Inside The Real Story Of The Cockleshell Heroes Film

The real story of the "Cockleshell Heroes" - the World War 2 action film.

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Released in 1955,”The Cockleshell Heroes” starred Jose Ferrer, Trevor Howard, Christopher Lee, David Lodge and Anthony Newley, and tells the story of a daring raid by British commandos using kayaks to attack German ships.

It was actually based upon a real historic event during World War 2, Operation Frankton, when British commandos conducted a daring sabotage attack on German ships in the French port of Bordeaux in December 1942.

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Members of the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment, under Captain Herbert "Blondie" Hasler paddled 70 miles up the Gironde river to carry out the attack.

5 cockle Mark II kayaks, each crewed by 2 commandos, were launched from a British submarine, HMS Tuna (captained by Lieutenant-Commander Dick Raikes) on the night of 7th December 1942.

Only 2 crews reached the destination, where they planted limpet mines on 5 German freight vessels and a German naval patrol boat.

Following the attack they attempted to reach neutral Spain and from there the British colony of Gibraltar.
Only one crew made it - Hasler and Bill Sparks.

Of the rest, 2 died from hypothermia when their kayak capsized and 6 were executed by the Germans, following an order from Hitler.

"The Cockleshell Heroes" released in 1955 is based upon the real events, although with some artistic licence (not least changing all the names).

Chapters:
0:00 The Cockleshell Heroes
1:54 Operation Frankton
2:41 Herbert Hasler
4:08 Italian Human Torpedoes
5:14 The Plan
7:39 HMS Tuna
9:29 The Gironde River
11:55 Discovered
13:28 Final Preparations
14:09 Attack
15:45 Escape & Capture
17:54 French Underground
18:51 Success of Operation
20:36 After the War
22:27 Remembering The Cockleshell Heroes

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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"

Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.

Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[duncanandrews]

I am Chairman of the Bordeaux & SW France Branch of the Royal British Legion and a member of the Frankton Souvenir, a French organisation that maintains the memory of the raid and it's participants. We remember them every December and hold wreath laying ceremonies at various memorials in the area. Believe me, they are not and they didn't scuttle the canoes on the South bank of the Gironde, it was the North bank opposite Chateau Segonzac, about 5 kilometres from where I live!

[socratesrocks]

I knew Marine Bill Sparks. He was a regular in one of the pubs in Alfriston, E. Sussex. He stayed out of the local's end (even though he was a local), kept to himself and barely said a word. It was only when the new vicar found out who he was and decided to celebrate it that I discovered who he really was. He was just Bill, polite, quiet, and getting his evening pint. He was mortified. He insisted he was not a hero. The ones who'd died were the heroes. He was merely a survivor. I don't think he went back to the pub after that. I never saw him in there again. I think he was too embarrassed by the fuss made of him.

[CharlesPepper]

The Hill (1965). An underrated, brutal and largely forgotten war film. Great vid by the way.

[davidlawton]

I met Bill in 1975, his son was my Detachment Sgt/Major onboard HMS DIOMEDE ( Terry Sparks ) he was a delight and could tell great stories about his exploits. I count myself lucky to have met him back in the day…( RIP )

[WolfoftheWoodsAirsoft]

My Father, a Royal Navy veteran of WW2, made me watch this and other WW2 films as a child. This one always stood out in my memory as it was very much a David Versus Goliath story. Commando comics were a staple of my childhood as well. It is our duty to remember them.

[cynthiaalver]

Where Eagles Dare and The Great Escape are two of my favorites.

[tomsenior]

Victor, Battle, Commando... They are the comics that spring to mind.

[SteveStrummerUK]

Favourite WWII film by a country mile - The Dam Busters 👍

[unbearifiedbear]

Tora! Tora! Tora!

One of the most spectacular technical achievements in cinema history ❤

[robinbishop]

i well remember Bill Sparks giving us a talk when i attended my Junior Command Course at CTCRM Lympstone in 1981 . His story of unbelievable courage, fortitude and singleminded determination will always stay with me. Told with total modesty to a captivated audience of 50+ NCOs who the following year, would go on to play their part in the recapture of the Falkland Islands. We band of Brothers...Per Mare, Per Terram.

[BootsontheTable]

Fascinating story - the bravery of the men despite the dubious value of the mission, is amazing. Nice one Chris, thanks

[teryshaw]

Not a film, but for realism, Band of Brothers. For entertainment, Kelly’s Heroes. The Great Escape and The Bridge Over The River Quai deserve special mention. But, there are so many that deserve watching.

[akajasonbourne]

Was shown on film 4 a couple of days ago, it's one I usually try and watch or record even though I've watched it many times.
Dunkirk the 1958 version is a favourite and carve her name with pride, also operation mincemeat is a recent favourite.

[jeffb]

My dad was in the merchant navy on a ship moored up in London docks where they filmed a lot of scenes including getting on the canoes and the German gun boat scene. As a kid he used to tell me the story of leaning overboard and watching the filming. He his no longer with us but many years later I did find a bunch of pictures he took at the time. Happy memories. Thank you.

[jon]

Anything staring Christopher Lee is fantastic..

[johngrant]

As a child in the US I discovered the cockleshell kayaks in an Airfix 1/72 British Commando figurine set sometime around 1970. The local Ben Franklin store would order sets for me, and I ordered many. They spurred a wider interest, for me, in British Military history, and many trips to the library in that pre internet time. I still have an Airfix 95th Rifles figurine I painted 35 some years ago. Airfix was my gateway to 54mm figurines.

[PaulFellows]

My favourite war film is 'Where Eagles Dare.' I've probably watched it 100s of times over the years but never get sick of it - esp. the road chase towards the end.

[mattp]

Favourite WW2 movies; The Hill, The Cruel Sea, Ice Cold in Alex, Cross of Iron, The Heroes of Telemark, Where Eagles Dare, Odette and of course The Great Escape.

[David-cqmz]

My friend and I built a replica canoe plus associated memorabilia to stage a 70th anniversary display at Dunoon Museum.
We also instigated getting a memorial stone placed at Lazaretto Point in their memory. We contacted some of the families who were delighted that there was somewhere to come more locally.
Mrs Hasler sent us her best wishes and thanked us for our efforts.
Our canoe was also used as a backdrop by Paddy Ashdown who did a talk at Pitlochry Theatre about the book he had published on the subject, …..the inscription on the memorial reads……We shall meet on that beautiful shore……..

[simonrichards]

James Conway was from my hometown, we have a brilliant bronze statue of him near the town hall in the canoe. I always stop to pay respects when passing, he was a milkman before the war!