Falmouth the 82nd anniversary of the St Nazaire Raid

A large contingent paraded from The Moor in Falmouth led by the band of the HMS Seahawk followed by local dignitaries, service personnel and veterans.

St Nazaire Memorial on Prince of Wales Pier (Image: Paul Armstrong)

A service was held before wreaths were laid at the St Nazaire Memorial on the Prince of Wales Pier.

The mayor of St Nazaire came over especially to lay a wreath (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Three students came over especially from St Nazaire and recited a poem led by their teacher while the mayor of St Nazaire also laid a wreath.

Three students from St Nazaire School read a poem (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Wreaths were also laid by the mayors of Falmouth, Helston and Penryn as well as Falmouth and Truro MP Cherilyn Mackrory.

The family of Johnny Johnson laid a wreath in his honour (Image: Paul Armstrong)

The family of Falmouth war hero of the St Nazaire raid Johnny Johnson, who was with 5 Commandos in the 1942 raid, also laid a wreath. Johnny was taken prisoner but returned home after the war.

The mayor of Falmouth Kirstie Edwards lays a wreath with her daughter (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Before the dismissal of the parade on The Moor there was a surprise presentation of a Royal British Legion Certificate of Merit to Bugler Bill Bishop.

Bugler Bill Bishop was presented with the recognition by Brigadier Jock Fraser RM (Image: Paul Armstrong)

The certificate is "Recognition of his Long, Distinguished and Loyal Service and Support to the Royal British Legion and Veterans in Cornwall.

The parade arrives back on The Moor (Image: Paul Armstrong)

It was presented by Brigadier Jock Fraser RM accompanied by Mayor Kirsty Edwards and RBL County Chairman Mark Bardsley.

Veterans march past (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Bill, aged 81, has been playing the bugle since he was first told to pick it up when he was just ten. His first official engagement was the Queen's Coronation in 1952 and he's never missed a parade when asked, since then.

Bill proudly shows off his certificate watched by former mayor Steve Eva who had to step in to carry the mace at the last minute for the first time ever! (Image: Paul Armstrong)

He told the Packet he didn't know anything about the award: "I was just shocked," he said. "I've been playing since I was ten and i'm 81 now and never missed a parade.

Cherilyn Mackrory MP and her daughter lay a wreath on the pier memorial (Image: Paul Armstrong)

"It was the Queen's coronation. We had a do on the park and they gave me a bugle. I said 'What do I do?' and the chap said 'you've got to spit down it'.  I could just walk round playing it and just never stopped."

These two wanted to get in on the parade too, joining the tail end of the march past (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Operation Chariot, the name given to the raid by Allied forces on the German occupied French port of St Nazaire and specifically its huge dry dock, was one of the most daring, courageous episodes of World War II.

A cheeky look! (Image: Paul Armstrong)

The British destroyer HMS Campbeltown, accompanied by 18 smaller craft, left Falmouth at 2pm on 26 March 1942, crossed the English Channel to the Atlantic coast of France and rammed into the Normandie dry dock south gate.

Making the salute on the pier (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Out of 611 Commandos who entered the Saint-Nazaire harbour, around only 200 succeeded in landing at the docks. All but 27 were either killed or captured, 22 escaped back to Britain in motor Torpedo Boats and five escaped to the Spanish border.

The band of HMS Seahawk lead march past on The Moor (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Five Victoria Crosses were awarded to men involved, in what has become known as the greatest raid of all.