Operation Chariot – The Greatest Raid of All
Wednesday 22nd April at 18:00 | Library | £10.00
Join us at The Rag for an unforgettable evening as we relive ‘The Greatest Raid of All’ – the extraordinary and daring assault on the port of Saint-Nazaire in western France on 27-28 March 1942. The talk, presented by Nick Beattie, offers a personal connection to the story, as his father was the Commanding Officer of HMS Campbeltown.
On 26 March 1942, 625 Naval and Army personnel set sail from Falmouth in a fleet of three destroyers and 18 wooden motor launches, bound for one of the most heavily defended ports in occupied Europe. Their aim was to destroy the ‘Normandy’ dry dock and its associated installations, ensuring the facility could not accommodate a ship the size of the German battleship Tirpitz, thereby preventing her from sailing into the Atlantic where she would have had Allied convoy shipping at her mercy.
This compelling talk takes you through the tense build-up, the raid itself, and the aftermath of an operation that would become one of the most decorated actions of the war.
Of the 625 who sailed, 169 were killed, 217 were taken prisoner, and just 239 returned home. Their courage was recognised with over 130 gallantry awards, including 5 Victoria Crosses, 4 Distinguished Service Orders, 17 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 11 Military Crosses.
This is a story of remarkable bravery, sacrifice, and determination against overwhelming odds.