From left to right: Steve McConnell, Keith Hopper, man bending down 'Smudge' Smith, man with headbandage wearing Argentine parka Jimmy O`Connell, Medic John Kennedy, Mike Von Bertele, unknown soldier on floor.
James OConnell said:
1) E-mail sent to Jimmy oconnell from Steve McConnell:
"The black & white photograph, in which I named you as a wounded soldier, was taken shortly after reaching the lower rocks. I met up with John Kennedy, and one other, who informed us that we needed to move some casualties out of the line of fire. That was my first recollection of you. It was now daylight. I don't know who carried you but you were left propped against a small rock, behind Steve Hope. John moved over and started to apply a drip to someone I didn't know. Steve Hope had been dropped twice so Mac McFarlane started to adjust his field dressing and check life-signs. I am seen kneeling beside Stevie Hope holding my helmet with my right hand. Mac McFarlane is leaning over Steve Hope, as he was applying a new field dressing, as the wound was exposed. He was trying to keep flying debris out of the wound. The other guy from 7 Platoon (unclear to me) assisted in protecting Steve's wound. You were on your own at this point, as the picture clearly shows.
At this point I moved over to you to check your life signs. I remember your field dressing had been lifted as seen in the picture. I took your pulse and placed another field dressing over the wound. I stayed with you for about 10 minutes. I took off your gloves and massaged your hands trying to get circulation back into your fingers. I also remember blowing warm breath onto your icy hands cupped in mine. When they took the causality away to your right (as you look at the photograph) I pulled over the poncho and tucked it around you to keep you warm."
2). E-mail sent to Jimmy oconnell from Jock Davie Wilson, 16 Field Ambulance:
"Jimmy,
I am certain that it is you in the photograph. I remember you now and also remember Neil Parkin (23 PFA - who sadly died of cancer a few years ago) taking a jacket of[f] one of the Argy casualties who were in the RAP and placing it on a 3 Para soldier who was drifting in and out of consciousness and shivering[.] I believe that soldier was you. I was there helping when the casevac helicopter came in and I believe that is me lying on the ground next to Steve Hope in the second picture when Roger James is being helped towards the chopper. I remember sheltering his face from the flying debris thrown up by the rotors.
Thanks for contacting me Jimmy and I hope this helps clarify something, the more I think about it I am certain it is you in the picture in the Argy jacket and the similar injuries are to much of a coincidence.
All the best Jimmy and take care.
Davie Wilson"
James OConnell said:
Hi, Pte Jimmy O`Connell, I was misidentified in this photo, this photo was taken on 12th June after 13.00hrs (zt) I had been evacuated before this photo was taken, in the photo are, L/R Unknown, Sgt Keith Hopper, unknown, possibly Oscar Carrizo, Pte John Kennedy, Dr Mike Von Bertele.
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"The black & white photograph, in which I named you as a wounded soldier, was taken shortly after reaching the lower rocks. I met up with John Kennedy, and one other, who informed us that we needed to move some casualties out of the line of fire. That was my first recollection of you. It was now daylight. I don't know who carried you but you were left propped against a small rock, behind Steve Hope. John moved over and started to apply a drip to someone I didn't know. Steve Hope had been dropped twice so Mac McFarlane started to adjust his field dressing and check life-signs. I am seen kneeling beside Stevie Hope holding my helmet with my right hand. Mac McFarlane is leaning over Steve Hope, as he was applying a new field dressing, as the wound was exposed. He was trying to keep flying debris out of the wound. The other guy from 7 Platoon (unclear to me) assisted in protecting Steve's wound. You were on your own at this point, as the picture clearly shows.
At this point I moved over to you to check your life signs. I remember your field dressing had been lifted as seen in the picture. I took your pulse and placed another field dressing over the wound. I stayed with you for about 10 minutes. I took off your gloves and massaged your hands trying to get circulation back into your fingers. I also remember blowing warm breath onto your icy hands cupped in mine. When they took the causality away to your right (as you look at the photograph) I pulled over the poncho and tucked it around you to keep you warm."
2). E-mail sent to Jimmy oconnell from Jock Davie Wilson, 16 Field Ambulance:
"Jimmy,
I am certain that it is you in the photograph. I remember you now and also remember Neil Parkin (23 PFA - who sadly died of cancer a few years ago) taking a jacket of[f] one of the Argy casualties who were in the RAP and placing it on a 3 Para soldier who was drifting in and out of consciousness and shivering[.] I believe that soldier was you. I was there helping when the casevac helicopter came in and I believe that is me lying on the ground next to Steve Hope in the second picture when Roger James is being helped towards the chopper. I remember sheltering his face from the flying debris thrown up by the rotors.
Thanks for contacting me Jimmy and I hope this helps clarify something, the more I think about it I am certain it is you in the picture in the Argy jacket and the similar injuries are to much of a coincidence.
All the best Jimmy and take care.
Davie Wilson"
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