Marines Samuel Wallace & Robert Ewart Memorial

This memorial commemorates Marines Samuel Wallace & Robert Ewart who were captured 50 yards from here by a detachment of German anti-aircraft gunners on 8th December 1942. The two were eventually executed on 11th December 1942.

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

Of the ten commandos, two were 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 the Second World War by six months.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: TracesofWar