5 Troop No1 Commando
On the night of 28th Sep 1941 65 men of 5 Troop No1 Commando took part in a twin raid against the coast of Northern France, code named Operation Chopper and Deepcut. One raiding party landed at Luc sur Mer (Chopper) and suffrerd a number of casualties including two killed, these were Pt Elwyn Edwards and L Cpl Cyril Evans. The other raiding party landed at St Vaast Bay (Deepcut) and ambushed a German cycle patrol. I have recently been contacted by the nephew of Elwyn Edwards (Dr Len McDonnel) who has carried out a great deal of research in to this raid, through this research he has been able to positively confirm that this photograph is in fact of the St Vaast raiding party as they are about to disembark from the landing craft after the raid. Hugh Maines is approx mid way in the LC, at the end of the middle row, bare headed and looking up. Dr Donnel has stated that this photo is actually part of a sequence of four photos taken by the Medical Officer of the raiding support ship Prince Leopold. I am hoping to get copies of the other photos of the St Vaast raiding party in the very near future.
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