A ceremony honouring the incredible bravery of hundreds of sailors and commandos who set off from France during World War Two on what was thought to be a "suicide mission" was held in Falmouth on Sunday.

Commemorating the 77th Anniversary of Operation Chariot, ‘The Greatest Raid of all’, senior military officers, council officials and members of the public gathered at the St Nazaire memorial on Prince of Wales Pier.

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Falmouth and Penryn Sea Cadets. Picture by Kathy White

They were joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and the Mayors of Falmouth, Penryn and Helston, as well as the Royal Naval Regional Commander, Brigadier Jock Fraser Royal Marines ADC OBE, to remember the audacious raid.

On March 26 1942, a bright, sunny day, HMS Campbeltown accompanied by 16 motor launches packed full of commandos and escorted by two destroyers, departed Falmouth with the intention of blocking the St Nazaire docks and rendering the port unusable by the German Navy and the Battleship Tirpitz for maintenance and repairs.

The raid was successful and Campbeltown, packed with explosives, rammed the dock and exploded, destroying the gates and knocking the giant dry dock out of action for the rest of the war.

Ensuring that the large German warships, that were attacking allied trade routes would have to rely on bases in North Germany, thus leaving Tirpitz vulnerable to attack whilst going through the narrow entrance to the Baltic.

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Meanwhile, the commandos transported in the motor launches landed and destroyed dockside installations as well as demolishing much of the infrastructure around the port.

However, the cost of the raid was high. Of the 611 commandos and sailors who took part in Operation Chariot, 169 were killed and 200, mostly wounded, were taken prisoner.

Only 242 returned to Falmouth after the raid. Some of the dead lie in cemeteries in France, some were brought home to England, others have no known grave.

Only four of the motor launches made it home. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded, two of them posthumously.

“It is an honour to join the annual service of remembrance in Falmouth in commemoration of Operation Chariot the St Nazaire raid,” said Brigadier Fraser. “Widely known as `The Greatest Raid of All’, this commando raid holds a special place in the heritage of our nation’s commando and amphibious forces.

“The dedication of the St Nazaire Society and Falmouth Town Council has once again enabled us to reflect together on the courage and commando spirit displayed by the 611 men who undertook the raid and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"The service this year was particularly poignant as we prepare to also commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day amphibious landings this summer.”