Operation Chariot (St Nazaire)

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Reference WMO/143050

Address:

Prince of Wales Pier

Falmouth

TR11 3DF

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Attached to a building/structure
Description: Other monument
Materials:
  • Metal Metal (any)
  • Metal Bronze
  • Stone Granite
Lettering: Raised
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: At the quay end of the Prince of Wales Pier. A block of granite inset with a bronze plaque commemorating Operation Chariot, the raid on St. Nazaire in France, on 28 March, 1942, which sailed from Falmouth Harbour, and in which 168 sailors and commandos were killed and 5 Victoria Crosses were won. Adjacent to the memorial block are a further seven oval plinths upon which are captions of accounts of the raid. Leading to this area, starting from across the path to the pier, inset into the pavement, are five steel Maltese Crosses, representing the Victoria Cross, each one impressed with the ranks and names of the five Victoria Cross winners.
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1. OPERATION CHARIOT FROM THIS HARBOUR 622 SAILORS AND COMMANDOS SET SAIL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL RAID ON ST. NAZAIRE 28TH MARCH 1942. 168 WERE KILLED. 5 VICTORIA CROSSES WERE AWARDED. _____ DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR COMRADES BY THE ST. NAZAIRE SOCIETY. 2. All the demolitions at the Forme Ecluse had been completed. These targets included the two caissons, winding houses and machinery, inner caisson and the pump house; all had been destroyed. I requested permission to look for Bill Pritchard rather than embarking and was told by the Adjutant to look at the river. That was my first inkling that anything had gone wrong with our plan. Lt. Col. Bob Montgomery. MC. 3. HMS Cambletown struck the dock gate with such force that her bows crumpled back and projected one foot beyond the inner face. Lt. Commander Beattie turned to Captain Montgomery and with a smile said: 'Well, there we are.' Looking at his watch he added: 'Four minutes late.' 4. Lieut. Hills is lying across the carley float, unconscious, dying of his wounds. We desperately steer the float between the lakes of burning fuel. Shells are hitting the water. Corporal Brown, wounded, is hanging onto me. A German searchlight is tracking us. Eric dela Torre, MBE, 3 Commando. 5. Of all the operations I was involved in during the war, it is without doubt, The Raid on St. Nazaire with which I am most proud to have been accociated. It was one of those enterprises which could be attempted only because it seemed in the eyes of the enemy to be absolutely impossible. Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG. 6. Well chaps, we've missed the boat home. We'll have to walk. Lt. Colonel A C Newman, VC. 7. Your sons are the sons of France. Their memory is hallowed. Jean Guitton, Croix de Combattant, OBE. 8. To commemorate the rededication by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall on 11th July 2008.

Lieutenant-Commander S H Beattie, RN, VC., Sergeant T F Durrant, RE, VC., Lieutenant-Colonel A C Newman, VC., Commander R E D Ryder, RN, VC., Able Seaman W A Savage, RNVR, VC.

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