The Cockleshell Heroes

The Cockleshell Heroes is a 1955 2nd World War film with Trevor Howard, Antony Newley and José Ferrer, who also directed. It is based on Operation Frankton, the true story of a Commando raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour.

Related Topics:
1955 - 2nd World War - Film - Trevor Howard - Antony Newley - José Ferrer - Operation Frankton - Commando - Bordeaux

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Ferrer plays an enthusiastic newly-promoted Major of the Royal Marines, who is given the assignment of leading a commando raid on shipping. He clashes with his second-in-command, a cynical by-the-book Captain (played by Trevor Howard), and his tough sergeant (Victor Maddern) and relentlesly trains his group of volunteers, losing several in the process, but gradually building a small skilled team.

Related Topics:
Major - Royal Marines - Captain - Victor Maddern

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Following the extensive training, the raid is launched ten miles off the mouth of the Gironde river from a British submarine. The team face a further seventy miles of paddling upriver in their Cockle MK II kayaks.

Related Topics:
Gironde - Submarine - Kayak

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After travelling by night and hiding by day, only four men reach the target, where they plant limpet mines on a number of ships.

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The raid is successful, but only two men survive and get back to England after the raid, with assistance from French resistance fighters. The rest perish in the icy waters or are shot on Hitlers' orders.

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One of the survivors, Ex-Cpl Bill Sparks, was an advisor on the film.

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A Royal Navy ship, HMS Flint Castle was used to portray a German anti-submarine vessel dropping depth charges.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - HMS ''Flint Castle'' - Depth charge

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