Cockleshell
Heroes by Jack Russell
This picture, is a lasting tribute, dedicated to the memory
of ten gallant men who paddled their Cockle MKI1 canoes in enemy waters,
far up the Gironde river to their targets, in Bordeaux harbour. From this
highly successful raid there were just two survivors, Major Hasler DSO and
William Sparks DSM. Together, they escaped from enemy occupied France, through
Spain and into Gibraltar.
An immense amount of trouble was taken over the training of the small handful
of picked Royal Marines who took part under the immediate leadership of
Major "Blondie" Hasler. They maintained their object in spite of the frightening
losses of the first night and the subsequent ever increasing difficulties
encountered. Although the force had been reduced to four men, the object
was finally achieved.
In December 1942 a party of ten Royal Marines from the newly created Royal
Marines Boom Patrol Detachment, formed for operations of a particularly
'hazardous' nature, carried out a raid on enemy shipping in the harbour
at Bordeaux. The exploits of those who took part are legendary.
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The Chosen Ones
Major H. G. "Blondie"
Hasler
Lieutenant Mackinnon, born 15.7.21 North
Argyllshire
Sergeant Samuel Wallace, born 24.9.13
Dublin, Eire
Corporal G J Sheard, born ? Devonshire
Corporal Albert Friedrich Laver, born 29.9.20
Birkenhead
Marine James Conway, born 28.8.22 Stockport
Marine Robert Ewart, born 4.12.21 Glasgow
Marine David Moffat, born ? Yorkshire
Marine Eric Fisher, born ? Birmingham
Marine Bill Ellery, born ? London
Marine Bill Mills, born ? Kettering
Marine William Sparks, born 5.9.22 London
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Operation
Frankton
The canoes were Cockle Mk2, and
named, Catfish,Crayfish,Conger,Cuttlefish,Cachalot and Coalfish, they were
loaded on to the submarine HMS Tuna and set of for the south west coast
of France,the rivers Gironde and Garonne and the city of Bourdeaux. On December
7th 1942,at 7.30pm Tuna surfaced and the canoes were ordered up top to be
launched into the Bay of Biscay. The canoes were launched with the aid of
the submarines gun which was being used as a improvised crane, things went
well until Cachalot knocked against the hatch clamp tearing an 18 inch gap
in its canvas side. Major Hasler gave Ellery and Fisher the order that they
were to abort the mission, and despite their pleadings they had to be left
behind.
The other five canoes formed up and began paddling towards the mouth of
the River Gironde. After a hours paddling the heard a roaring sound ahead
as the canoes rafted up the Major explained it was a tide race, a place
where several currents of water come together. One by one the canoes paddled
into the foaming waters, at the otherside they waited for each other to
meet up. Wallace and Ewart never showed up, Hasler and Sparks went back
to look for them but they were not to be found.They returned to the others
and headed on with their mission, already two canoes down.
Soon they came to another tidal race, once again they paddled furiously
to get through it,this time Conger with Sheard and Moffat never appeared.
Again Hasler and Sparks went back to search, and found the Conger capsized
with its crew hanging on to the upturned canoe. Conger was so full of water
it was impossible to refloat her so Hasler ordered her scuttled and with
Sheard and Moffat hanging on to the stern of two of the other canoes they
paddled towards the French coast. Getting as close to the coast as was safe
the two men were released and left to swim to the shore.
Now down to three canoes and still a long way short of the target they set
off up the river estuary, which was intense with activity.
Sergeant Wallace and Jock Ewart had lost their way in the tidal race, at
about 4 am the sea had got so rough that it rolled their canoe and threw
them into the sea. Exhausted they managed to swim to the shore where they
were spotted by a German gun crew and immediately captured.
The previous evening the submarine had been spotted by German radar, the
capture of the two Marines prompted an all out alert to search for more
Commandos. On their uniforms the shoulder flashes showed that they were
Royal Marines, and due the treatment of POW in line with the Geneva Convention,
but Hitler had decreed that all commandos would be shot. Intelligence officers
wanted to interrogate them first though.
With dawn approaching the remaining commandos had to find shelter for the
day, they found what they though was a small dark island, it turned out
to be a small penisular. They hauled their boats out of the water and camoflaged
them, had something to eat and managed to get some much needed rest. At
dusk they floated their canoes again and headed for the centre of the river
and turned upstream for Bordeaux. With occasional rest they kept the pace
up for six hours, covering 25 miles, and with dawn about to break again
they headed for the shore to rest up for the day, it was December 9th. The
next dawn found them approaching the Ile de Cazeau, where once again they
would rest up for the day, but it was covered with German AA guns so they
looked for someplace else. Finding notwhere else they landed on the tip
of the island and decided to take their chance.
Up the French coast a body was washed ashore, it was that of David Moffat,
there was no sign of Sheard. At 4 am on Friday 10th December, Sergeant Wallace
and Marine Ewart were handed over to the Security Police the Vichy equivilant
of the Gestapo for interrogation. Neither said anything that endangered
the mission.
As dark came to the Ile de Cazeau the surviveing canoeists slipped their
canoes into the river and set of on the last stage of their mission. Leaving
the Gironde behind, they entered the Garonne and paddled to Bordeaux. During
the dark of the morning of December 11th they found some tall reeds in which
they could lay up for the day, before attacking the ships that lay in Bordeaux
harbour.
As the light began to fade they prepared the limpet mines that had sat between
their legs since leaving the Tuna. The timers were set for eight hours,
giving them time to make their getaway. Laver and Mills went to the north
side of the river and Hasler and Sparks took the south. Although there were
several hairy moments they managed to attach their limpets and get out of
the harbour without being discovered. After placing their mines they managed
to get to the centre of the river and with the tide in its ebb paddling
was made easier and they made their escape. The same morning as the two
canoes started their attack Wallace and Ewart were taken from their cells
to a sandpit where they were tied to posts and shot by a naval party of
sixteen ratings.
At 7 am the first of the mines exploded on the Alabama, the last went off
at 1 pm. The damage inflicted on the ships was quite severe, The Dresden
sank with holes in her outer plating and propeller shaft. The Portland
was badly holed and damaged by fire. The Tannenfels was also badly
damaged causing her to list badly. The Alabama, Portland
and Tannenfels were patched by divers and made it to dry dock for
repairs, there were two other ships attacked but the damage to them was
never discovered.
The two remaining crews now headed down river to scuttle their canoes and
make their escape overland to Spain and back to Britain.
The account
of the flight to Spain is another adventure in its own right .
Lest
we forget let us salute our fallen comrades
Lieutenant
Mackinnon, born 15.7.21 North Argyllshire
Corporal Albert Friedrich Laver, born 29.9.20 Birkenhead
Sergeant Samuel Wallace, born 24.9.13 Dublin, Eire
Corporal G J Sheard, born ? Devonshire (body missing never found)
Marine James Conway, born 28.8.22 Stockport
Marine Robert Ewart, born 4.12.21 Glasgow
Marine David Moffat, born ? Yorkshire
Marine Bill Mills, born ? Kettering
Marine Bill Ellery, born ? London
Marine Eric Fisher, born ? Birmingham
They gave
the greatest sacrifice for our freedom
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It
is with thanks to Brian Easton that I have been informed of the correct
ranks for Mackinnon and Laver.
This account
of the operation brings out the spirit of adventure always present in
peace and war among Royal Marines. It emphasises the tremendous importance
of morale - pride in oneself and one's unit. A fine operation carried
out by a party of particularly brave men.
Available from Pan Books
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The War Memoirs of William Sparks DSM |
Photos of No: 1 section were taken from "Cockleshell Heroes" by C.E. Lucas-Phillips
Published by Pan MacMillan Publishing
