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The following details are taken from the London Gazette of 15th June, 1945 : On 28th March 1942 H.M. Motor Launch 306 was heavily attacked while proceeding up the river Loire in the raid on St Nazaire. Sergeant Durrant in charge of a Lewis gun in a completely exposed position engaged enemy guns and searchlights on shore. He was severely wounded in the arm but refused to leave his gun. Later when the launch was attacked at close range by a German destroyer, Sergeant Durrant fired cooly and continuously at the destroyer's bridge drawing on himself the enemy fire and suffering many further wounds. When so weak that he had to support himself on the gun mounting, he went on firing until his gun was silenced and the enemy boarded the motor lauch and took prisoner those still alive. This very gallant and skilful N.C.O. died later of his wounds.

In Memory of 1874047 Sergeant Thomas Frank Durrant VC
Royal Engineers and No. 1, Commando
who died age 23 on 28 March 1942
Remembered with honour at Escoublac La Baule Cemetery.

Follow this link to read more about Thomas Frank Durrant Recommended by the Enemy]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:49:58 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/16670-9/Tom+Durrant+VC.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/Sgt+Tom+Durrant.JPG.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/Sgt+Tom+Durrant.JPG.html
[Photo courtesy of Bernard Petitjean.]

The following details are taken from the London Gazette of 15th June, 1945 : On 28th March 1942 H.M. Motor Launch 306 was heavily attacked while proceeding up the river Loire in the raid on St Nazaire. Sergeant Durrant in charge of a Lewis gun in a completely exposed position engaged enemy guns and searchlights on shore. He was severely wounded in the arm but refused to leave his gun. Later when the launch was attacked at close range by a German destroyer, Sergeant Durrant fired cooley and continuously at the destroyer's bridge drawing on himself the enemy fire and suffering many further wounds. When so weak that he had to support himself on the gun mounting, he went on firing until his gun was silenced and the enemy boarded the motor lauch and took prisoner those still alive. This very gallant and skilful N.C.O. died later of his wounds.

In Memory of Sergeant 1874047 Thomas Frank Durrant VC
Royal Engineers and No. 1, Commando
who died age 23 on 28 March 1942
Remembered with honour at Escoublc-La-Baule War Cemetery.
In album Sergeant Thomas Frank Durrant VC, No.1 Commando]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:00:41 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+7.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+7.jpg.html
Page 7 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+8.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+8.jpg.html
Page 8 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+9.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+9.jpg.html
Page 9 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+10.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+10.jpg.html
Page 10 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+11.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+11.jpg.html
Page 11 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+1.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+1.jpg.html
Page 1 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:16:04 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+2.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+2.jpg.html
Page 2 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+3.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+3.jpg.html
Page 3 of the draft copy of an article about Sgt Durrant VC written by John Mewett
In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:26:30 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+4.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/Tom+Durrant+VC/VC+draft+for+journal/Recommended+by+the+Enemy+4.jpg.html
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In album Recommended by the Enemy - A draft copy for the Victoria Cross Society Journal]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:16:04 +0000