REUNIFICATION OF L42A1 WITH ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER

[Gil Boyd]

Military Ranges, Barton road, Cambridge, Sunday 29th January 2017.
After much investigation and thanks to Simon Pemberton of Classic Military Rifles and Steve Rankin, I finally tracked down the user of my L42A1 rifle during the Falklands War, and invited him to shoot his service rifle on a cold but clear day on the ranges.

History:
L/Cpl Nigel Eyre of 2 Scots Guards was one of the 3 Battalion snipers during the assault on Mount Tumbledown on the night of the 13th/14th June 1982. His L42A1 was slung over his shoulders, whilst attacking on the left flank, with 3 Section, 13 Platoon through G Companies position.

He together with his piers started climbing the main feature of Tumbledown.

At around 2230hrs 13 Platoon were engaged by accurate enemy snipers equipped with excellent night vision aids mounted to an assortment of weapons, killing Guardsman Tambini who stood next to Nigel Eyre, and mortally wounding Sergeant Simeon and wounding Nigel Eyre at the same time.
His rifle whilst over his back took a direct strike to the action, with shrapnel injuring him in the neck as he assaulted Mount Tumbledown with his Sterling SMG.

Company Sergeant Major Nicol was shot in the hand whilst going to Sgt Simeons aid, and Guardsman Shaw had a lucky escape when a bullet was stopped by the three magazines in his left breast pocket. Both 13 and 15 Platoons attempted to dislodge their enemy with 84mm/66mm and M79's but although this was partially effective, in the high ground against the sniper positions, it appeared to have little effect on the enemy facing 15 Platoon.

For several hours 13 Platoon's sections tried to fight through the rocks and crags and achieved some success with High Explosive and white phospherus grenades. The leading section, commanded by Lance Sergeants Davidson and McGuiness flushed out the forward snipers and, by following the enemies communications cable, located and destroyed several enemy positions despite fierce enemy resistance.

By 0230hrs on the 14th, 14 Platoon was moving up to exploit 13 Platoons hard won gains, when artillery rounds arrived on target in front of 15 Platoon. After 3 rounds fire for effect from one battery, Lt Mitchell led a Platoon attack supported by Compnay HQ and weapons of the 13 Platoon on the forward enemy positions.

15 Platoons assault with grenades and rifles proved successful and some 4- 5 enemy sangars were taken.

As Company HQ moved forward to join them, further opportunities to maintain the momentum of the attack became apparent, and with two sections of 15 Platoon, an assault was made on the next group of enemy about 200 meteres up the hill. Eight enemy were killed.
As casualties were being evacuated the stretcher party recieved a direct hit from a mortar bomb. Guardsman Reynolds, who although wounded was carrying a stretcher and Guardsman Maclcolmson were both killed, and eight others wounded.

Over 30 bodies were subsequently removed from the battlefield, with 20 prisoners taken, and an unknown number put to flight. The cost to 2 SCOTS was seven killed and 21 wounded, 18 of whom were admitted to field hospital.

A brave nights work by 2 SCOTS with Mount Tumbledown, a key feature in the Falklands War, recovery taken.

The photos I attach are of Nigel Eyre with my rifle today, which now has the provenance to show its personal Military history within a great Regiment of British footguards who helped free the Falkland Islands.

NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT - NO ONE ATTACKS ME WITH IMPUNITY

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