Did the officer concerned have amnesia? "A paratrooper who was killed in the Falklands is in line to receive a top gallantry medal after his case was highlighted by The Mail on Sunday, sparking a remarkable U-turn by the PRIME MINISTER. CORPORAL Stewart McLaughlin, 27, who was killed leading British soldiers during the Battle of Mount Longdon in June 1982, was denied a bravery award after commanders lost his handwritten citation. The recommendation was written just hours after Cpl McLaughlin’s death on the mountain overlooking the capital Port Stanley where British Paras took key enemy positions. Within two days of the battle, British soldiers were able to force the Argentinians to surrender. Cpl McLaughlin’s citation DESCRIBED how he had ‘fought like a demon’ and inspired young Paras in his section by charging towards enemy machine-gun fire shouting: ‘Come on lads, I’m bulletproof, follow me!’ He was killed in the final throes of the battle and hours later his medal citation was misplaced when OFFICERS from the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, were forced to move to another HQ. Last month we reported how David Cameron had blocked a bid by the soldier’s FAMILY for Cpl McLaughlin to receive official recognition, telling them it was ‘simply not possible after this amount of time’ to look again at the case. But now Anna Soubry, the Government Minister for DEFENCE Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, has told this newspaper that the Ministry of Defence will make ‘rigorous and extensive enquiries into his case on behalf of his family’. Last night, the soldier’s son, also called Stewart, said: ‘I am hugely grateful to The Mail on Sunday for backing our case. I am also delighted to hear that the Minister is going to launch an INVESTIGATION, but coming so soon after the Prime Minister telling us that nothing was possible the development has also come as a shock. ‘I grew up without my father, which was hard. But it was harder knowing that he had been denied the medal his courage deserved because his CITATION was lost.’" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2845759/Medal-victory-forgotten-Falklands-hero-government-U-turn-paves-way-paratrooper-receive-gallantry-award.html#ixzz3JwbguwV0
I am aware of one soldier whose gallantry in battle in the Falklands was deliberately not recognised by the chain of command. After he died the padre went through his personal possessions and discovered his collection of human ears. he threatened to make this known to the press if the man was recommended for a gong. The Falklands is a well reported action undertaken by very small forces. I don't know if this is the same man, but there may be more to the story than pure oversight..
I believe someone mentioned that in the comments section under the story, but alleged this was the man concerned.
