From: Nigel Hay - MILWEB (Nigel@milweb.net)
Date: Thu Dec 05 2002 - 14:27:21 PST
At dawn on 12 December 1942, a series of explosions rocked the docks in
Bordeaux. To the utter dismay and horror of the Germans, a number of cargo
ships from their fleet of 'blockade runners' carrying vital supplies from
the Far East, lay wrecked or sinking. This was the result of a daring attack
by Royal Marine canoeists who had been dropped by submarine at the mouth of
the Gironde, and who had made their way some 60 miles up river to the docks
over several nights.
Of the 5 pairs of canoeists who left the submarine, only two reached the
docks to plant their limpet mines; of these, only one pair, Major Hasler and
Marine Sparks succeeded in making an RV with an agent. After a 100 mile walk
through occupied France, they finally arrived home again some 4 months after
setting out. The remainder of the team were either drowned, caught or
executed on Hitler's orders. More properly known as operation frankton, this
was a great morale booster for Britain after a year of disasters.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nigel Hay - MILWEB" <Nigel@milweb.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 9:30 PM
Subject: [MV] Cockleshell Hero.
> Cockleshell Hero.
>
>
> There was a news feature on local t.v. tonight 5th Dec, the last surviving
> 'Cockleshell Hero' Bill Sparkes was buried at Alfreston in Sussex, only
two
> survivors came back from the raid, he was given a full military funeral,
> with men and bugles of the Royal Marines.
>
> Lest we forget
>
>
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