- Type of Memorial
- Stone of remembrance
- WMR Reference Number
- 26100
- Description
- Stone of remembrance with an inset plaque surrounded by seven concrete plinths, all with metal plaques and the lettering in black. There are 5 crosses set in the quay which carry the names of the 5 men awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during the raid. The whole is set on the quay.
- Inscription
- Stone of remembrance: OPERATION CHARIOT/ FROM THIS HARBOUR 622 SAILORS/ AND COMMANDOS SET SAIL FOR/ THE SUCCESFUL RAID ON ST NAZAIRE/ 28TH MARCH 1942. 168 WERE KILLED,/ 5 VICTORIA CROSSES WERE AWARDED/ DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF/ THEIR COMRADES BY/ THE ST NAZAIRE SOCIETY
1st plinth: HMS/ CAMPBELTOWN/ STRUCK THE/ DOCK GATE WITH/ SUCH FORCE/ THAT HER BOWS CRUMPLED/ BACK AND PROJECTED ONE/ FOOT BEYOND THE INNER FACE./ LT. COMMANDER/ BEATTIE TURNED TO/ CAPTAIN MONTGOMERY/ WITH A SMILE AND SAID/ "WELL, THERE WE ARE."/ LOOKING AT HIS WATCH,/ HE ADDED"FOUR/ MINUTES/ LATE."
2nd plinth: ALL/ DEMOLITIONS/ AT THE FORME/ ECLUSE HAD BEEN/ COMPLETED./ THESE TARGETS INCLUDED/ THE TWO CAISSONS,/ WINDING HOUSES AND/ MACHINERY, INNER CAISSON/ AND THE PUMP HOUSE; ALL HAD/ BEEN DESTROYED./ REQUESTED PERMISSION TO LOOK/ FOR BILL PRITCHARD RATHER THAN/ EMBARKING AND WAS TOLD BY THE/ ADJUTANT TO LOOK AT THE RIVER./ THAT WAS MY FIRST INKLING THAT/ ANYTHING HAD GONE/ WRONG WITH OUR PLAN./ Lt. Colonel Bob Montgomery MC
3rd plinth: LIEUT./ HILLS IS/ LYING ACROSS THE/ CARLEY FLOAT UNCONSCIOUS/ DYING OF THE WOUNDS./ WE DESPERATELY STEER/ THE FLOAT BETWEEN THE LAKES/ OF BURNING FUEL./ SHELLS ARE HITTING THE WATER./ CORPORAL BROWN, WOUNDED,/ IS HANGING ONTO ME./ A GERMAN/ SEARCHLIGHT/ IS TRACKING/ US. Eric dela Torre MBE/ 3 Commando.
4th plinth: TO/ COMMEMORATE/ THE REDEDICATION/ BY HRH THE/ PRINCE OF WALES/ AND THE DUCHESS/ OF CORNWALL/ ON 11th JULY/ 2008.
5th PLINTH: YOUR/ SONS ARE THE/ SONS OF/ FRANCE. THEIR/ MEMORY/IS HALLOWED./ Jean Guitten Croix du Combattant,OBE.
6th plinth: WELL/ CHAPS, WE'VE/ MISSED/ THE BOAT/ HOME WE'LL/ HAVE TO/ WALK./ Lt. Colonel A.C./ Newman, VC.
7th plinth: OF/ ALL THE/ OPERATIONS/ I WAS INVOLVED DURING THE/ WAR, IT IS/ WITHOUT DOUBT/ THE RAID ON/ ST NAZAIRE/ WITH WHICH I AM MOST/ PROUD TO HAVE BEEN/ ASSOCIATED. IT IS ONE OF/ THOSE ENTERPRISES WHICH/ COULD BE ATEMPTED ONLY/ BECAUSE IT SEEMED/ IN THE EYES OF THE/ ENEMY TO BE/ ABSOLUTELY/ IMPOSSIBLE./ Earl Mountbatten of Burma KG