Wireless Ridge

Sunday 3rd October was a fantastically sunny day, so we decided to go for an explore. First of all we headed to the Murrell River which is a good place to fish.

I forgot to fit my UV filter to the camera, and struggled to get a short enough exposure time, even using the fastest setting!  Lesson learned!

On the way to the Murrell, you have to cross Wireless Ridge, which was the scene of some fairly bloody fighting on the last couple of days of the war.  I can actually see Wireless Ridge from my classroom window.  I'll have to post some pictures of the view from my room at some stage!

Just short of the ridge is this Argentine Battery position, complete with old boots and gas canisters

Harry wanted to take this Land rover home....”But Daddy, we can fix it, you and me...."  It is minus its wheels and tyres, lights, seats, but the engine (2.5NA), gearbox and axles are still on it.  The side bins and 6 way lighting switch show it to be ex military.

We then had an explore of the ridge. This next set of photos show the sweeping and commanding view from the ridge back to Mount Longdon, Tumbledown and Two Sisters. Also clear is the view towards Stanley, and you can see why it had to be captured as part of the final assault.  The rocky outcrops make Wireless Ridge a natural defensive position.  28 years on it still bears the scars of shelling and many of the rocks show signs of pockmarking from where bullets struck them.

There is a cross at the top to the Paras who died taking the ridge. Don’t let the blue sky fool you, it was actually quite cold! Next to the cross is an ammo box with some brasso and cloths for people to polish it. So many people have polished the brass plaque that the names of the people who died have been worn away so that the plaque is smooth! We did our bit and gave the plaque a polish before heading off the Ridge.