LONDON.- Handwritten diaries kept by Captain Kevin McGimpsey, the Adjutant to 3 PARA, during the Falklands war are to be sold at Bonhams Gentleman’s Library Sale on 28 January 2014. The two volumes are estimated at £2,000-3,000 and the proceeds will be donated to Parachute Regiment charities.

Following the outbreak of hostilities, one of Captain McGimpsey’s responsibilities as Adjutant was to maintain the Commander’s Diary. The handwritten journals being sold were typed up in July 1982, a month after the fighting had ended. They now form part of the official record of the war.

The diaries provide a fascinating account of the conflict from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground. They detail the build-up of the invasion force, the management of troops on board the Canberra while the force steamed southwards, including the evolving political situation, the landing and the daily record of actual combat on the Islands as the Force succeeded in reclaiming British Sovereign Territory.

Kevin McGimpsey commented, “Writing and maintaining the diary became an obsession. When we transferred from the Canberra to HMS Intrepid prior to the landings, I reluctantly left Volume 1 with the rear party and was very relieved to get its return in Port Stanley".

3 PARA were deployed with 3 Commando Brigade in the invasion force and left the UK on board Canberra on April 9th. The diary records the build up to departure.

2nd April 1982...1700 initial phone call from UKLF HQ asking was 3 PARA "absolutely ready to go"

4th April 1730 I spoke with a staff officer at UKLF about our needs for Clansman radios, Laser range Finders, extra General Purpose Machine Guns and Milan Anti Tank ancillaries "3 PARA is presently "peanuts" and we are right at the bottom of the list of priorities!"

They landed at San Carlos Bay on May 21st after brief opposition and established their bridgehead under regular enemy air assault, before moving off across the Island to attack and secure Teal Inlet on May 27th. As part of the final assault on Port Stanley, 3 PARA made a night time attack on Mount Longdon on June 11th, where enemy forces were heavily entrenched. After a fierce 10 hour battle, the objective was captured with the loss of 22 men including Sergeant Ian McKay, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, one of only two awarded during the conflict.

The diary is particularly interesting about the battle for Mount Longdon. This extract describes the moment when the attack began:

” The start line was crossed 15 to 30 minutes late just as a good moon was rising to the East of Mount Langdon. Against the moon the jagged features could be appreciated as well as the extent to which they dominated the surrounding area.

This last fact and the good night vision, prompted me to change plans slightly. I ordered the platoons to move in closer to the rocks so that best cover for the fight could be sought.”

McGimpsey adds that if this had not been done casualties, would have been higher – ‘This however, we will never know.’

After the Argentine surrender, men from 3 PARA were among the first troops to enter Port Stanley.

Bonhams specialist Lionel Willis commented, “This is an important and remarkable document. Key parts of these journals were written in the stress of combat and it is striking how the tone remains cool, professional and matter of fact while momentous events were unfolding.”