observer Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Interesting prog by Paddy Ashdown, about the WW2 Commando raid on the port of Bordeaux, using canoe borne troops. Of the original 12man team, two damaged their canoe in the submarine and didn't go; two capzized and drowned, six(?) were captured and shot by firing squad and two eventually escaped to Gibraltar via Spain. They sank two cargo ships in shallow water, which were quickly repaired. Meanwhile, unknown to them, SOE had mounted an identical operation which would probably have had more success, but had to be cancelled due to the commando raid. Clearly heroic on the part of those involved, but lives wasted by the ineptitude of the top brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Not sure I fully agree with that. Secret missions are just that. If two of them co-incide, very bad luck. In a perfect world and perfect scenario someone might have realised, but there was a war on. These raids were pretty small fish in the overall picture. What pride I felt in watching such brave men - as with Arnhmem - on last night - another almighty mess up in the cold light of day. Desperate situations; desperate actions and times. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grappenhall Guy Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 These guys were exceptionaly couragous,it would appear after this raid all operations either secret or not had to be passed to a specially set up department so this situation could not happen again. Having said that war is war I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Arnhem was another good example H; they had the intelligence that two panzer divisions were re-fitting there, yet still went ahead with the "bridge too far" - again, due to politics at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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