Join us to unveil a memorial and honour the memory of Marine David Gabriel Moffatt and his comrades - the Cockleshell Heroes

Unveiling of Commemorative Stone

On Saturday 28th November the family of Marine Moffatt will carry out a heartfelt dedication of the commemorative stone to David and his comrades

Operation Frankton was the codename for a raid on Bordeaux in December 1942. Bordeaux was a major seaport under German occupation. Raw materials essential to the Nazi war effort passed through the port.

Devised by Major Herbert “Blondie” Hasler, Operation Frankton involved men of the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment being deployed by submarine off the French coast. The Marines would then paddle 60 miles up the Gironde estuary in kayaks (Cockles), attach limpet mines to the cargo ships at the harbour, then escape overland, through France and Spain to Gibraltar.

Although only two of the ten men survived the perilous mission, the impact of their courageous efforts was undeniable. The MKII Cockle’s role in Operation Frankton helped turn the tide of the war and laid the groundwork for future special forces operations. Hitler was reportedly furious that “this child’s boat” could have evaded German defences and prompted him to divert crucial resources to defend his Atlantic Wall. Winston Churchill said the raid shortened the war by 6 months. It brought forward preparations for D-Day and gave hope that Fortress Europe was not impregnable.

"Of the many brave and dashing raids carried out by the men of Combined Operations Command, none was more courageous or imaginative than Operation Franktom" - Admiral lord Mountbatten

Description supplied by the event organiser.