Prior to the sinking of the Bismarck on 24th May 1941, she was heading for the Normandie Dock in St Nazaire -- the only one on the Atlantic coast big enough to accommodate her. And the same thing could be said about the Tirpitz when she was completed in January of the following year. So it was concluded that if the dock was destroyed, the Germans were unlikely to risk sending her into the Atlantic.

Operation Chariot was therefore devised and on 26th March 1942, 265 commandos, led by Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Newman embarked on three destroyers and 12 wooden motor launches, led by Commander Robert Ryder, each of which had 2300 litres of fuel in tanks on the deck -- one of the destroyers, HMS Campbeltown, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Stephen Halden Beattie, was packed with 4.5 tons of high explosive in the bow.

The plan was to ram the Campbeltown into the dock gate and once the commandos had disembarked, a delayed action fuse would explode and destroy the gate. Meanwhile, the men from motor launches would join those from the destroyer and place charges to destroy buildings and equipment that were vital in the operation of the dock -- they would then reboard the launches and return to Falmouth.

However, St Nazaire was also a U-boat base and as such, was protected by over 5,000 troops and a vast amount of artillery; so very soon, a large number of the attacking force were killed, wounded, or captured. The detonation onboard Campbeltown, which had been originally planned for 04.30, did not occur until noon the following day -- although just prior to the explosion, Lieut Cmdr Beattie was being interrogated by a German naval officer who was saying that it wouldn't take very long to repair the damage the Campbeltown has caused. Just at that moment, she went up. Beattie smiled at the officer and said, 'We're not quite as foolish as you think!' The dock gate was destroyed and repairs were not completed until after the war.

However, by this time, many of the motor launches, which had been standing off awaiting the return of the commandos, had been destroyed and the estuary was a mass of burning fuel and gunfire from the shore batteries.

Of the 612 men of the Royal Navy and Commandos who took part in the raid, only 228 men returned to England -- five commandos escaped via neutral Spain and Gibraltar with the help of French citizens and took a ship to England.

To recognise their achievement, 89 decorations were awarded for the raid, including Victoria Crosses awarded to Lieutenant Commander Beattie, Lieutenant Colonel Newman and Commander Ryder --- and posthumously to Sergeant Thomas Frank Durrant, the citation for which follows. "For great gallantry, skill and devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun in HM Motor Launch 306 in the St Nazaire raid on 28 March 1942. Motor Launch 306 came under heavy fire while proceeding up the River Loire towards the port. Sergeant Durrant, in his position abaft the bridge, where he had no cover or protection, engaged enemy gun positions and searchlights ashore. During this engagement, he was severely wounded in the arm but refused to leave his gun. The Motor Launch subsequently went down the river and was attacked by a German destroyer at 50 to 60 yards range, and often closer. In this action, Sergeant Durrant continued to fire at the destroyer's bridge with the greatest of coolness and with complete disregard of the enemy's fire. The Motor Launch was illuminated by the enemy searchlight, and Sergeant Durrant drew on himself the individual attention of the enemy guns, and was again wounded in many places. Despite these further wounds he stayed in his exposed position, still firing his gun, although after a time only able to support himself by holding on to the gun mounting. After a running fight, the Commander of the German destroyer called on the Motor Launch to surrender. Sergeant Durrant's answer was a further burst of fire at the destroyer's bridge. Although now very weak, he went on firing, using drums of ammunition as fast as they could be replaced. A renewed attack by the enemy vessel eventually silenced the fire of the Motor Launch, but Sergeant Durrant refused to give up until the destroyer came alongside, grappled the Motor Launch, and took prisoner those who remained alive. Sergeant Durrant's gallant fight was commended by the German officers on boarding the Motor Launch. This very gallant non-commissioned officer later died of the many wounds received in action."

Thomas Durrant is buried, along with many of the other casualties, in Escoublac-la-Baule CWGC cemetery, 13 kms west of St Nazaire.