Memorial Operation Frankton Montalivet-les-Bains

The Cockleshell Heroes carried out Operation Frankton in December 1942, targeting German ships in Bordeaux. Trained at Lumps Fort, Portsmouth, they paddled 60 miles in folding kayaks to plant limpet mines.

Of the 10 commandos, two drowned, six were captured and executed, and only Major Hasler and Marine Sparks escaped. Despite heavy losses, the raid sank two ships and damaged four, disrupting enemy supply lines. Winston Churchill later credited it with shortening World War II by six months.

Text on the memorial:
"Operation Frankton HMS TUNA - December 1942. Travelers passing by this memorial, stop for a few minutes, look out to sea and transport yourselves in thought to a distant date... .... this Monday, December 7, 1942 at 7:17 p.m. at 45°22'; latitude N and 1°14'; longitude W, 3 nautical miles (approximately 4.8 km) off the village of Montalivet, in the darkness of a moonless night, in calm weather, the British submarine HMS TUNA surfaced after 24 hours of periscope submergence from Hourtin. The 84-meter-long vessel was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Dick Raikes DSO RN, aged 28. In addition to the crew of 56 sailors and officers, there were thirteen commandos from the Royal Marine Corps, housed in the forward torpedo room; the thirteenth would replace a casualty in the event of an accident on board. The commandos had been briefed by their leader, Major Blondie Hasler, since their departure from the Firth of Clyde in Scotland on November 30. None of the men, all volunteers, knew their destination when they boarded to engage in Operation Frankton, which would remain one of the most daring raids of the Second World War. Land was in sight, but no landmark was identified during the day of the 6th. It was only the following day, December 7, at 1:45 p.m., that Lieutenant Rowe, the navigation officer, identified the Cordouan Lighthouse with his periscope, which allowed him to take a bearing to set the compasses of the six assault kayaks stowed vertically and flattened in the tween deck. At 7:45 p.m., they are lined up on the deck. Despite the darkness and the humidity of the deck, the coordination is perfect between the commandos and the five sailors who are helping them. Each of the kayaks is lined up on the deck, five bags and eight "limpet" mines are placed on board. The crews embark and the boats, placed on longitudinal straps, connected to the submarine's gun which will act as a derrick and, pivoting 90°, will lower each of the kayaks and its crew into the sea. The operation lasted 45 minutes ... At 20020, HMS TUNA dives and heads southwest, while the Royal Marines paddle towards Pointe de Grave and their objective: the enemy blockade runners docked at Bordeaux and Bassens ... ».

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: VVVF
• - Chemins de mémoire de l’opération Frankton