, one can only imagine the horror of war and the terrible aftermath of what must have been a truly bloody battle.I believe this will soon become one of the Must have books covering the Falklands campaign and Mount Longdon in particular.Outstanding...