Book: The Greatest Raid Of All

The Greatest Raid Of All 

by C. E. Lucas Phillips

Some say the Canadian footprint in Combined Operations

starts at the significant raid on St. Nazaire, France

This book provides a great deal of background and a very full record of the important raid on a dry dock in France by 600 Allied troops. "Small in numbers, but large in achievement."

The raid took place on a "cloudy March night in 1942, with guns to right and left and ahead of them" - a few months before the Dieppe Raid. It is said the force "achieved a purpose out of all proportion to their small number and of an extent that was not fully realized until after the war was over."

About the purpose of the raid:

"This brilliant attack was carried out at night, under vicious enemy fire, by a mere handful of men, who achieved, with certainty and precision, what the heaviest bombing raid or naval bombardment might well have failed to do..."

(From Foreword by Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG).

And about the Canadian footprint, an excerpt from page 107 is provided below:

 On my 'to-do list': Search for more details from journalist Gordon Holman

Photo from a Canadian veterans' text (St. Nazaire to Singapore, below)

Caption that accompanied above photograph. (St. Nazaire to Singapore, below)

Excerpt from a Canadian veterans' text (St. Nazaire to Singapore, below)

 More details re Sub. Lt. O'Rourke can be found in the above Canadian book

The Campbeltown, loaded with explosives, rammed the dock, blew up a few

hours later, and rendered the dock 'out of service' 

Once the Campbeltown was discovered to be an enemy, and that it was accompanied by several landing crafts loaded with commandos, all Hell broke loose. Some commando units were belted with lead and hardly had any opportunity to leave their crafts. Others landed in a variety of prescribed zones and planted explosives to do extensive damage to dry dock controls. Many were killed, many were taken prisoner, and many returned to England to tell the tale.

Another book in which the Raid at St. Nazaire is given good mention:

Link to - Combined Operations, 1940 - 1942 - Prepared for the Combined Operations Command by The Ministry of Information, London, UK

Please link to Book: The Beachhead Commandos

Photos GH