Location
This memorial consists of two plaques, one on the front wall of No. 27 Worthing Road and the other on the front wall of No. 9 Spencer Road, both in Southsea.
Memorial (Spencer Road)
THE MEN WHO LAUNCHED THE COMMANDO
RAID ON BORDEAUX HARBOUR IN 1942 LIVED
IN THIS HOUSE WHILST TRAINING AT THE
LUMPS FORT AT SOUTHSEA. ONLY TWO
SURVIVED TO MAKE IT HOME, OF THE
OTHERS, TWO WERE DROWNED, SIX
WERE CAPTURED AND EXECUTED.
Inscription (Spencer Road)
THE OFFICERS WHO LAUNCHED THE
COMMANDO RAID ON BORDEAUX HARBOUR
IN 1942 LIVED IN THIS HOUSE WHILST TRAINING
AT THE LUMPS FORT AT SOUTHSEA. ONLY
TWO SURVIVED TO MAKE IT HOME,
OF THE OTHERS, TWO WERE DROWNED,
SIX WERE CAPTURED AND EXECUTED.
Further Information
These plaques were erected by Portsmouth City Council in October 2012, the 70th Anniversary of the raid.
When WW2 began No. 27 Worthing Road was the home of Mrs Leonora Powell whose husband was a member of the Royal Marines. At that time No. 27 was run as a Guest House called "White Heather", probably named after the Powell's daughter Heather who was 16 years old when the marines were billeted with them. Heather idolised her father and took it upon herself to look after the men in a way she hoped someone else may find themselves looking after him.
Heather developed a particular fondness for Robert Ewart and they formed a close relationship in the time they were together. Ewart lost his life in the raid which so distressed Heather that she died shortly after.
Further information:
Those who did not survive are remembered on the
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
and further details can be found by searching against their names at www.cwgc.org
See also the memorials to the Cockleshell Heroes,
On a gate to the Rose Garden
At the Royal Marines Museum
At the Cockleshell Centre
