Cockleshell Heroes

[Oz]

G'day


Just watched the film 'Cockleshell Heroes' - 1955 and thought it deserved a mention. Although i was aware of the story i hadnt seen this film and really enjoyed it.

Film aside i believe that all 12 of those men showed the great qualities that make a man : Courage,determaination,honor and humour in the face of adversity and i felt really proud to be selected to start training to earn that green beret and join a force such as the Royal Marine Commandos.

You know these current times are testing for a number of western governments and there armed forces with growing discontent within the public but some people forget the great history and heroes that these units and regiments have produced and i feel for one honored and humbled to start the long climb in less than 4 weeks.{ i understand some people dont like posts not to do with training and fitness issues but i think it deserves a mention}

Regards

Oz

Never forget the men before us

[Brian-]

I watched it too, can't stop whistling A Life On The Ocean Wave now...

[TheWedge]

I watched a bit too. I thought I reckonised the buildings and I realised it is where the Royal Marines Museum is in Portsmouth as I went there a few weeks back.

[Hankins]

Yea i caught the end of that movie and i thought it was decent, it was the first i heard of that event, although my question is, was that the start of the SBS, or was that just strictl marines?

[Rover]

Gentlemen,

Please go to the Special Forces Forum.

Scroll down to about a quarter of the way on page two.

Here you will find; Special Boat Service New Cap Badge,
Look at pages 1 and 2, an exchange between Chunky and myself covers the start of the SBS.

The start of what was the Royal Marines Special Boat Service can be traced back to the "Cockleshell Heroes". Otherwise known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment, under Major 'Blondie' Hasler RM.

The Royal Marines Special Boat Service passed into history on the 18th November 2003.

Hope this helps.

Rover

[Chas]

The film was not factual. Visuals however were good. Music was terrible.
However in general the Corps was presented in good light and there was
much comedic amusement. To get the facts read the book. However the
film pays tribute to some exceedingly brave men and we should salute
them.

[sneaky beaky]

I watched the film too.
Very disapointing, I thought. Although I had watched it umpteen years ago I had forgotten how the film had made the RM's going through training look like utter idiots and although some of us later guys were still complete prats at times, it was nothing like the film made out.
The film did not use the real names of the guys involved. And there is no way a Captain (administrator) would get on to the mission to take the place of a guy who was injured.
The final straw for me was the scene where they actually attacked the ships!!
They did not use frogmen to place the limpets.!! They were slid down the side, from the canoe, using a long pole!!
I was privilleged to meet the two sole surviving members of that raid, "Blondie" Haslar and Bill Sparkes. Blondie died quite a while ago. He went to a sort of celebrity status while doing a scientific search to prove the existence of the Loch Ness monster. Nothing was found but he did approach the task with sonar etc. He was quite a remarkable man and I think he can rightly be called the founder of the SBS. In much the same way that David Stirling can be called the founder of the SAS.
Bill Sparkes was a much quieter man. (He was a Marine, Blondie was a Major). He was Blondies canoe partner for that raid. I saw him only about five(?) years ago at a mess dinner at Poole. It was shortly before he died. Another remarkable man.
The film did not do them justice. And I do not mean just the surivors but all who took part.
Sneaky

[Chas]

Sneaky,

You know of me. Even doubted my veracity on another forum which amused me.
To refresh your memory the business with Neil G. MM, did not work out. You were correct.
Finally I hope you and Artist are now behaving at Cafe de Paris boxing venues.