Cockleshell heroe's 65 yrs ago ..

[timetraveller]

This Month ...

On a bitterly cold night on the Monday 7TH December 1942 One year after Pearl Harbour , a small ten man team of Royal Marines led by Major H.G "Blondie" Hasler RM were launched from HMS Tuna [submarine ] The ten man team set sail in there Cockle Boats [ Specially designed ] headed for their objective ..Merchant Vessels berthed in Port of Bordeaux 70 miles from HMS Tuna's postion Paddling by night hiding by day .. .

Teams consisted of 2 squads
1squad
Catfish -Maj Hasler / Marine Bill Sparks
crayfish - Corporal Albert Laver / Marine Bill Mills
Conger - Corporal George Sheard /Marine

2nd squad ..
Cuttle fish - Lt John Mckinnon /Marine James Conway
Coalfish - Sargeant Sam wallace / Marine Robert Euart

The Sixth boat codenamed - Cachalot - was badly damaged exiting the Submarine and had to abort the raid

Four Cargo ships and a Mine sweeper were Damaged when the Mines went off ..However the success of the raid ,it cost the lives of Eight brave men .. Only Major hasler and Bill sparks surived the raid . and ending up escaping through to Spain over the Pyrenees after linking up with the Local French Resistance .

In 1955 the Film Cockleshell heroes was released and Immortalised them all for all Eternity .

We shall Remember Them ...

[M1A2U2]

Werent there 2 films, one in black and white and one in color? Which is better? and how can i find them

[timetraveller]

There was only one Made and it was filmed in Colour .. Jose ferrer Playing .. " Blondie " Major hasler .. I have it on DVD .. and it filmed in colour .. I have seen may films based on WW2 and i myself have never seen or heard of a B/W release of the cockleshell heroes the only other explination i can give is that you must have seen the colour version on a BW telly ..

hence your question ..


Let it be known Jose ferrer played the lead guest role in Columbo starring david falke , and in Dune .. the classic Sci fi .. film ..