Firefighters complete Cockleshell Heroes trip

The team of firefighters from the Portsmouth area who used kayaks to retrace the route of the Second World War Cockleshell Heroes team who used the little boats to undertake a mission to attack German shipping in Bordeaux. From left, firefighters Jasper Taylor, Tom Davies, and trainer Tom Burgess.
Picture Ian Hargreaves (161220-1) — The team of firefighters from the Portsmouth area who used kayaks to retrace the route of the Second World War Cockleshell Heroes team who used the little boats to undertake a mission to attack German shipping in Bordeaux. From left, firefighters Jasper Taylor, Tom Davies, and trainer Tom Burgess. Picture Ian Hargreaves (161220-1)

The Hampshire firefighters travelled the route of the 10 commandos who were dropped by submarine before canoeing into occupied France in 1942 to attach mines to enemy supply ships in Bordeaux. Only two of the heroes survived the treacherous journey.

The team completed it yesterday after taking on the challenge in four stages in fabric canoes.

Alex Rhodes, who is based at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Eastleigh, said: ‘It was a fantastic but quite tough few days which was made slightly more challenging by a storm which passed through our campsite.

‘The respect we feel for the Cockleshell Heroes is incredible, especially for the fact that they set off an what was essentially a suicide mission, they were told there was a good chance they wouldn’t return.’

The team has raised more than £6,000. To make a donation visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/CockleshellHeroes.