Operation CHARIOT, the raid on St Nazaire March 1942. "The greatest raid of all".
(from https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/2081103/escoublac-la-baule-war-cemetery/)
The cemetery was begun with the burial of 17 British soldiers killed in the area during 1940, 21 others who died in local hospitals, and a number of British servicemen whose bodies were washed ashore after the sinking of the troopship "Lancastria" in the Bay of Biscay on 17 June 1940.
Subsequent burials include men killed in the St. Nazaire raid in 1942*, and airmen shot down in the area.
The cemetery now contains 325 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 74 of which are unidentified. Three Polish servicemen are also buried here and one sailor of the Merchant Navy whose death was not due to war service.
Throughout the German occupation, Louise Jaouen, a resident of La Baule, dedicated all her time and energy to maintaining the graves. With money collected secretly from the generous local people she provided a cross for every grave and a small monument, had hedges planted, and employed a permanent gardener to tend the cemetery. Her devotion to this work was later honoured by the award of the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom.
* This includes sailors manning the vessel HMS Campbeltown, an obsolete destroyer packed with explosives in Operation CHARIOT, the "most daring raid of all". HMS Campbeltown was deliberately rammed into the gates of the dry dock in St Nazaire port. The Germans initially believed that this was the plan, however HMS Campbeltown's secret package of explosives later detonated, killing many Germans inspecting the vessel, and causing severe damage to the dry dock gates, putting the dock out of action for the rest of the war. In fact it was not usable until 1947. This action, meticulously planned under the leadership of PM Winston Churchill and Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Head of Combined Operations, denied the Nazis the use of the dry dock for its largest capital warships. The raid was launched from Falmouth in Cornwall on 26 March 1942.
Accompanying HMS Campbeltown were Army Commandos carried in Motor Launches (ML) and a Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB), formed from No 2 Commando (Lt Col Newman) supported by detachments / individuals from Nos 1,3,4,5,9, and 12 Commandos.
The Commandos were organised as assault, protection and demolition teams, using the Commando ethos of stealth, speed, surprise and aggression to overwhelm the considerable ground defences.
British losses from the 611 men who participated in the raid were:
169 killed
265 captured (mainly wounded).
89 men received military decorations, including no less the 5 Victoria Crosses:
Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Newman OC No 2 Commando commanded all the commando troops, received a VC for leading his men and directing operations with no concern for his own safety. He only surrendered once ammunition had run out.
Sergeant Thomas Durrant, a Royal Engineer, was attached to the Commando forces. He was in charge of a Lewis Gun on a Motor Launch, and although wounded and with no cover, he carried on firing until taken prisoner. He died of his wounds the next day. He was awarded a posthumous VC.
Captain Robert Ryder RN, senior naval officer, for leadership and exposing himslef to enemy fire whilst evacuating HMS Campbeltown.
Lieutenant-Commander Stephen Beattie RN, in command of HMS Campbeltown, was awarded a VC for gallantry shown in steering his ship into the dock walls in the face of blinding searchlights and under intense fire.
Able Seaman William Savage also received a VC for great skill and gallantry shown in manning a pom-pom gun on a Motor Gun Boat. AB Savage remained at his post, resolutely firing away until he was killed.
Other decorations included the award of the Distinguished Service Order to
Major William Copland
Captain Donald Roy
Lieutenant T Boyd
Lieutenant T D L Platt
Additionally, four Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, five Distinguished CoOnduct Medals, 17 Distinguished Service Crosses, 24 Distinguished Service Medals, and 25 Military Medals were awarded. A further 51 men were mentioned in dispatches. The French also awarded 5 Croix de Guerre (War Cross) medals.
