Commando

by Hosker, Griff

  We were the second section to arrive. We knew that the others all liked to beat us. We were known as the lucky section. We had not lost any of our men and we had had the greatest success thus far. Corporal White said, "Don't worry lads; we'll show them on the way back. Let them have their moment of glory. It will be brief!"

  We spent the day using the damaged buildings to hone our techniques. It was a perfect place to practise; it was military and we were not under observation. We took it in turns to be the German guards and then the Commandos attacking. Both were good exercises. When I was German guard it enabled me to see a raid through their eyes.

  At the end of the sessions the Captain gathered us together. "The Germans have begun to shell Dover from France. They are using heavy guns which can fire over twenty five miles. The RAF is trying to find them. If possible they will bomb them and end the danger. However if they cannot do so then we will be sent in to do the job. That means we might have to be in Occupied Europe for a day. We will spend tomorrow with the maps of the likely areas and become familiar with them." He pointed at me. "Private Harsker was in the area after the retreat. I, for one, will be picking his brains over this one."

  Lieutenant Reed rubbed his hands, "Back to the meeting room. The Women's Institute have promised us tea and cakes!"

  We were not as fit as we had been and some of the men were suffering on the way back. I saw an impatient Sergeant Dean noting those who straggled in some time after the rest of us. Daddy Grant, who had only recently recovered from the beating, was well ahead of some of them. Even in an elite force like the Commandos there was a disparity in the ability of some of the men.

  Once again we worked behind closed doors. We had many maps and photographs of the region. Captain Foster arrived an hour after we had started examining the maps. He had been briefed by senior officers. "It seems that the Germans have four guns and they are built in new concrete emplacements. The RAF is sending Wellington Bombers in tomorrow to try to destroy them. There is one fifteen inch gun south of Gris Nez and three eleven inch guns at Gris Nez itself."

  Lieutenant Reed asked, "Were you in that area, Harsker?"

  "Yes sir. There are cliffs there. Further south, towards Boulogne itself there are a few sandy coves and then there are some closer to Calais but Gris Nez is like the White Cliffs of Dover. The beaches and sand dunes are a mile or so away from the headland."

  Captain Foster nodded, "That marries up with what we have seen on the aerial photographs. I am planning, if we have to go, on taking just two sections: Sergeant Johnson's and Sergeant Green's. I will lead one and Lieutenant Reed the second. These missions will require stealth and not numbers. I think one of the problems we had with Freya was too many cooks. I want those two sections to familiarise themselves with the terrain. The other four sections can come up with a plan to disrupt the railways guns. They are further inland. At the moment they are a nuisance but they could become a larger problem in the future.."

  We discovered that the Captain would be leading our section. Sergeant Johnson said, "I am not sure we would need to spend too long over there, sir. They look to me to be on the coast. We nip in and nip out again."

  "That is the plan but the MTBs cannot hang around. The Germans have radar there. We have to have a contingency plan in case they are delayed in getting back to us."

  My heart sank. I had been lucky enough to escape once; a second time might be asking too much. The three of us went back to our digs. Daddy was an observant man. "You are worried about something aren't you, Tom?"

  "We know that there are thousands of German troops in Boulogne and in camps behind the coast. It is an invasion army. It isn't as though they are a few tired old guards. If they find out we are there then they will be all over us like fleas on a dog. When I escaped the last time there were just a handful of Germans and even then we nearly didn't make it."

  We locked the front door behind us. "Then we shall have to make sure they don't find us. I think that is why the Captain is just taking one section. This is one objective which has more chance of success with a tiny number of men and our section is the best."

  The Wimpey bombers did not damage the concrete structures. We saw the aerial photographs and their bombs had pockmarked the grass and the land around them but the bombs had not been big enough and they hadn't even scratched the concrete. The barrels were still there and the guns were still firing. The two teams were separated from the rest so that we could share ideas. Lieutenant Command Trimble joined us.

  "The MTBs can drop you easily enough but you are quite right, Captain Foster, they cannot hang around. How long would it take you to do the job?"

  "We would have to assume an hour, perhaps longer to reach the guns. Then we would have to overcome the guards and lay the charges."

  "Sir, the moment we take out the guards then we will be on the clock. How can we damage the guns?"

  "TNT in the breech block." They all looked at me. "It wouldn't have to be a big charge and a gun cannot fire if there is no breech block. We can delay their pursuit by laying booby traps." I nodded to the Captain, "They worked in the Low Countries, sir. It would buy us time to escape."

  He nodded and said to the Lieutenant Commander, "Three hours, possibly four, that would be the time we needed."

  "I can get Lieutenant Herd to return after three hours. It might be possible to hang around for a wee while if things are quiet." He paused, "If they are not then we cannot risk an MTB. You might be stuck there and that would mean, for the duration."

  "I know. We will just have to get in and out silently then." The next two hours were spent in detailed planning. One of the unusual things about Commandos was that we were all involved in the planning process. When I had been in the 1st Loyals I just followed orders. When we became separated we were lost. That would not happen with the Commandos. The Captain was keen for us to share our ideas and to know what the overall plan would be. He knew we could find ourselves isolated. I showed all of the others how to rig booby traps using Mills Bombs. We had all had the same training on explosives but my background in engineering meant that they deferred to me in that area of expertise. All of the others could rig the TNT if anything happened to me. And this time I would need my Thompson machine gun. With just eleven of us we needed every man and every gun we could take.

  The RAF tried a second raid with the same results. That night we heard the sound of many German aeroplanes overhead. The air raid siren had gone but we had deigned the shelters. If it was our time then so be it. As it happened they carried on west. We later found out that the Germans had begun to bomb London. It was the beginning of what was termed the Blitz. The Germans would bomb London day and night for the next few weeks in an attempt to cow the capital into surrender. It would not work. The next day we were given our orders. Sergeant Johnson came in and he was beaming, "It is on. We go tonight. Get your gear aboard the MTB!"

  We hurried down to the boat. Above us more German aeroplanes were seen heading west. The port's anti-aircraft guns popped away at them. It seemed inconceivable that they could miss such a massed target but miss they did. Not one German aeroplane had to turn back.

  As we lay in the sun waiting to leave, Corporal White said, "I reckon the Germans could come over any time. These big guns can defend the straits and make it impossible for our ships to sail between the Channel and the North Sea. If they stop our navy then we are lost."

  Bill had his pipe going and he shook his head, "The Navy is here, Corp and we will stop them. We sank the Bismarck didn't we?"

  "Aye but it took our biggest, best and newest ships to do that and we still lost the Hood. They have the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau not to mention the Bismarck's sister ship the Tirpitz."

  "Oh ye of little faith."

  "Anyway what I am saying is that our little effort here is important."

  "I agree with you there Corporal. I wonder why your officer isn't taking more men?"

  Daddy threw his cigarette stub over the side. "They would get in t
he way. If Tom here hadn't placed his charge the last time then we would have failed. There were three other sets of explosives but there were just too many men. Everyone thought everyone else was doing it. This way we are a tight team. I know your Navy is reliable well this section is too. We will get the job done."

  "I hope so because those guns are making that part of the Channel into Hellfire Corner! It isn't safe for anyone."

  As afternoon drew on we set sail. This time we waited below decks as Captain Foster had more information to give us. "The Germans are building more of these emplacements. If we have time we are to find out where they are. Perhaps the bombers can do something while they are being constructed. Lieutenant Reed and his men will take the single gun and they should have time to search to the north. With three guns to deal with we may be pushed for time."

  Once again we heard the drone of German aeroplanes as they continued to pound London into submission.

  "Right lads black up."

  The MTB's engines were slowed down to almost an idle and we knew that we were getting close to the French coast. "Lights out."

  We turned off the lights so that our eyes would become accustomed to the dark and we would not give away our position when we went on deck. After five minutes the hatch opened and the bosun said, "Right sir, get your lads on deck. We are here. All ashore that's going ashore!"

  Lieutenant Herd hissed, "Bosun!"

  "Sorry sir."

  The tide times had been calculated and we were taken in by the tide. The barely throbbing engines just kept our way. Sean leapt into the water followed by the Sergeant and the Corporal. I was the fourth man to brave the choppy sea. I pushed against the surf and then dropped to one knee as soon as I reached the sand. I had the Thompson levelled in case of danger. We had landed just four hundred yards from the cliffs. To our left was Wissant. Although we were on the opposite side of the port from the one where we had stolen the boat I recognised the land. I looked to the cape and saw that it would have been too difficult to scale. The inland route was safer. As we waited for the others to land I wondered why there were no beach defences. There was not even any barbed wire. Perhaps Herr Hitler thought it was unnecessary and that we were a beaten people. He was wrong.

  Daddy tapped me on the back as he came past me and I ran after him, tapping Sean on the way. There were a number of deserted buildings on the shore. They had been part of the seaside attractions in happier days. One looked to be a bar while the other an ice cream parlour. We used them for cover. I turned, with my back to the former bar, and I could barely make out the MTB which was backing out to sea. We were on our own now. Just then I heard voices and I waved to the others. We scrambled around to the side of the bar. I took out my knife. If we used our guns then the mission would have failed before we had even started.

  They were Germans, "Sepp, you are hearing things! Oberlieutenant Manstein will not be happy that we have left our post."

  "I tell you I heard an engine!"

  "And where is it?" I suddenly realised that our footprints were clearly visible in the wet sand. If they looked down our goose would be cooked. The two Germans walked towards the sea and the incoming tide. "Shit! Now I have wet trousers! Back to the guard hut, you idiot."

  I heard their voices recede. Their voices were dimmed for the sound of the surf masked them. Percy slithered around to the end of the bar and then waved us forward. We had been lucky. We could have been seen. Although we could have taken out the two Germans sentries, the guns and their crews were just a few hundred yards away and the gun fire would have alerted them. We saw a flicker of light as they opened the door of the hut they were using as a guard room. It was at the end of the road which led to the beach. We ran silently past the hut. Our rubber soled shoes made no sound on the sand covered road.

  Percy darted through the gap in the fence and we entered the field which lay below the cliff. The ground rose steadily and steeply up to the cliff. We could now see the glistening barbed wire which they had placed on the landward side of their gun emplacement. There must have been a barrier of some sort on the side of the emplacement which met the road but we had to cross the fields and negotiate the barbed wire. I hoped that it was not mined. The first two men used their wire clippers and took out a section of barbed wire ten feet across. It seemed to take forever and yet I know that it was moments only. It took four of us to shift it. We could not afford any noise at all.

  We knew that the guns were ahead but the aerial photographs had not given us any idea of the other buildings. They had been well camouflaged. We moved cautiously. Sean tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the cliff. There was a machine gun post and I guessed sentries within. It was less than fifty yards from us and we could not risk them turning. Captain Foster pointed to Sean, Percy and Daddy. He pointed to the machine gun and drew his hand across his throat. They put their Thompsons down and moved towards the machine gun. It was tempting to watch them but we had to identify where the barracks was. There would be up to forty men operating the three guns and we could not afford a fire fight. My eyes had adjusted to the dark and I saw the prefabricated barracks building. Suddenly there was a flash of light as one of the Germans came out. Their blackout curtains soon covered the light. I heard the sound of water and I knew what was happening. He could not be bothered to go to the toilet and was relieving himself outside. There was a brief flash of light again and then we heard the door slam. Percy and the others joined us and nodded. When I glanced over at the machine gun post I could still see the Germans. They had been killed and left in position. To a casual observer they would appear to be on guard still.

  Having identified the barracks and eliminated the cliff top threat we headed to the cliff. There had to be an entrance to the gun there. We moved quickly. Harold and Dick formed a rear guard to watch our backs Suddenly the first huge concrete gun emplacement was before us. There were two of them. One had one gun and the other two. We saw the massive barrels peeping out. Sean and I ran ahead and reached the concrete bunker while the others watched for danger. We moved to the rear of the emplacement. There was a metal door. We knew that it was a new structure and I hoped that the door would open smoothly.

  I held the door and nodded to Sean. I flung it open and he raced inside. It was pitch black which I took to be a good sign. It meant that it was unoccupied. The only danger would be if someone was asleep within. We moved through the racks which were stacked with shells. Then I saw the two guns. They were huge. I left Sean to wave the others in. They would keep watch while I did my job. I took off my Bergen and began to take out the charges. I had four. I placed one in each of the two breeches and put the Cordtex and Safety fuse in the TNT. The timers were new ones. They looked like a rather large watch. They were battery operated. I hoped they worked as well here as they had during training. I did not attach the wires. That would be the last job I would do.

  I tapped Daddy on the shoulder and he followed me back out of the emplacement. Sergeant Johnson and Percy were in the second emplacement. Here there was just one gun. I put the charge and fuses in the breech. Leaving the three of them I went back to the Captain. He would decide when we were to explode them. We had been in Occupied France for an hour and a half so far. It would take half an hour to return to the beach. We did not want to be waiting there when the guns were destroyed.

  I nodded to the Captain. And we waited. While I waited I put my last charge next to the shells. That filled some time and then I joined the others and I watched the hands on my luminous dial move slowly around. Sean and the Captain were close to the shells. I went to the breech. We could not speak and we dared not move around too much. If a shell was knocked to the ground in the dark then it would be a disaster. We pressed as far back into the shadows as we could. It proved to be a wise move for the door suddenly opened and I heard a German voice, "Who is in here?"

  I realised that there were two shadows. I heard a gun being cocked. "It is me, Sepp. Oberlieutenant Manstein thought he left his binoculars i
n here. Come and help me look."

  I heard the German laugh, "You should have brought a torch you idiot."

  "I thought there was one in here but I can't find it."

  The other German laughed, "It is in the locker under the barrel of the gun. I will show you."

  The two sentries came towards me but they were both dead within five paces. The Captain and Sean saw to that. Their knives were sharp and we were well trained. We did not have the luxury now of time. The Captain held both his hands up three times, thirty minutes. It was the work of a moment to attach the timer and set them. I did the one by the shells and then returned to the single gun. As the four of us left the emplacement I estimated that we would be on the beach when the guns went off and the MTB would be twenty minutes away.

  We had to move cautiously around the barracks and it took time to move the barbed wire back into place. I was acutely aware of the passage of time. We needed to be on the beach when the guns went off. We also had to move silently when we neared the beach. More German sentries might be on patrol. The tide was still high and we did not have as much beach. We waited. I gripped my Thompson tightly. I might have to use it in anger for the first time since we had fired on the E-Boat. The Captain also had a watch with a fluorescent dial. He kept glancing at it. Although the timers we had used were accurate I knew that, as I had set them in the dark, there was a risk that I could be out a minute or two either way.

  The Captain waved us to our knees. Nothing happened. Every eye turned to me. Had I done something wrong? Had they discovered the charges and defused them? Suddenly there was a crump from above us. The cliffs hid the guns from us but a column of fire leapt out into the dark. A moment later there were another three crumps and then an explosion which announced that my charges had ignited the shells. We heard cracks and explosions as shells went off. Corporal White took out his Aldis lamp and began to flash out to sea. Lieutenant Herd had to have seen the explosion, surely he would be on his way to pick us up.