OPERATION FRANKTON
(The Cockleshell Heroes)
Operation Frankton was a British combined operations raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour, France, in December 1942, by 12 men of the Boom Patrol Detachment, Royal Marines, in two-man Cockle MKII canoes (the Cockleshell Heroes). By late 1941 the constraints on mercantile movement, particularly by sea, were imposing severe hardships on both the British and the Germans. Neither country possessed sufficient natural resources to wage a war at the scale then being carried out, and both were dependent on external sources of supply. In particular the Germans needed oil, rubber and tungsten, and certain other essential metals and alloys. Vital supplies of these products from the Far East were reaching the Germans by "blockade runners" using the port of Bordeaux.
Major HG "Blondie" Hasler Royal Marines was at this time serving in the Combined Operations organisation, the head of which was Lord Mountbatten. A keen sailor, with an inventive mind, Hasler was working on methods of attacking shipping in harbour. He developed a suitable canoe for this task, which was able to carry 2 men with 75 kg of stores, and which would fit through the fore hatch of a submarine. The organisation of some 34 men, that was set up to train with these canoes and develop the necessary techniques, was given the cover title of The Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment, and in September 1942 took on the task of attacking shipping in Bordeaux. Whilst not the first time canoes had been used to attack German shipping, the mission had invariably been carried out in one night. This was something quite different: an attack on an enemy port, some 60 miles from the sea, with an escape route overland. Although he approved the plan, Lord Mountbatten had his doubts that any of them would return
During the evening of 7 December 1942 the submarine HMS TUNA surfaced off the mouth of the Gironde. One canoe was damaged being passed out of the submarine, leaving 10 men in five canoes to attempt a 60-mile paddle up river to their targets. Of those 10 men, only four reached their objective. Shortly after launching, one canoe became separated from the others and capsized in the surf. The men made it ashore but were captured and shot in accordance with Hitler's Commando order of October that year. Two men drowned after their canoe capsized and they fell prey to the cold and currents. Two more became separated and days later, shortly before the Bordeaux quays, hit an underwater obstruction and sank.
Canoeing by night, with the tide, and lying up by day, over several days, two pairs made it to the port. One of the crews was Major Hasler with Mne Bill Sparks; the other was Cpl Albert Laver and Mne Bill Mills. Limpet mines were placed on a number of ships, and these two crews then made their way down river, where they destroyed their canoes, and separately made their way cross country north east, through German occupied France, towards Ruffec. After many hair raising incidents and much hardship, Hasler and Sparks succeeded in reaching this town, some 100 miles from where they left their canoes, where they stopped at the Hotel Restaurant la Toque Blanche and successfully linked up with the Resistance. They finally arrived home, after crossing the Pyrenees into neutral Spain, 4 months after the raid. Laver and Mills were caught by the French police and handed over to the Germans. They were executed with 2 others, 3 months later.
The raid was successful in that 5 ships were badly damaged. Perhaps more importantly the success was a much-needed tonic for the British, for whom 1942 had been a disastrous year. There was a price to pay. 10 men set off, 2 escaped successfully, 2 were drowned, and 6 were caught or betrayed, and executed by the Germans. Major Hasler was awarded the DSO, and Mne Sparks the DSM. Cpl Laver and Mne Mills received posthumous Mentions in Dispatches.
We remember the following who did not make it home:
Lieutenant John Mackinnon Sergeant Sam Wallace Corporal Albert Laver
Corporal George Sheard Marine James Conway Marine Robert Ewart
Marine Bill Mills Marine David Moffatt
The following reference material is recommended for further reading:
Cockleshell Heroes C.E. Lucas-Phillips Pan Books ISBN 0-330-48069-3
Last Updated (Thursday, 18 February 2010 12:33)