The Cockleshell Heroes: the extraordinary World War II story of when the Allies sent canoes to attack German ships

Who were “Blondie” Hasler and Bill Sparks?

They were both from naval families – but their backgrounds were very different. “Blondie” Hasler’s father had been an officer and was killed during the First World War. He had grown up in a privileged world. He was inventive, and designed his own canoes. Bill Sparks was an amateur boxer whose father was a stoker. He idolised his older half-brother Benny, who played for Arsenal football club. Benny also served in the Navy. When his ship was torpedoed, he was killed. Heartbroken, Bill signed up for “hazardous service”. That was how he found his way on to “Blondie” Hasler’s Royal Marine commando unit.

How did Hasler prepare his recruits?

The men trained at Southsea in Hasler’s custom-designed canoes, known as “cockles”. They were made of plywood with waterproof canvas stretched over a rib structure. Two men could sit in one. They were light and manoeuvrable, but unstable – if a cockle capsized and took on water, it could not be righted. The men trained intensively in the cockles, building upper body strength. They studied the layout of docks, how to use limpet mines, night navigation, and camouflage techniques.

What was their mission?

The mission was so secret that the men were not told about it until they boarded a submarine in Glasgow and sailed for the Bay of Biscay. The idea was that twelve of them, in six canoes, would be dropped off in the sea. They would row seventy miles to Bordeaux over the course of four nights, hiding under camouflage nets during the days. Once they were in the port, they would plant limpet mines on German ships. One man asked how they would get out afterwards. Hasler told him: “We’re going to walk across with the help of the resistance through France. And escape through Spain.” This was so dangerous that the men knew they would probably not be coming back. They wrote final letters home to their loved ones.

What did the men take with them on this mission?

They had warm clothing, cigarettes, food rations and water, as well as fighting knives, pistols and limpet mines. Each also carried an amphetamine to help stave off exhaustion.

How many cockles made it to Bordeaux?

Disaster struck immediately: one cockle ripped as it left the submarine. This meant two men had to stay behind – so the squad was now ten men in five canoes. As they neared the coast of France, Hasler heard the rumble of a tide race – a fast-flowing tidal current. Amid waves up to eight feet high, one cockle disappeared. Then, another capsized. As they all knew, it could not be righted. Hasler tried to tow the capsized cockle with the men holding on to it, but it was impossible. All they could do for the two men in the water was give them rum to ease the pain of hypothermia.

“Try to get to the shore and hide up,” Hasler told them. “Then make your escape across land.” He knew this was impossible, and added, “I’m terribly sorry.”

“That’s all right, sir,” said one of the men. “Thanks for all you’ve done. And good luck.”

The remaining six men in three canoes made it to the estuary leading towards Bordeaux – but as they rowed through searchlights, the men heard a shout, then silence. One more cockle was lost.

Did the remaining cockles plant their mines?

Yes. On the night of 11 December 1942, the two remaining cockles slipped into the port of Bordeaux. One of these contained Hasler and Sparks. They planted their mines, then were caught in a torchlight by a German lookout. But their camouflage worked, and the lookout lost sight of them.

Did the men escape?

Four men from two canoes survived the mission. But it was too conspicuous to travel across occupied France as a foursome. They split into pairs. One pair was captured and handed over to the Nazis. The other, Hasler and Sparks, spent three months with the resistance making their way through southern France, over the Pyrenees, and into Spain. When they reached Madrid, they were brought to the British Embassy.

When did they get back to Britain?

As an officer, Hasler was flown home in April 1943. A few weeks later, Sparks arrived by troop ship at Liverpool. He was escorted to London by military police. At Euston Station he escaped his handlers and went straight back home to the East End. His mother opened the door and almost fainted – she had received a telegram months before telling her that he had been killed in the operation.

Did the operation work?

Yes. When the limpet mines exploded, there was chaos at the port. Six ships were damaged. Several sank. Winston Churchill later claimed that the operation helped shorten the war by six months.

Were Hasler and Sparks honoured for their bravery?

Both men were invited to Buckingham Palace. King George VI awarded Sparks the Distinguished Service Medal.

In the 1950s, film producer Cubby Broccoli – later famous for making the James Bond movies – turned their story into a fictionalised film called The Cockleshell Heroes. The film starred José Ferrer, Trevor Howard, Anthony Newley and Christopher Lee.

Sparks spent years campaigning for a monument to his fallen comrades. In 1983, to his great satisfaction, one was raised in Dorset.