Sailors and marines remember ‘the greatest raid of all’ at 80th anniversary event in Falmouth
Sailors and Royal Marines paid their respects to the ultimate commando raid in Falmouth – 80 years after the attackers sailed from the Cornish port.
The ships of Operation Chariot – codename for the attempt to destroy dock facilities at St Nazaire, then occupied by the Nazis – left the Fal in March 1942… and sailed into immortality.
Eight decades later, what became known as ‘The greatest raid of all’, was remembered as military personnel, council officials and members of the public gathered at the St Nazaire memorial on Prince of Wales Pier to pay their respect to courage and valour shown on what considered a certain suicide mission.
They were joined by a representative for the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and Mayors of Falmouth, Penryn and Helston, as well as the Royal Naval Regional Commander, Brigadier Jock Fraser Royal Marines, to remember the audacious raid.
Among the serving sailors present was Chief Petty Officer Lee Burkin, of P2000 patrol boat HMS Exploit. His Grandfather, Able Seaman Gerald Burkin, served in S-class submarine HMS Sturgeon which left Portsmouth ahead of the main convoy of ships for the raid.
The boat’s mission was to act as a navigational beacon, providing the exact position for entry to the Loire River, from where the raiding force was to make their run up the estuary.
Lee laid a wreath in honour of his grandfather and said: “I’m very proud of Gerald, my grandfather and his part in the St Nazaire raid onboard HMS Sturgeon. The Falmouth 80th Commemoration is a fitting tribute to the bravery of all the Sailors and Commandos of WW2.”
On March 26 1942, HMS Campbeltown accompanied by 16 motor launches packed full of Commandos and escorted by two destroyers, departed Falmouth with the intention of blocking the St Nazaire dock, rendering the port unusable by the German Navy – although it had already withdrawn its capital ships to home waters.
The raid was successful and Campbeltown, packed with explosives, rammed the dock and exploded, destroying the gates and knocking the giant dry dock out of action for the rest of the war.
Continues, including with photos, at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... KhHq_6YlSQ
As usual Ganges Boys of their Association attended. One of their Instructors took part in the raid and luckily returned safely.
Again, as usual, they visited Mylor churchyard and held a remembrance service at the Ganges memorial to all those who lost their lives either training or were members of the ship's company of the ship whilst it was there.
The HMS GANGES ASSOCIATION Standard Bearer is 2nd from the left in the attached photo.
Operation Chariot - The Greatest Raid Of All
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Operation Chariot - The Greatest Raid Of All
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