Le livre « Cockleshell Raid » de Paul Oldfield, rejoint le centre d’archives militaires du BEMALPA dédié au Mur de l’Atlantique àen Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

L’auteur retrace en détails l’Opération Frankton, l’un des raids clandestins les plus remarquables de l’année 1942 mené contre les navires allemands stationnés dans le Port de Bordeaux en 1942. Paul Oldfield revient en détails sur la préparation de cette mission des Commandos Marine, basée sur l’emploi de kayaks pliables appelés cockleshells et mis à l’eau au large de la plage de Montalivet depuis le pont du sous-marin HMS TUNA.

Ce livre décrit avec précision le parcours des commandos, leur remontée de l’estuaire de la Gironde en 1942 puis le la Garonne jusqu’à la Ville de Bordeaux. L’auteur pousse la précision dans une reconstitution heure par heure de leur progression, leur couverture, mais aussi des multiples obstacles qui a chaque instant menacent de compromettre l’ensemble de l’Opération Frankton. Il met en lumière l’endurance et le courage exceptionnel de ces hommes, tous volontaires, pour la réalisation de cette mission du plus haut risque.

Enfin, Cockleshell Raid analyse l’impact stratégique de l’Opération Frankton sur les forces allemandes basées à Bordeaux en 1942, notamment la destruction des navires et leurs épaves dans la Gironde. cet évènement, dans son contexte historique démontre comment ce raid audacieux est devenu emblématique de l’esprit des Commandos Marines et des forces Britanniques.

OPERATION FRANKTON is a story of how a handful of determined and resourceful men achieved what thousands could not by conventional means. They were not supermen. In the main they had enlisted for ‘Hostilities Only and, except for their leader, none had been in a canoe before. However, with a few months training they carried out what one German officer described as, ‘the outstanding commando raid of the war.

They became known as the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’, having been immortalised in a film and a book of that name in the 1950s. It was a soubriquet their leader, Major Blondie’ Haslar, hated, but it has stuck, as heroes they certainly were. They did not fight a battle in the traditional sense, indeed they did everything possible to avoid contact with the enemy. Despite this they demonstrated the very highest standards of courage, endurance and skill.

‘Blondie’ Hasler was an extraordinary man, who combined modesty and a caring attitude with strong personality and single-minded professionalism.

He always had the interests of his men at heart and never let them down. In return they trusted him totally and would have followed him to the ends of the earth.

This book covers the whole of the Frankton’ story including the development of the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment, the planning and preparation for the raid, its aftermath and an account of the horrific war crimes inflicted on those who were captured. It also includes the epic escape by Haslar and Corporal Bill Sparks across occupied France into Spain. The modern Special Boat Service traces its origins back to the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment is very proud of its predecessors’ achievements.

The outcome of the raid was never going to affect the course of the war, but it was another nail in the coffin of the Axis blockade-runners to the Far East. It demonstrated what a small group of resolute canoeists could achieve.

It also added to the other pinprick raids, each of limited significance, but collectively causing the Germans to retain masses of troops in occupied Europe that could have been used on the fighting fronts. When viewed through that prism, Haslar’s team achieved a huge amount. In the harsh profit and loss account of war, for the cost of a few men they added considerably to the British cause and sent shivers through the entire Axis high command.