The Greatest Raid: St Nazaire, 1942: The Heroic Story of Operation Chariot

by Giles Whittell

' I loved this book , as I love any good adventure story sublimely told . . . a gloriously exciting high, followed by a crushing realisation of war's enormous waste' Gerard deGroot, The Times'Absorbing . . . The extraordinary bravery of the participants shines out from the narrative' Patrick Bishop, Sunday Telegraph_________________________________FROM THE AUTHOR OF BRIDGE OF SPIES : A dramatic and colourful new account of the most daring British commando raid of World War TwoIn the darkest months of the Second World War, Churchill approved what seemed to many like a suicide mission. Under orders to attack the St Nazaire U-boat base on the Atlantic seaboard, British commandos undertook "the greatest raid of all", turning an old destroyer into a live bomb and using it to ram the gates of a Nazi stronghold. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded -- more than in any similar operation.Drawing on official documents, interviews, unknown accounts and the astonished reactions of French civilians and German forces, The Greatest Raid recreates in cinematic detail the hours in which the "Charioteers" fought and died, from Lt Gerard Brett, the curator at the V & A, to "Bertie" Burtinshaw, who went into battle humming There'll Always be an England, and from Lt Stuart Chant, who set the fuses with 90 seconds to escape, to the epic solo reconnaissance of the legendary Times journalist Capt Micky Burn.Unearthing the untold human stories of Operation Chariot, Bridge of Spies author Giles Whittell reveals it to be a fundamentally misconceived raid whose impact and legacy was secured by astonishing bravery._________________________________' Enthralling . . . the heroism on display that night was unsurpassed , and Whittell is right to call his book The Greatest Raid ' Simon Griffith, Mail on Sunday' A compelling page-turner, the work of a master storyteller . The drama of the March 1942 operation is cinematic in its sweep and detail -- and Whittell's detective work on the real reasons for the raid is extraordinary. Beautifully written ' Matthew d'Ancona

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction, World War II, War

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 26, 2023

About the author

Giles Quintin Sykes Whittell (born 1966)[1][2] is an English author and journalist who has worked for The Times as Correspondent in Russia and the United States.

Whittell was educated at Sherborne School[2] and Christ's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1988).[3] He has worked for The Times of London since 1993, first as US West Coast Correspondent from 1993 to 1999 and later as Moscow Correspondent (1999–2001) and Washington Bureau Chief (2009–2011). As of 2019 he is the paper's chief leader writer.[4]

His books [5] include Lambada Country (1992), Extreme Continental (1994), Spitfire Women of World War II (2007) and Bridge of Spies, a New York Times bestselling account of the Cold War spy swap between Rudolf Abel, Gary Powers and Frederic Pryor on Berlin's Glienicke Bridge in 1962. The book was published in the US in 2010 and the United Kingdom in 2011.[6]

Reviews

[Peter Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Greatest Raid: St. Nazaire, 1942,” by Giles Whittell (Oxford, 2022). I’ve long known about this, mentioned almost in passing in WWII histories: British commandos ram an old lend-lease destroyer, HMS Campbeltown, into a massive drydock in St. Nazaire. Here is the why, wherefore, and how. It was the brainchild of Lord Mountbatten, seen as an impossible action but at least a way the British can show the Americans and the Soviets that they are still in the fight. There had been previous raids, but they were pinpricks. This one is a complex effort to destroy or disable the Normandie Dock, the one drydock on the Atlantic coast of France that could handle the biggest ships—specifically the Tirpitz, whose continued existence gives the British nightmares. So Campbeltown is stripped down of most of its gear; her bow is packed with depth charges squeezed tight in a concrete box; a team of specially trained troops (this is where the term “commando” comes from) is given particularly harsh training, and they set out across the English Channel with Campbeltown and two columns of wooden war vessels: motor gunboats and motor torpedo boats. They have to penetrate deep into the French port, running through narrow, shallow channels past heavily fortified positions, ramming into the dock and sending commando teams through the port blowing up machinery, destroying bridges, and generally creating havoc. By one account it is a great success. The Germans are taken completely by surprise. At first they think the flotilla is one of theirs. When they wake up to the attack the defenders are minimally trained coastal troops; it takes quite a while for regular combat troops to arrive. Campbeltown rams deep into the dock; the raiders try to raise hell. Most of them are killed or captured; only two or three of the gunboats make it back to England. But Campbeltown, seven hours late, explodes and destroys the dock; there are two more torpedo explosions from one of the attacking craft. The Germans are tremendously impressed with the professionalism and gallantry of the English; the English are greatly buoyed by the success. Churchill uses it to counter Stalin’s sneers that the British are not fighting. Several of the troops earn Victoria Crosses (most of them posthumous). It was a bloody triumph. Unfortunately, the English later decide to try again, at Dieppe. This time it’s a blood fiasco; but that’s another book.

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[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this raid story. I will be listening to it again very soon. The same author wrote the Bridge of Spies which I highly recommend.

The author questioned the wisdom of the raid because Hitler wanted to keep his biggest battleship safe but who is to say that he wouldn’t have changed his mind after having a dream.

If the battleship was used to destroy the shipping crossing the Atlantic out of the range of British bombers it might have been unstoppable.

Britain was starving and could not stomach the lost of shipping. The raid was used by Churchill to convince Stalin that he was fighting on the land and not just in the sea and the air. Lastly without some progress on the part of British to open a second front, Stalin might’ve made a second peace treaty with Hitler.

[Mr Michael R Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I received it as part of the ticket price when attending the authors talk on the book at the Falmouth Polytechnic.
As an ex RN and living in Falmouth I have always been aware of the raid and attend the commemoration parade every year.
Whittell’s book is a new slant on the story of the Greatest Raid, it is not an historians overview, nor is it an collection of participants memories, it’s more of a narrative set in three time periods.
You get a clear sense of what these men achieved, their courage and their conviction that right would overcome all.
It is a story that should not be forgotten.

[Nicola C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is well written and researched and the author recommends earlier accounts of the raid and Operation Chariot written when survivors were still alive.
A truly historic and incredible true story of heroism and sheer pluck to have a go where the enemy least expected it,even though there was concerns it would or could happen,the loss of life and casualties was high but those that took part and were able to live another day and those that were lost a debt of gratitude is forever owed as these were just normal men doing an extraordinary job in a time of great difficulty.
Heroes everyone of them.

[Julian Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author not only captures the tensions and excitements of this historic WWII initiative, but also vividly brings to life the characters, politics, and drama so well you can almost smell the cordite.

History told as it should be - at a fast pace and brilliantly written.

A tremendous read.

[John Garlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I know a fair amount about World War Two, I knew very little about the raid at St Nazaire. After reading this book I know a great deal about that action because it is detailed and well researched both in action and personnel.

[Will Fairey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic narrative of an incredibly inspiring event. One of many such heroic moments of the war, but this one really cuts deep into the characters that both devised and carried out such a remarkable raid.

[Paul R. E. Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. First hand accounts and expert narrative. If WWII is your thing, this book is for you.

[Miss Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father’s uncle was killed on the raid and I was very emotional reading this book even though I’ve heard the story many times. Courage, bravery and determination aplenty.

[Robbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing story which I new little about, I'd only heard about the Dieppe raid. For WW2 enthusiasts a must read

[Steven Dyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read and a good insight into the raid on St Nazaire in 1942.

[Aleksander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gripping, well-written. Feels too opinionated at times, but I wouldn't know if the author is right or not.

[Robert Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book especially as I am an ardent WW2 reader. However, I found the story to be unclear amd at times ambled on needlessly. Very disappointing.

[RDax Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the CL Phillips account years ago, and it was good to read an updated version with the luxury of time past. The history is easy to read, and I still marvel at the bravery of the men involved. How this has not been made into a recent film is beyond me. For those decrying modern-day ANTIFA, read about the originals and how they tackled the threat of fascism. Read it.