FREE INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH: THE TRUE STORY OF THE LEGENDARY RAID ON SAINT-NAZAIRE PDF Robert Lyman | 368 pages | 26 Jul 2016 | Quercus Publishing | 9781782064473 | English | London, United Kingdom Into the Jaws of Death | Bookshare This is the true story behind 'The Greatest Raid of All'. It is the night of 28 March Royal Navy and British commandos are poised to assault the German-held port of Saint-Nazaire in what will be one of the most audacious and daring raids of the Second World War. The plan is simple: to drive an old destroyer, packed with three tons of explosive, at full speed into the outer gate of the Normandie dock. The aim is to destroy the base from which the formidable battleship Tirpitz would be able to devastate the convoys supplying Britain from the United States. Fewer than half the men who went on the mission returned. In recognition of their valour, eighty-nine decorations were awarded, including five Victoria Crosses. Into the Jaws of Death is the true story of how the decisive courage of a small group of men changed the course of the war. Slim, Master of War: Burma, Evelyn Waugh: A Life Revisited. The Hairy Dieters: Fast Food. My Life with Wagner. Guide To Better Acol Bridge. The Hairy Dieters: Good Eating. Engineering in the Ancient World. Carl Rogers: A Critical Biography. The Carl Rogers Reader. Your cart Close. Go Search. Into the Jaws of Death: The True Story of the Legendary Raid on Saint-Nazaire Image Download Image. Imprint Quercus Quercus. More books by Robert Lyman. Left loading Readers also viewed. Find a book you'll love, get our newsletter name email. YES I have read and consent to Hachette Australia using my personal information or data as set out in its Privacy Policy and I understand I have the right to withdraw my consent at any time. This website uses cookies. Using this website means you are okay with this but you can find out more and learn how to manage your cookie choices here. Close cookie policy overlay. The Commando raid on St. Nazaire This was a triumph for the many gun-layers in the coastal craft and in the Campbeltown. It was, at this stage, a straight fight between the carefully sited enemy flak emplacements ashore, enjoying all the protection which concrete could afford, and the gun-layers, handling the short-range weapons on the exposed decks of their small and lively craft. In April the Royal Navy had launched the Zeebrugge Raid when ships packed with explosive had been forced into the Belgium port being used as a U-Boat base. Despite very high casualties on that occasion it was decided that a similar method might be used to disable the French base of St Nazaire, a potential home base for the Tirpitz if she ventured into the Atlantic. This time it was a joint Royal Navy — Commando raid. Nevertheless the raid achieved considerable surprise. Captain Robert Ryder was in command of the Naval force and was to describe the progress of the force up the Loire river, which they edged up as far as possible before they were challenged and came under gunfire — to which they responded vigorously. At the moment of opening fire, we in MGB were just coming up to a guard ship anchored in the river abreast the south entrance. In the glare of the searchlights we could see her clearly and her guns. At about yards three well-aimed bursts of fire from our pom-pom silenced her. It was indeed an unfortunate day for that vessel, as she not only received bursts of fire from each craft in turn as they passed but finally provided an excellent target for their own shore batteries, who fired on her until she scuttled herself. Only in the Campbeltown had it been possible to provide a reasonable amount of steel protection, and this was largely offset by her being the most conspicuous target in our force. To our advantage, on the other hand, we were the attackers and, by evading the batteries guarding the approaches, we had arrived off our objective, with a force mounting forty or more close-range cannon. With our craft steaming past the southern entrance to the port a big percentage of our armament could concentrate on each ofthe enemy emplacements in turn as they passed them, and, finally, on arrival at our selected points of attack, we could reasonably expect to outnumber them locally. For all this the enemy, with their heavily protected emplacements and heavier-calibre guns 20 mm, 40 mm, and 88 mm had the advantage. MGBincreasing speed to keep ahead of Campbeltown, passed about yards off the Old Mole and then sheered off to starboard while Campbeltown continued on round and in to her objective. She had increased to nineteen knots; there was a slight check as she cut the torpedo net and she hit the caisson of the lock with a crash. The exact time of impact was 1. Captain Robert Ryder was one of five men awarded Victoria Crosses for his part in the raid. Lieutenant-Commander Stephen Halden Beattie who was responsible for captaining HMS Campbeltown and driving her into the dock, and Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Newman, in overall command of the raid were similarly decorated. One of five Victoria Crosses awarded for action during the raid. Able Seaman Savage who was a gun-layer of a pom-pom in MGBengaged enemy positions ashore, shooting with great accuracy. Although he had no gun-shield and was in a most exposed position, he continued firing with great coolness until at last he was killed at his gun. Motor Launch 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. 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. 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. This very gallant non-commissioned officer later died of the many wounds received in action. The Commando Veterans Association has an online collection of original documents relating to Sergeant Durrant and his family, including the letters written from Prisoner of War camp by which they learnt of his death. Michael Burn was one of the officers from No. They discovered that all the boats had left and there was no possibility of them getting away. The order was given to make for Spain, a thousand miles away. Five men actually made it to Spain. The remainder were picked up by the Germans, hiding in various buildings and ships along the harbourside, during the course of the morning. The officers were interrogated in turn:. Beattie himself was interrogated by a senior naval officer who, after praising his seamanship, asked him how the British could be so stupid as to imagine that so huge a dock could be put out of action by a flimsy destroyer which the Germans would soon haul away; at which moment there was a violent explosion, the windows in the interrogation-room were blown in, and, rushing out, the naval officer got the answer to his gibe. Not only had she exploded, but taken with her scores of German investigators, sightseers and souvenir-hunters. We heard the explosion in the guard-room and gave a big cheer. So that was that. The Tirpitz never did venture out into the Atlantic. The dock was not repaired till after the War. Keep up to date with all the latest news relating to the The Greatest Raid on Facebook. It will be available in August. Submarine HMS Sturgeon was used to confirm the position of the raiders prior to their entering the Loire on their way to St. Jill, I gather you are now in touch with author and fellow committee member James Dorrian who I Into the Jaws of Death: The True Story of the Legendary Raid on Saint-Nazaire sure has been more than able to add to your knowledge of your uncle. Hi I am seeking information on my uncle Kenneth Hills who was on ML and sadly did not make it home. Are there any more websites or avenues I can explore for more information. Davidreally sorry ive taken so long to get back to you. My grandads name was Ernest john Butcher and he lived in Portslade near Brighton. British prisoners of war guarded by Germans on the dockside at St Nazaire…… he is standing up next to another chap in a white roll neck jumper. This new site is still evolving and already contains significant quantities of information relevant to the Raid.