THE COCKLESHELL HEROES CADET STYLE
ROYAL MARINES VOLUNTEER CADET CORPS
PORTSMOUTH DIVISION
The history of the original raid, code name, FRANKTON.
During the night of December 11 1942, 10 Royal Marines set out in five canoes, their mission was to destroy German shipping running the blockade in and out of the French port of Bordeaux. Led by Major "Blondie” Hasler RM this was to be one of the most famous commando raids of all time.
After extensive training the team embarked on the submarine HMS Tuna and sailed south towards the French coast. When Hasler summoned his marines to the forward torpedo room of the submarine before the operation, they were told that their mission was to attack a fleet of armed German merchantmen, which was preparing to raid British shipping. An attack using six canoes, known as cockleshells, was the only alternative to bombing, which would have caused heavy civilian casualties. Hasler's platoon spent five days in Tuna, escaping a U-boat attack en-route. They reached their launch point in the Bay of Biscay, 10 miles from the river Gironde, but had to remain bottomed for 24 hours because of poor weather. By the evening of December 7th, the sea was calmer and Hasler and Sparks launched their cockleshell, Catfish, followed by the rest, the last canoe was damaged on a hatch clip and was deemed beyond repair so was left behind much against pleas from the crew to be allowed to continue. Sergeant Wallace and Marine Ewart were soon captured, interrogated and shot. Corporal Sheard and Marine Moffatt were drowned after being capsized in fierce tidal races. Lieutenant Mackinnon and Marine Conway went missing, although thought to have been shot at by a German sentry in the dark, these intrepid marines actually continued on their own in an attempt to complete the mission. Hasler and Sparks pressed on with Corporal Laver and Marine Mills.
Although the Germans were now alerted, the two craft avoided sentry positions and patrol boats in the estuary. Sparks and Hasler were seen, but not compromised, by French civilians as they used the flood tide by night and lay in hiding by day. Sparks remembered savoring every brew of tea and the frequent use of Benzedrine tablets to stave off sleepiness: he also shared his illicit bottle of rum with Hasler. On the third night, cold, wet and tired, the two boats lay up on the small Ile de Cazeau, which was home to a German anti-aircraft battery, but the marine's field craft was so good that enemy patrols failed to detect them. Unknown to them, they had shared the island with Mackinnon and Conway, but these two after finding their craft damaged by a submerged hazard, and unable to continue were betrayed and executed. On the last night of their paddle, Hasler and Sparks along with Laver and Mills hid in tall reeds within easy reach of Bordeaux, where they could sleep, eat and prepare within yards of the bustling harbour. As Hasler and Sparks proceeded to place their limpet mines on the sides of ships, they thought that they had been seen by a sentry, and were crushed between two ships moving together. They managed to escape silently on the ebb tide, and soon found Laver and Mills, who had also successfully placed their mines. When the explosions took place, four ships were severely damaged and a fifth sunk. After completing their demolition the two remaining pairs of canoeists sank their boats and began a trek to Ruffec, 100 miles away. Sparks and Hasler spent the next two months in the hands of various agents, most notably Mary Lindell, a British agent who operated in the Lyons area. Greater dangers were involved, though in one safe house Sparks felt more threatened by the overtures of the daughter of the family than by the Germans. Eventually Hasler and Sparks were led over the Pyrenees to Spain; but unfortunately Laver and Mills were captured and shot.
Out of the ten marines who started the mission eight of them were shot or drowned and two successfully made their way back to fight again, The captured marines were violently tortured before being murdered, had anyone of them given any information, the Germans would have been waiting for Hasler and the raid would have never succeeded. Let us never forget the debt owed to these brave men.
MY INTENTION
My intention is to take 12 Royal Marine cadets from the Royal Marine Volunteer Cadet Corps in Portsmouth, to canoe up the Gironde River in the footsteps of the "Cockleshell Heroes". We are doing this in July after a lot of fund raising. These cadets range from 14 to 16 and once they complete the mission the intention is to lay a wreath on the site where two of the original crew were executed. We need to raise £9000 plus to finance this venture, so if you can help please email me ray@cockleshell-cadets.com. This will give these young people some thing to look back on with pride and a sense of achievement in years to come
TRAINING COMMENCES
In April I and a small support team took 11 cadets to Pleasley Vale Activity Centre in Derbyshire for a weeks intensive canoe training, the aim of which was to get their 2 star level. Great week, water was cold but cadets worked hard and attained their levels by the Thursday, they will all achieve their level 3 by the time we finish in Bordeaux.. Very proud of the effort they made. Came away on the Saturday with a team who had bonded and leaned to work together. The facility is a small but growing centre with a friendly and highly qualified staff. This gave us the ability to form smaller groups for better and closer training sessions.
Contact number for the Centre is; 01623-812530 Contact Jules Bernard.
Look out France the marines are coming!! Ray
TRAINING CONTINUES
Weekly swimming with the navy continues, we are training towards the team members achieving the "Honors" level. This is a grueling regime but is designed to push the swimmer to the limit, it will aid upper body strength and stamina. Already six have achieved honors level, with three gold and one silver. A great success in such a short time.
LIST OF SPONSORS
Crewsaver, www.crewsaver.co.uk . Adec Marine, www.adecmarine.co.uk . The Royal Marine Associations nationwide. The Rotary Club Bramber Trailers, www.brambertrailers.com Garmin, www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/uk . Memory-map,www.memory-map.co.uk. SeaFrance, www.seafrance.com The Lions International. Portsmouth Youth Affairs Unit. RNLI www.rnli.org.uk MCGA, www.mcga.gov.uk Pleasley Activity Centre. http://www.bolsover.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=7445 Bournemouth Canoes Ltd. www.bournemouthcanoes.co.uk Portsmouth Football Supporters. The Princes Trust, princes-trust.org.uk New Forest Spring Waters Ltd, www.watersuppliers.co.uk . Avoncraft, www.avoncraft.co.uk . The individuals who have given from pocket money to pension money. Thank you.
FINAL PLANS AND TIME FRAME FOR THE MISSION
At last, boats paid for, safety boat kitted-out, ferries booked, crews trained and transport ready, just a few of the things to think about. Passports and EU health cards, tetanus shots, stores, ration packets, tents and toilet rolls, the list goes on, we are even taking our own bottled water (6 hours in a kayak with a stomach upset is no fun). Maps, charts, mobile phones on French networks, radios, distress rockets, does it never end, but most of all the support of everyone who has given, from the individual to the major companies, without your help and support this venture would have only been a dream, from the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you, thank you. JULY 20TH will see us take our leave and head for France, arriving in Calais very early on the Saturday morning with a long drive to Royan where we will visit the first of the memorials to "OUR" heroes. Sunday on an early tide we set out for Bordeaux.
TRAINING CONTINUES
On June 30th we set-out to circumnavigate Portsmouth, leaving Whale Island at 1000hrs out through the port to open water, travelling east past Southsea and Eastney Barracks to Langstone Harbour where by kind permission of Maggie and Denys we will spend the night in what is ironically named the Boat Paddock. On Sunday we continue around the habour and into Port Creek passing in front of the Lido and out to finally make landfall back on Whale Island.
FRENCH RECCE
July fourth found myself and a second instructor Jim Coomber bound for France, Royan was our destination, arriving on the fifth we met our contact in Royan at the Cockleshell memorial, (the first of many). He escorted us across to La Verdon on the local ferry to meet the harbour control officers, great people just overflowing with help and enthusiasm, they promised us any help and assistance we needed. For two days we followed the original raids progress but this time by road, much helpful information was obtained, the layup sights were located and a number of useful contacts made. Back to Portsmouth and continue with the planning and training.
THE COCKLESHELL-CADETS 2007
Ray Cooper C/Sgt RMVCC.
The big
day had arrived, everyone fell in at 1600 hrs, the CO inspected the cadets and
gave them a pep talk followed by the Navy Chaplin blessing the crews, holy water
was sprinkled on the boats which gradually mixed with the rain that was steadily
falling, rain that had robbed us of the presence of the BBC camera crew who had
been re-routed to cover some flooding in the north of their area, journalistic
priorities. Farewells over we left for our embarkation port, Dover.
We arrived at the port with the intention of fueling the two minibuses
only to find that the nearest Shell service station was at least 20 miles out of
town, and guess what, our fuel card was a Shell only.
The ferry trip was calm and quick, our thanks to “Sea France” who gave us
a special rate for our buses, trailers and personnel. We disembarked at Calais
and with no delay we headed for Royan and the Gironde River. The four drivers
changed over at regular intervals as we drove through the night, nothing was
more welcome than the sun rising in the east, (OK I know, where else would it
rise). Coffee breaks and pit-stops were kept to a minimum as we needed to be at
our destination for mid-afternoon. Weekend traffic and the odd detour care of
Paul’s “Tom-tom” did nothing to delay us and we squeaked into Royan on time. Our
first appointment was with the memorial at St-Georges de-Didonne, one of the
many to our 1942 predecessors, and our first view of the Gironde, and what a
view that was, the general feeling of those who had not seen it before was “Now
that’s what you call a river”. We laid a wreath, gave a few minutes of quiet
thought, and maybe a request to those heroes that had gone before for their help
and guidance in what lay ahead.
Our next leg was to take us by ferry across the mouth of the estuary, the
only draw back was that the queue was close to a mile long and wound through the
streets of the town, well that’s one way of seeing the sights. Once on the ferry
it was a thirty minute ride to Pointe de Grave where we were met by our French
contact Francois Boisnier and some of the nicest most hospitable people I have
met, amongst them was Erick Poineau who worked for the Gironde buoy and Harbour
Masters office and his boss Alain Brocard. But by far the most important and
endearing person Madam Baudra the mayor of the district, I was honored to meet
her on my recce so hugs were acceptable. In 1942 she met and advised Blondie
Hasler as to where to hide, and if that was not enough, ignoring the risks to
herself and her family, returned with food later in the day. We were given a
party and some wonderful speeches were made, everyone in my team were presented
with a bottle of the local wine with a special label on it honouring the
Cockleshell Heroes and telling the original story which then went on to tell of
our own mission. We finally turned in making use of the “hospitality building”
made available to us by our new French friends.
Sunday morning was an early start, the weather was on our side, guided by
Erick we arrived at the slipway at La Verdon, boats and kit were unloaded and
the inflatable safetyboat was assembled, photos taken and we launched into the
marina, a short prayer followed by a moment of reflection and with a “Let’s go
to Bordeaux” our paddle began. The course took us under the pier where Lt.
Mackinnon and Marine Conway lost contact with the others. On down the west bank
of the river, close enough to be out of the main channel but far enough out that
paddle splashes could not be heard from the bank, melodramatic no, just as it
was in 1942 right in their footsteps, I wanted to give the cadets the feel for
what it must have been like. Our land fall was to be Pointe Aux Oiseaux, the
place where the fishermen and our 19 year old “mayor to be” met Blondie’s team.
Our aim was to camp as close as possible to the same spot as was used in 1942.
Travelling by direct reckoning we came ashore on a small beach just as the tide
was turning, to be late would have meant paddling against a fierce out flowing
tide which the Gironde is famous amongst sailors for, paddling at 4 knots
against a 7 knot tide meant we would have been going backwards. Once ashore and
kayaks beached safely it was time to check equipment, relax and eat. Tents were
erected and finally of to bed with the weather starting to freshen and a hint of
rain, all promised by our forecast update.
Monday, wet, wild and definitely not a day to take to the water, our
tents threatened to reach Bordeaux before us, the wind whipped up the wet sand
covering everything, I made the decision that we load up and return by road to
Pointe de Grave and gain assistance from our new friend Erick and his boss, we
needed to regroup and clean our kit. The safetyboat was taken back to La Verdon
by water crewed by some gutsy RMVCC
instructors, how well I’d picked my team. On arrival back we were met with the
same willingness to help and their confirmation that the right decision had been
made, (these guys know their river). They insisted on us spending another night
in the accommodation, god bless them. The evening gave us time to visit the
memorial plaques in the area close to where Sergeant Wallace and Marine Ewart
came ashore and were captured by the Germans.
Tuesday saw us back at Pointe Aux Oiseaux, the surf was intimidating to
say the least but without a second thought my crews launched braving the waves
which crashed not just over the kayaks but over the occupants as well. Once
clear of the shore the sea-state eased to a rolling swell. We paddled about 14
miles to a small inlet which took us into the sloping stone walled harbour of
St. Christoly-Medoc, here we rested and ate prior to crossing the Gironde to the
east bank. Back on the water paddling out of the inlet nothing gave us warning
of what was to come. Once again using dead reckoning we headed out into the
channel using the number 38 channel marker buoy as our kicking-of point. The
sea-state was starting to get interesting to say the least; by midpoint we were
running a four foot plus swell. Going from being on top of a wave and being able
to see everything, to the bottom of the trough with the wave crest four foot
above you and with about six inches of freeboard it can be quite an adrenalin
rush, but with the spirit, guts and determination expected of fully fledged
marines my cadets with heads down pulled for the distant shore setting a searing
pace. After what seemed like forever the shapes on the shore started to resemble
trees and the shore drew close, on beaching Jules (my British Canoe Union
adviser) and I went ashore to recce the land, we quickly realized we had reached
pretty well the same spot as Blondie, placing us just north of Portes Des
Callonge. Back to the water it was decided to use the small fishing port as our
layup point for the night. Oh! By the way did I mention that the crossing was
close to 6 miles? The words “Proud of” and “my cadets” come to mind.
Wednesday the weather was totally different from the previous day,
sea-state was mirror calm and the sun was shining. (Something I learned about
the Gironde was how quick the conditions could change and how much respect you
must pay it).By mid-morning the tide allowed us to continue our journey south,
we picked our way between islands stopping for our break on Desert Island one of
the places used by Blondie. On we paddled until a short distance ahead of us the
Lamarque to Blaye ferry crossed from west to east. Jules and I knew that we
needed to be the other side of the crossing before it returned, so once again
heads down and go for it, a hard paddle for about two miles, our point of aim
was the north tip of the Ile Cazeau, this island was used by Blondie for a layup
on the southerly tip. As we approached where the river forked around the island
we became aware of an underlying current in
strength and ferocity we had as yet not met, we were going for the west passage
but the current was set on taking us to the east, we won. Exhausted, the crews
thought a short easy paddle down the length of the island and the day was over,
how wrong could they be, we had to be at the layup point before the know
slackening tide turned and the island was seven miles in length. It became a
mental as well as physical fight, a little like a march over Dartmoor as any
marine will remember, where each skyline when reached gave way to yet another,
each curve rounded was met by another but finally the end was reached and
another day’s paddle came to an end.
Thursday we awoke with an excitement in the air, today we would enter
Bordeaux. Just before noon we once again took to the water following the west
bank, we were overtaken and passed by a large freighter on it’s way to unload at
the same dock that Cpl. Laver and Marine Mills attacked the shipping, how
ironic. We pushed on until around a bend we viewed the amazing Pont d’Aquitaine
bridge, our gateway to Bordeaux. As we allowed ourselves to drift under it we
knew we had done what we had set out to do, not four days before but a year
before when a dream became an idea, an idea became a plan and a plan became
reality. On into Bordeaux, reaching the waterfront at last, the very location of Hasler's and Spark's attack. We tied up and went up onto the quay to pay our
respects at yet another memorial laid by this amazing French race to marines
from another country. Back to our kayaks and paddle the short distance back to
await the high tide which would allow us to enter the basins where once inside
we were able to visit and enter the once German submarine pens, now empty but
still showing their once presence in the form of notices written in German. We
came ashore met by members of the French navy and the deputy major of the town
of Blanquefort Jacques Padie, yet another amazing Frenchman, nothing was to much
trouble, we loaded the kayaks and were taken to a sports park in Blanquefort
where we had been given permission to make camp with full use of the showers and
toilets. Here we were given refreshments and I was presented with a bottle of
the local wine, (each area is so proud of its own wines). A meal followed by an
instructor’s “O group” to discuss the next days details, and then to bed.
Friday was to be a day no one will ever forget, Blanquefort is the
location of Chateau Magnol used in 1942 by the German Navy High Command and
shared by the Italian Navy (there is still a reinforced concrete building which
housed their two man chariot submarines). In the grounds is a bunker where on an
outside wall is a plaque and still the bullet scars where Sgt. Wallace and
Marine Ewart were executed. Dressed in full ceremonial blues the cadets and
instructors formed up, the three instructors who had served in the Royal Marines
as commandoes dressed in DPM combats
in respect to the originals who would have been dressed in combats of the day
laid a wreath, the cadet bugler played “The Last Post” followed by “Reveille”
a minutes silence was observed. I took this opportunity to present a Frankton
Medal to each of the crews, this was the most fitting place for them to receive
this accolade. In talking to my fellow marines there on the day we all spoke of
a strange, eerie almost warm feeling, maybe that family we talk of in the Corps
goes back further than we really imagine. Taking in to consideration the
conditions these cadets had lived in for the past few days on the river, their
turn-out would have been hard to fault by any RSM on any parade ground, this was
their salute to those brave marines of 1942. If Blondie and his men were
watching I am sure there was not a dry eye in their group. After dismissing the
parade we returned to the camp area where we changed and ate. A trip to the quay
again to enable the support team (without who we could not have managed) to see
the memorial. Then on to the “Centre Jean Moulin Resistance Museum” where a
replica
of a “Cockleshell” is exhibited and the story of the Frankton Raid is told.
Sightseeing around Bordeaux was followed by an invitation from our mayor host
Jacques Padie to dinner in his local
brassiere,
again such generosity. The perfect end to an amazing day.
Saturday was to be another marathon journey, we left Bordeaux with the
knowledge that relationships between us and the French people we had met would
go on, and a part of us all would always remain with them. Blondie and Sparks
had on completing their mission walked to the town of Ruffec where in a bar “La
Torque Blanche” they met the Resistance and started their epic walk out of
France over the Pyrenees and home. I knew that this had to be the place to end
our expedition, so with this in mind I had made reservations for us all for
lunch in the same room those intrepid heroes had sat. It was a meal I was proud
to share with what I selfishly call “my boys”. The drive back to Calais was
about as enjoyable as the drive down but we all finally arrived back in
Portsmouth with stories to tell.
I have talked with some of the parents who individually have said what a
difference the experience had made to their sons, to sum it up in one mother’s
words, “On the Friday I said goodbye to my boy, now I have to get used to living
with a young man”. It says it all.
Thank
you to all who made it possible, those who helped finance it, whether small or
large every little helped. To Prijon for making a great kayak that was so safe
and stable when we really needed it, to Bramber Trailers for their generosity
and promise of future help in upgrading our kayak trailer to carry our safetyboat as
well, you are truly amazing. To Dave Evans at Memory-Map for aiding in our
navigation. To all the other sponsors who gave items of
equipment we could not have done without, to those who helped along the way, to
the parents of my boys who without their confidence and trust this exped would
have been a no go. Finally to my fellow instructors, guys what an awesome team
you made!!!! Thanks for your help, dedication and mostly your belief in me and
what I said I would do when I needed it most. Thank you all for giving me the
chance to do this, believe me when I say it was truly the biggest and best
experience of my lifetime. God bless you all. Ray
Now on to the next project!!!