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

Information

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[CINDERS]

Great article Gil and good to see the two re united.

[mrclark303]

Well done Gil, great write up and fantastic to reunite Nigel with the L42.

I have to say, that's one of the nicest looking L42's I have seen, superb woodwork..

How did he get on with it by the way?

[Gil Boyd]

He dropped the figure 11 and 12 targets every time with ease.
As they are all electronic these days and you get a tablet to inspect your hits, with no doubling away to patch up, and stag on in the butts, the boy did well.
As I and most on the site often say, don't buy the story buy the rifle, in this particualr case both came together nicely, and made Nigel's day, having not fired full bore for over 35 years!
Made mine too.

[Gil Boyd]

Here is a photo I have put up before taken of G Company on top of Mount Tumbledown the morning after the battle 14th June 1982 for those that might be interested in innovation such as the Starlight scope mounted to the Gympy

[Simon P]

It was Crisp sunny morning at Barton Road and the promised rain never materialised until we packed up.

"It true the sun shines to the righteous ones"

It was great as Nigel still had his pictures from that time which he brought down to show us as well.

[30Three]

That's great to find one of the original user's; especially in combat. Looks like you had a nice day at the range too. Goodstuff
I have a question regarding the range. What distances can you shoot large calibre rifles? Just thinking it may be worth coming over for a shoot when I visit Essex next time around!

[Simon P]

No High Muzzle Energy, other tan that we can shoot from 100 - 1200yds at Barton Road

[30Three]

Thanks for the reply Simon. We are very limited in my area of France; I have yet to shoot over 200 metres.
When you say "High muzzle energy" what do you mean exactly? sorry if it's a dumb question!

[Gil Boyd]

As Simon says, its a great Military range with all the "MOD" cons for the times, but it is just that Ministry of Defence ranges, and as unease rises wherever in the world, so men need training and zeroing of rifles has to happen, and we can always turn up and find we have to stand down in preferecne for that and quite rightly so.
Certainly worth a visit, Simon runs a great range highly recommended