Reply With QuoteHope it mentions David Lodge as he was in Cockeshell Heroes, apparently!
Nick
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - The Most Courageous Raid of WWII
Lord Ashdown, a former special forces commando, tells the story of the 'Cockleshell Heroes', who led one of the most daring and audacious commando raids of World War II.
In 1942, Britain was struggling to fight back against Nazi Germany. Lacking the resources for a second front, Churchill encouraged innovative and daring new methods of combat. Enter stage left, Blondie Hasler.
With a unit of twelve Royal Marine commandos, Major Blondie Hasler believed his 'cockleshell' canoe could be effectively used in clandestine attacks on the enemy. Their brief was to navigate the most heavily defended estuary in Europe, to dodge searchlights, machine-gun posts and armed river-patrol craft 70 miles downriver, and then to blow up enemy shipping in Bordeaux harbour.
Lord Ashdown recreates parts of the raid and explains how this experience was used in preparing for one of the greatest land invasions in history, D-day.
Hope it mentions David Lodge as he was in Cockeshell Heroes, apparently!
Nick
Last edited by Nick Dando; 02-11-11 at 01:00 PM.
Jose Ferrer directed a Feature film about this mission for Columbia British in the late 50's, I think it was.
I have this film on video. Jose Ferrer played the part of Major Stringer and Trevor Howard played Captain Thompson. If I remember rightly, only two of the commandos survived to return.
They're showing The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) on Sunday at 3:35pm on BBC2 :thumbup1
Yes, Major "Blondie" Hasler & Marine Bill Sparks. Bill only died in 2002Originally Posted by Elaine
Steve
Absolutely astonishingly brave.
Unbelievable that two secret actions could have been allowed on the same objective at the same time.
Incredible raid, incredible courage, incredible men.
If you didnt have a lump in your throat at the end when Ashdown talked about Ewart's girlfriend, there is something wrong with you.
Just so.
I suppose there will be those who would say an actor or politician can fake sincerity but I was impressed with Ashdown as well as the courage of the men involved - he did seem in awe of them.
It's the "belt & braces" approach. They were both quite high risk. But by doing both of them there was a better chance that one would succeed.
At that time (1942) there was still a fair amount of animosity and unhelpfulness between all the different departments and organisations. MI6 and SOE didn't get on and didn't help each other. Combined Ops didn't check with SOE or MI6, and vice versa. They learnt from their mistakes
Steve
I liked Paddy's story about meeting Hasler on a train - and not knowing who he was despite Hasler being Paddy's boyhood hero.
Paddy did get to ride on a rigid inflatable up the Gironde. That must have reminded him of his days in the SBS
Steve
I got the impression it was more down to animosity than "belt and braces".
Thank goodness they quickly learned the error of their ways.
I watched this Documentary last night and found it to be a fascinating Documentary, i have always been interested in History and i like watching Documentaries about different periods of History, the men involved in the raid (that was featured in last nights Documentary) were very courageous and the raid just goes to show the terrible cost of War, next week on Tuesday on BBC2 at 9.00pm the subject will be the Dambusters raid.
it was, or if not actual animosity then general unhelpfulness. I meant the "belt & braces" comment to show that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing to have 2 groups going after the same objective
Steve
The documentary is being repeated on BBC2 on Saturday evening, for those who missed it the first time around.
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - The Most Courageous Raid of WWII
Happily, you'll be able to see David Lodge this coming Sunday afternoon on BBC2.
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - The Cockleshell Heroes
And it's followed at 17:10 by a repeat of a Timewatch documentary on The Battle of the River Plate.
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - The Cockleshell Heroes
Nick
Posting Permissions
