Location
The site of their training base now the Rose Gardens by the Canoe Lake on Southsea Esplanade, Southsea.
Description
460mms wide x 305mms high.
This plaque provided by Portsmouth City Council was unveiled by Marine Bill Sparks DSM on 6th July 1992. In the presence of the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Councillor Jim Patey and the Chairman of the Leisure Committee Councillor Syd Rapson BEM to mark the 50th Anniversary of this site which was used as a training base for the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment formed on 6th July 1942. This secret unit trained on the Solent for raids by canoe (Cockles) on Europe.
The most famous raid was on German shipping in Bordeaux docks. On 11th December 1942 by ten members of RMBPD only two of these Cockleshell Heroes returned.
|
MAJ H HASLER OBE DSO RM
MNE W SPARKS DSM CPL A LAVER MNE W MILLS CPL G SHEARD |
LT J MACKINNON RM
MNE J CONWAY SGT S WALLACE MNE R EWART MNE D MOFFAT |
Further information:
Those who did not survive are remembered on the
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
and further details can be found by searching against their names at:-
www.cwgc.org
See also the memorials to the Cockleshell Heroes,
At the Royal Marines Museum
At the Cockleshell Centre