British Troops Prepare for Final Push to Port Stanley | Brig. Tony Wilson | Falklands War | Jun 1982

June 1982.

Footage of troops of the British Army preparing for the final push towards Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands which had been invaded by Argentina.

Brigadier Tony Wilson, Commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade, is seen giving a briefing while soldiers of the 2nd Parachute Battalion are interviewed and are also seen being airlifted to striking positions.

Originally an ITN News report.

Source: Getty Images.

NB.

Brigadier Tony Wilson was responsible for securing a large part of the eastern Island through what was termed a "bold move". But his performance as a commander received a lot of criticism. During a further advance, an Argentinian Air Force raid inflicted 49 deaths and 115 serious injuries at Port Pleasant as a result of hits on two British landing ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram.

He retired from the British Army in January 1983 at the age of 47. He was the only senior British Army Officer not to receive an honour after the Falklands War.

He emigrated to America where he died aged 84 in 2019.

Also note:

Segment of the Wikipedia entry on Brigadier Sir Tony Wilson.

'On 27 March 2022 Channel 4 broadcast the TV documentary "Falklands War: The Untold Story" with the strap-line "On the 40th anniversary of the conflict, senior commanders and ground troops reveal how a series of mistakes nearly cost Britain its hard-won victory over Argentina in the South Atlantic".

The programme featured criticism of Wilson. It was stated that he had almost been sacked for poor and indecisive performance on a training exercise in the UK prior to deployment, and that Dwin Bramall, then Chief of the General Staff, later described the decision to retain him in command as one of the worst he had made in over forty years as a soldier.

One interviewee described Wilson as a “bloody idiot” presiding over a “bloody shambles”.

Julian Thompson recounted how when Wilson proposed that his brigade should walk to Fitzroy, Major John Crosland (2 Para) had replied "Brigadier, are you pissed?".

Brigadier Thompson further stated that "I perceive that Tony was engaged in some sort of race with 3 Commando Brigade to get his chaps there first. The thing about military setups is, everyone thinks about their own side, even people on your own side who aren't part of you are the enemy".'