East Anglia - Colchester - PRA Branch

12/06/2026

27 June 2026.
Airborne Forces Memorial Stone in Castle Park, Colchester.

East Anglia (Colchester) Parachute Regimental and Airborne Forces Association (PRA) will be at the annual Airborne Forces Memorial Stone meeting in Castle Park, Colchester.

This always coincides with Armed Forces Week and the formation of airborne forces anniversary date of 22 Jun 1940.

12/06/2026

Sergeant Ian John McKay - Victoria Cross - 12 June 1982
Mount Longdon - Falkland Islands

Sgt Ian McKay was killed in action leading an assault on enemy positions during the Battle of Mount Longdon in the Falklands Campaign of 1982 and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his act of heroism. Born near Barnsley, South Yorkshire in 1953, Ian John McKay passed through Depot, The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces, as a recruit in 1970 and was posted to 1 PARA in 1971, with whom he served in Northern Ireland, Germany and the United Kingdom.
From 1976 to 1978 he served at Depot as a Corporal Instructor before joining 3 PARA on a two year posting, latterly as a Sergeant with B Company.
A further posting to Depot followed in 1980, first in the Weapons Training Wing and then with Recruit Coy until he returned to B Coy 3 PARA, this time as Platoon Sgt of 4 Platoon in February 1982.
Sgt McKay deployed with his battalion for the Falklands campaign and, after a gruelling tab (battle march) all the way across East Falkland, 3 PARA conducted a night assault on an enemy battalion in prepared positions on Mount Longdon, part of the Argentinean defensive shield around Port Stanley.
After the initial objective had been secured, 4 Platoon was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually supporting positions. By now the enemy troops were fully alert and defending their positions fiercely. As 4 Platoon advanced they came under increasing, sustained heavy fire from a number of well sited enemy machine gun positions.
Realising that no further progress could be made the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move to cover within the rocks of the ridge, here meeting with elements of 5 Platoon. The position came under heavy fire and the Platoon Commander with Sgt McKay and a few others, supported by covering machine gun fire, moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions. The Platoon Commander was wounded in the leg and command passed to Sgt McKay.
It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to stall with increasing casualties. Sgt McKay decided, therefore, to attack even though he was in no doubt about the strength of the enemy positions and, after quickly gathering a number of men, broke cover and charged. The assault was met with a withering hail of fire with two soldiers wounded and one killed. Sgt McKay, with complete disregard for his safety, continued the charge alone and on reaching an enemy position cleared it with grenades, thereby relieving 4 and 5 Platoons.
Sgt Ian McKay died on 12 June 1982, aged 29 years, and is now buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery.
CITATION
During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an enemy battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong mutually-supporting positions. By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoon’s advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of wellsited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realising that no further advance was possible the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon. The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a Corporal and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay. It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position. The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on to the bunker. Without doubt Sergeant McKay’s action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage. With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him.
Supplement to The London Gazette of 8 October 1982. 11 October 1982, Numb. 49134, pp. 12831-32
For more info visit https://paradata.org.uk/

11/06/2026

Battle For Mount Longdon - 11 June 1982 - Falkland Islands

Hew Pike - CO 3 PARA

3 PARA had secured Port San Carlos Settlement after the landings of 21 May, and on 27 May, while 2 PARA were moving south to Camilla Creek, Darwin Hill and the Settlement of Goose Green, the battalion began its advance towards Teal Inlet Settlement. The original orders from 3 Cdo Brigade were to do a “dogs leg” north to Douglas Settlement before passing through 45 Commando and on to Teal Inlet. However, the Settlement Manager at Port San Carlos, Alan Miller, had told the CO about a much more direct route to Teal which he regularly used on his motor bike. This was agreed by the Brigadier, and so began a 36 hour advance over trackless terrain in pretty nasty weather. Unlike 45 Cdo, who progressed overburdened with bergens, we moved with full scales of ammo but in “light” order (ask the signallers, medics and support weapons teams about that!). Teal was secured on the second night of the advance, bergens were flown forward, and we re-cocked for a further all-night move towards the settlement around Estancia House, secured as at Teal on the second night of our advance. From the high ground of Mount Vernet we could see the airfield beyond Port Stanley.
The Brigade plan was now to move without delay onto the hills surrounding Port Stanley, 3 PARA capturing Mount Longdon, 45 Cdo Two Sisters and 42 Cdo Mount Harriet. However, in early June 5 Bde had arrived, with General Moore taking command of both Brigades, and a delay ensued while a Divisional plan was developed. This at least gave us the chance to take stock and patrol towards Mt Longdon, in order to gain a clearer idea of what we were up against.
Finally on 10 June orders were issued for the Brigade attack,
Battalion orders following that evening. We closed with the objective in darkness on 11 June and after an H Hour of 2000 hrs, advanced through an extensive unmarked minefield which remains there to this day. There were two serious injuries from mines as we moved into the attack.
After an all night battle supported by the guns of 29 Cdo Regt, HMS Avenger and our own mortars and antitank weapons, in which 17 soldiers were killed in action and others badly wounded, the mountain was secured, along with the other Brigade objectives. We subsequently suffered two days and nights of constant and very accurate shelling and mortaring, controlled by enemy OPs on Mount Tumbledown, immediately to our south across the Moody Valley. 6 more soldiers lost their lives and a number of others were grievously wounded. This fire continued intermittently- the 120 mmm Mortars and airburst were the worst- until the Scots Guards (5 Bde) captured Tumbledown on the night of 13/14 June, with 2 PARA concurrently attacking onto Wireless Ridge.
The surrender came while the CO was issuing orders for the next attack, this time through Moody Brook onto the Stanley racecourse, with 45 Cdo advancing to our south. Notification of some of our casualties only reached their next of kin some time after the news of the surrender had been broadcast to the nation.
For more info visit https://paradata.org.uk/

06/06/2026

Operation Agricola - 6th June 1999 - Kosovo

On 6th June the 1 PARA group reinforced by 125 men from 3 PARA was deployed in Macedonia under 5 Airborne Brigade to spearhead a forced entry by the NATO KFOR Peacekeeping Force. The aim was to clear any pockets of hard-line resistance that might impede the negotiated Serb Army withdrawal.
At H-Hour on 9th June 1 PARA Battle Group secured the Kacanik Defile with an air-mobile helicopter insertion on the Serbian border with Macedonia, and later participated in the KFOR ground advance to the capital Pristina.

After the initial deployment the battalion was engaged in peace-keeping tasks in Pristina, protecting Serb civilians from Albanian reprisals, overseeing and negotiating with the Kosovo Liberation Army and recording evidence of Serb war crimes. With emotions running high because of inter communal violence it proved a Northern Ireland type experience conducted in circumstances similar to Aden in 1967.

On 30th July 1 PARA handed over the civil administration of Pristina to the 1st Royal Irish Battle Group and returned to the UK, having earned a DSO, QCB and a Mention in Despatches.

2.2K likes, 692 comments. "KOSOVO: BRITISH PARATROOPERS ARRIVE IN PRISTINA"

05/06/2026

The Parachute Regimental Association
The Association for all Airborne Forces
“MEN APART. EVERY MAN, AN EMPEROR.”
Membership of The Parachute Regimental Association is available to serving and ex members of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces and their families.
Why not sign up today and join your local branch?

04/06/2026

05 June PRA Meeting -
18.00 - Doors (and bar) open
18.30 - Dinner (Toad in the Hole this week)
19.00 - Meeting.
Dress - Casual. (Shirt and tie for committee members only.)
Post Meeting -
Raffle - Donations to the raffle are always very welcome.
Stay in the bar or head in to town.
Usual location.
If you are serving or have served as a member of Airborne Forces, regardless of Regiment, and would like to join the branch please message us or visit https://theparachuteregimentalassociation.com/
We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

01/06/2026

1 June 1961 – Persian Gulf

Within five days of the Emir of Kuwait’s request for help, around 8,000 British troops had deployed to Kuwait. The force included the carrier HMS *Bulwark*, a naval task force, and HMS *Victorious* positioned in the Gulf. Iraq was deterred, but the greatest challenge for the troops quickly became the extreme heat, with temperatures reportedly ranging from 120 to 149°F and soldiers needing up to 20 pints of fluid every 24 hours.

In July, 2 PARA moved to Bahrain and was based at Muharraq airfield. They were relieved by 3 PARA in October, then by 1 PARA in May 1962. This began a rotation of one-year tours between the three Parachute Battalions, lasting until 1967. Companies carried out guard duties, construction work, and training, supported by affiliated arms and services.

During this period, the battalions took part in combined exercises with the RAF, Royal Navy, Trucial Oman Scouts, and the Sultan of Oman’s Forces. There was also sport and adventure training, though Bahrain’s climate and social conditions were difficult, especially with long separations from families.

All three battalions saw operational commitments in the Gulf era, including company rotations to Oman, Aden, and the Radfan mountains. In April 1967, 2 PARA handed over to the 1st Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, bringing six years of Airborne Forces service in the Gulf to an end.

Further information: [https://www.paradata.org.uk/event/persian-gulf

30/05/2026

East Anglia (Colchester) Parachute Regimental Association Branch. Open to all serving & former members of The Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces.
Not a member? Sign up today!
https://theparachuteregimentalassociation.com/

28/05/2026

28 May 1982 - Goose Green - Falkland Islands

Following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in April 1982, a British task force, which included several Airborne troop elements, was rapidly assembled to retake the islands.

On 26 May, 2 PARA was ordered to move south and engage the Argentinian Strategic Reserve and airfield on the Darwin / Goose Green Isthmus. The attack began during the early hours of 28th May with limited naval and artillery support.

The battalion was forced to go to ground at daybreak right across the isthmus, from Boca House in the West to the Darwin feature in the East, outgunned by an enemy who could hold us up at a distance with long, unimpeded fields of fire. The Commanding Officer, Lt Col H Jones, was killed during the battle.
The assault continued with some ferocious trench to trench fighting and by last light enemy positions across the isthmus, less the Goose Green Settlement had been taken. Negotiations with the Argentinians led to their surrender the next day.

Around 45-50 Argentinians were killed, and 'The Official History of the Falklands Campaign' conservatively reports 961 Argentinian prisoners taken, although as its author Lawrence Freedman noted "the counting process was possibly less precise than the number suggests", and other accounts of the battle have reported a larger prisoner count.

A number of gallantry awards were made to members of 2 PARA in recognition of their actions including the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Lt Col H Jones.

Fifteen soldiers from 2 Para lost their lives during the battle.

For further info visit
https://www.paradata.org.uk/article/goose-green