Preparations are underway for this year's St Nazaire memorial.

The event on March 17 will be the 77th annual service in remembrance of the 'Greatest Raid of All' in which 600 men sailed from Falmouth in World War Two, only 228 of whom returned.

On March 26 1942, a flotilla of three destroyers and 16 smaller boats departed from Falmouth, including the HMS Campbeltown which had been packed with explosives.

The Campbeltown rammed itself into the gates of the dry docks in the French town of St Nazaire, an important strategic asset for the German fleet at the time.

Commandos onboard streamed out onto the docks and engaged in firefights with the German defenders, taking out strategic targets in the area.

The Campbeltown was then exploded and took the port out of action for the rest of the war.

Every year since their daring raid, Falmouth has remembered the actions of the brave men who took part.

This year's memorial will start on The Moor to assemble at 10am for light refreshments before departing for a march to Prince of Wales Pier at around 11am.

There will be a service at the pier with a two minutes silence and wreath laying at 11am before the parade reforms and makes its way back to The Moor at around 11.20.

A wreath laying ceremony will also be held at the graves of leading seaman WA Bill Savage VC MGB 314, Tom Parker LDG motor mechanic RN and Johnny Johnson at 8.45am in Falmouth Cemetery.

This will conducted by the town mayor's chaplain Father Ian Froom.

The Packet will be covering the parade on the day.

There will also be a separate memorial service led by the HMS Ganges association in Mylor Churchyard at 10.30am on Saturday March 16. 

Sir James Burnell-Nugent, the group's chairman, will be visiting along with around 25 other members from around the country.