Greatest Raid of All Time

AlexP · Post by **AlexP** » 19 Mar 2007, 11:20

Did anyone else catch The Greatest Raid of All Time presented by Jeremy Clarkson on BBC2 last night?

A fantastic program detailing the raid by sea on the dry dock at St Nazaire France. The raid was aimed at destroying it and therefore denying the battleship Tirpitz access to the only dock capable dealing with her on the entirety of the Atlantic coast of France.

I was absolutely awe struck by the sheer determination and bravery of those involved. The exploits revealed are the sort of thing that if they were to be feature in a film I would probably dismiss them out of hand as being prosperously unrealistic and clearly the stuff Hollywood make believe.

For anyone who missed it, or indeed anyone who would like to see it again, itâ€™s due to be repeated this Saturday at 2025. I thoroughly recommend it.

Alex

Nigel H-J · Post by **Nigel H-J** » 19 Mar 2007, 12:19

Thanks for HU Alex, was going to watch it but then as always my mind got onto other things and I missed it!

It never ceases to amaze me in any conflict how the human mind reacts to given circumstances and of those who ignore their own safety to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their comrades.

Don't care what anyone says but the British Forces have always shown what I call the British Bulldog Spirit.

God Bless Them.

Regards Nigel.

Chris Sykes · Post by **Chris Sykes** » 19 Mar 2007, 13:02

Yes saw it and even my dad didnt know it was for that reason, He thought it was to destroy access to the Uboat Pens which we went to visit a few years back...

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 19 Mar 2007, 13:14

Heh, I didnt see it but I knew about it. Heh I bet the Germans didnt think anybody would try and ram an old WW1 Cruiser full of explosives through their drydock gates

Vulcan_to_the_Sky! · Post by **Vulcan_to_the_Sky!** » 19 Mar 2007, 19:48

I caught the ending...I Seem to remember watching another documentary on that raid, and I also thought it was to do with the U boats.

Fascinating, and incredibly daring.

thehappyotter · Post by **thehappyotter** » 19 Mar 2007, 20:05

They were some amazing people, i'll have to admit to welling up a couple of times.

Makes you so proud.

rodata · Post by **rodata** » 19 Mar 2007, 21:39

Unfortunately I have not seen the documentary, but I am very fortunate to have Commander R.E.D. Ryder's own first-hand story of the attack:

The Attack on St. Nazaire - 28th March, 1942
by Commander R.E.D. Ryder, V.C., R.N.
John Murray, London, 1947 - First Edition.

The book is illustrated with a lot of drawings by Ryder.
The book may be hard to find (I got mine in a Danisk second hand bookshop), but there is a very good description of the attack in

After The Battle No.59, page 1-23, 78 pictures and two detailed maps.
Have a look at
http://www.afterthebattle.com/ab-con1.html

Regards
Nils

kit · Post by **kit** » 20 Mar 2007, 22:03

My Dad flew some of the post-raid damage assessment flights over St. Nazaire when he was in 541 Sqdn.

He reckoned they were some of the most dangerous missions he ever did, they threw EVERYTHING at the PR aircraft, maybe in an attempt to stop us finding out just how sucessfull it had been.

Hm, just figured out it was 9 months before I was born..... <blush>