Resistance fighter who helped Cockleshells

Kyt · Sep 29, 2007

Brave young Resistance fighter who helped Cockleshells escape Gestapo:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2554246.ece

Jean Mariuad, the French Resistance fighter who guided the two surviving Cockleshell Heroes to safety after one of the most daring commando raids of the Second World War, has spoken about the operation for the first time.

Mr Mariuad, 94, spoke about the events of 65 years ago to The Times.

In December 1942 ten Royal Marines paddled 70 miles up the Gironde River on Cockle Mark II collapsible canoes to plant limpet mines on German merchant ships preparing to carry war materials from Bordeaux to Japan.

They succeeded in sinking one ship, severely damaging four others and doing enough damage to greatly disrupt the harbour for months. Such was the significance of the raid that Winston Churchill later said that it helped to shorten the war by six months.

But the raid had tragic consequences. Two of the men drowned and six were captured. The only two who survived – Major “Blondie” Hasler, who went on to found the Special Boat Service, and Royal Marine Bill Sparks – owed their lives to Mr Mariuad. Both of the servicemen have since died.

After evading capture, Hasler and Sparks trekked 100 miles northwest to Ruffec, a key point on the Marie Claire escape route to Spain, where Mr Mariuad was a principal organiser.

Word reached him that two men – lost, tired, hungry and claiming to be British soldiers on the run – had stumbled into the Toque Blanche caf� and sought the help of its proprietors, Mr and Mrs Mandinaud.

“They were very fortunate,” said Mr Mariuad, dabbing a tear from his eye. “If they had gone into any other establishment they would have been betrayed and captured. I have the utmost respect for Mandinaud for what he did.”

Mr Mariuad himself was suspicious, fearing a German trap. He sought the help of his friend M Paillet, a retired professor of English. Together they went to see Hasler and Sparks, who were waiting in a room above the caf�. Paillet began asking questions to verify their identity. As soon as Sparks, an Eastender, opened his mouth, Paillet said: “He is a Cockney; no German could replicate that accent.”

The next day Mr Mariuad and his brother-in-law stowed the men in a bakery lorry and drove through heavy German patrols to a safe house, where Hasler and Sparks hid for 41 days before being smuggled across the Pyr-enees to the safety of neutral Spain.

Mr Mariuad plays down his role. “You had to be young and foolish; it was my conscience,” he said. “I knew I would be shot if caught. If I ever thought about the consequences of what I was doing I would have stopped. But I didn’t. I know I was very lucky. People were afraid. You did not know who was your friend or your enemy. However, I got to know who the collaborators were.”

Only months earlier he had been arrested by the Gestapo. Forewarned, he had time to burn incriminating papers; the oven was still warm when the Germans arrived at his home but despite their suspicions he was released after a day of questioning.

Two glowing commendations adorn a wall of his house. One, from Earl Mountbatten, who ordered the raid, reads: “I realised it would be certain death for the gallant men who took part, unless brave men and women of the resistance movement in France came to their rescue.” The other ex-presses the gratitude of the Royal Marines: “We in England appreciate your deed, which was in the highest traditions of the French Resistance.”

Mr Mariuad had been a member of the defeated French Army and was rescued from the Dunkirk beaches in 1940, landing in Kent. A couple in Ramsgate gave him shelter and “kept my glass always full with beer”.

He last met Hasler and Sparks at a reunion in 1961. Memories of the war and of friends who did not survive it are still fresh and raw. “I can remember them like yesterday,” he said.

Francois Boisnier, 75, a former French paratrooper, has been working on a history of the Marines. Searching in the National Archives at Kew this year, he uncovered evidence that two of the men captured were taken to a wood near Bordeaux where stakes had been driven into the ground and open coffins were waiting. Hitler had ordered that Allied troops captured on commando raids were to be annihilated “to the last man”. Mr Boisnier is still trying to find where they are buried. On November 1, a plaque will be unveiled at the Bois Plage cemetery to commemorate the two who drowned.

Twelve brave men

After months of training, 12 men were taken by the submarine HMS Tuna to Bordeaux, where they were to paddle five miles to the mouth of the Gironde, 70 miles up it, plant limpet mines on the ship in the harbour and then make their way to Spain Each canoe had a codename

Catfish Major Hasler and Marine Sparks. Made it to Bordeaux harbour, planted limpet mines and successfully escaped

Crayfish Corporal Laver and Marine Mills. Made it to Bordeaux harbour planted mines. Betrayed while escaping and executed in Paris on March 23, 1943

Cuttlefish Lieutenant Mackinnon and Marine Conway. Captured and executed in Paris on March 23, 1943

Coalfish Sergeant Wallace and Marine Ewart. Captured and executed near Bordeaux on December 12, 1942

Conger Corporal Sheard and Marine Moffat. Drowned

Cacholot Marines Fisher and Ellery. Had to abort mission when their canoe was damaged on the submarine. It is said that they were in tears at their disappointment
Click to expand...

Antipodean Andy · Sep 29, 2007

Paddled 70 miles? Didn't know that but I'm afraid to say I don't know much about the whole episode at all. That's about to change. Thanks for the post Kyt.

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