(5/5) Dangerous Missions St Nazaire

The St. Nazaire Raid (also called Operation Chariot) was a successful British seaborne attack on the heavily defended docks of St. Nazaire in occupied France on the night of March 28, 1942 during World War II. The operation was undertaken by Royal Navy and Army Commando units under the auspices of Louis Mountbatten's Combined Operations.

The obsolete destroyer HMS Campbeltown commanded by Stephen Halden Beattie and accompanied by 18 shallow draft boats, rammed the St. Nazaire lock gates and was blown up, ending use of the dock. Commandos landed on the docks and destroyed other dock structures before attempting to fight their way out. All but 27 of the commandos were either killed or captured: 22 escaped back to Britain in the motor torpedo boats and 5 to the Spanish border.

The loss of St. Nazaire as a dry dock would force any large German warship in need of repairs to have to return to home waters.

Five Victoria crosses were awarded to men involved in the raid, which has been called The Greatest Raid of All.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• St.
• Nazaire
• British
• Royal
• Navy
• Army
• Commando
• HMS
• Campeltown
• Victoria
• Cross
• The
• Greatest
• Raid
• of
• All

[bickydee]

He was then marched back down the beach about a couple of miles by two German soldiers.  He had walked a mile before the Germans realized that he had a pistol strapped to his calve and took it off him. He had no opportunity to use it - but i recall him saying that the two German soldiers were very angry that they hadn't noticed. I don't know what happened to him after that - other than going to a POW camp. He said the Germans treated them pretty well and that they were incredibly resourceful.

[2bn442RCT]

@bickydee THX for the story!

[bickydee]

I'm really proud to say that my great Uncle was on this raid. He spent the rest of his war in a P.O.W. camp. He was a Commando, Lance Corporal, at the time, and his job on this mission was to blow up the old dock gate - the one at the other end of the dock.

He completed his mission and ended up in the water, holding on to the side of a life raft with six other men - one that was almost dead laying across the top. They floated back down the estuary and he swam to shore and was captured.

[2bn442RCT]

@bickydee Thanks for the story!

[spritz0]

Agreed, I believe (among others) that THIS attack did more to scare the Germans and ADD to the general confusion on the Atlantic Coast, and further diverting attention from the East. It also spurred the imagination of the French Maquis (Underground). 5*****

[Galacticplane]

Wow! It took a lot of courage for the British Naval and Army commandos to engage this dangerous mission. Thanks for sharing!

[bickydee]

I live in Vancouver, Canada now - but every time i drive past the British Ex Serviceman's club i always think of him.

There's an anecdotal titbit for you :)

[bickydee]

They grew all their own food - the prisoners spread their own dung on the fields to grow potatoes - he recalled when the wind blew over the camp it stank!

He died three years ago now at the ripe old age of 88. Hi health wasn't too bad up until the last few months -aside from two replaced hips. A wonderful man, he and my Auntie never ever had a holiday abroad from the UK, as a prisoner was his only time abroad!

[MrRick108]

fantastic well done film what brave men.

[ThibetanMonk]

Epic ! The best and the worst that Britain had to offer in those dark days. The best in respect of the quality and enthusiasm of those young soldiers striving towards an objective whatever the odds against them; the worst in respect of the muddle and parsimony that saw them face the enemy with no weapon more potent than their absolute determination to win, regardless of the cost. Thanks for sharing this poignant memoir of an era whose attitudes and aspirations were soon to change forever.

[stig1893]

Great documentary. Jeremy clarkson also made an awesome documentary about this titlesd the greatest raid ever. I highly recommend it!