Operation Frankton was a raid on shipping in the port of Bordeaux which was under German occupation. Often wrongly associated with being undertaken by serving Commandos, it was in fact carried out by a select group of Royal Marines who were designated as the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment or RMBPD, operating under the command of Combined Operations.
The Marines, led by Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler (Catfish), were transported to the Gironde Estuary by submarine being dropped off on the 7th December 1942 to make the remainder of the the journey by canoes known as Cockles. The operation concluded on the 12th December 1942.
There is also a memorial at RM Poole dedicated to all who took part.
The Fallen
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Lieutenant John Withers Mackinnon (Cuttlefish)
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Marine James Conway (Cuttlefish)
Corporal Albert Frederick Laver (Crayfish)
Marine William Henry Mills (Crayfish)
Corporal George Jellicoe Sheard (Conger)
Marine David Moffatt (Conger)
Sergeant Samuel Wallace (Coalfish)
Marine Robert Ewart (Coalfish)