A tribute to Royal Marine James Conway on the corner of Wellington Road South and Edward Street.
The plaque reads.
James Conway
Stockport's Cockleshell Hero
23ed August 1922 - 23rd March 1943
Royal Marine James Conway was a milkman
from Edgley in Stockport. He volunteered for
Commando Raid Operation Frankton in December 1942.
James set out with Lt John Macinnon in 'Cockle' canoe
'Cuttlefish' from HM Submarine Tuna with 8 other Royal
Marines to paddle 100 miles to Bordeaux in German occupied
France. Their mission was to place limpet mines on blockade
running cargo ships. Five ships were sunk without loss of
life to French civilians.
The commando raids greatly boosted Allied marale at
a dark and difficult time of the Second World War
These Royal Marines became known as the
Cockleshell Heroes and the raid was described ny
Lord Louis Mountbatten as 'The most courageous
Commando raid of the war'
The Royal Marines were aware that there was little chance of their
safe return. Eight of the ten men died on the mission. Captured,
Interrogated and executed aged just twenty, James remains a
vital part of the legend that became The Cockleshell Heroes.
As wrote in his last letter home James chose to
risk his life in an effort to
'make a decent and better'
James's name in Stockport War Memorial and Art Gallery.
All photographs by Chris Gleave.
No comments:
Post a Comment