Operation Frankton Memorial Poole

This memorial commemorates the Cockleshell Heroes, the Marines who took part in Operation Frankton in December 1942. The memorial is located on a military base of the SBS (Special Boat Service), which was opened in 1942 for the Royal Marines. The memorial was unveiled on 11 December 1983.

The following words of Lord Mountbatten are inscribed on the monument:

"Of the many brave and dashing raids carried out by the men of Combined Operations Command none was more courageous or imaginative than Operation Frankton"

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