372. The Cockleshell Heroes: Twelve Men, Two Survivors

Battleground

Goalhanger

History

4.5 • 820 Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this gripping episode of Battleground, Patrick Bishop and Saul David explore one of World War II's most daring commando raids: Operation Frankton, better known as the Cockleshell Heroes mission. In December 1942, twelve Royal Marines volunteers led by Major "Blondie" Hasler embarked on a near-impossible mission to paddle canoes 60 miles up the Gironde estuary to sabotage German blockade runners in the port of Bordeaux. Against brutal Atlantic conditions, freezing temperatures, and constant threat of discovery, these men demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination. But the mission came at a devastating cost—only two of the twelve would survive. Patrick and Saul examine the meticulous planning, the catastrophic setbacks, and the ultimate question: was the strategic gain worth the human sacrifice? If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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0:58.0	Hello and welcome to the latest in our Special Forces series.
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1:24.6	It combines innovation and skill with almost unbelievable levels of endurance and courage.
1:31.2	We're talking about Operation Frampton. The raid by British World Marine Commanders on German shipping
1:36.9	in the Girond River in the southwest of France in the depths of the winter of 1942.
1:43.2	It was, I think, a particularly British operation
1:46.3	carried out by a team of characters who could have walked straight out of one of those
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