Memorial Operation Frankton Bonneville

This memorial commemorates Operation Frankton. The text reads:

"IN MEMORY OF COMMANDO FRANKTON - Here, on the morning of 17th December 1942, Herbert Hasler and Marine William Sparks, the sole survivors of a ten-man commando unit, marched on foot from Blaye to Ruffec. On 7th December 1942, these Royal Marines landed with five kayaks at Montalivet, where a British submarine took them ashore. They were ordered to sail secretly up the Gironde estuary for five nights to reach the port of Bordeaux. They succeeded in blowing up six German freighters before joining the French Resistance at Ruffec for exfiltration, after six days of clandestine walking, in the cold and rain, along a 152 km route that passed through this location. This operation, known as one of the most remarkable commando raids of the Second World War, cost the lives of eight other members (two drowned, six others arrested and executed). Tribute to these young British soldiers who sacrificed themselves to free our country from Nazi totalitarianism: Lieutenant MacKinnon, Sergeant Wallace, Corporals Laver and Sheard, Marines Conway, Ewart, Mills and Moffatt - For future generations never to forget. - May future generations never forget. - 2017 - 75th anniversary."

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

Of the ten commandos, two drowned, six were captured and executed, and only Major Hasler and Marine Sparks escaped. Despite heavy losses, the attack 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