GBG Member Paul Oldfield recently visited the site of the raid on the coast of Northern France. It is often described as being the first Combined Operations action involving all three services
Paul writes:
Many will know about the raid in February 1942 the objective being to capture a Wurzburg radar set (code named HENRY) However,not many Guild members will have visited the site. Those who do probably drove to the beach and viewed the site from the memorial looking north
Picture 1
The more adventurous will struggle up the cliff path seen between the centre and right flagpoles,to look over the radar site and the foundations of the Villa (LONE HOUSE) that stood just out of sight over the clifftop. Those who do so in reasonable weather and in daylight as I did, will wonder how the raiders managed to get down this very steep path in ammo boots at night pushing/pulling overloaded weapon trolleys with their captured radar parts together with their wounded over ground covered in slippery snow.....and oh yes! they were under fire too!
I guess few venture on to the evacuation beach itself
Picture 2
Clearly this depends upon the tide and it isn't advisable to try and climb the cliffs, but a short walk is rewarding. Picture 2 illustrates the harsh beach conditions that the landing craft had to face in reaching the shore. The sea wall is post war. The memorial is visible half way up the opposite cliff.
I would also advocate driving round to look at the cliff top site from the northern end close to Cap d'Antifer lighthouse. Park on the last right bend before the lighthouse. Ignore the first set of bunkers (they weren't there in 1942) and walk south along the cliff top, but not too close to the edge as it is very crumbly and its a long way down to the sea! Very shortly a concrete Freya radar base comes into view.
Picture 3
The foundations of the Villa which was the radar control station(code name LONE HOUSE)and close to the Wurzburg radar array, are on the horizon just to the left of the Freya radar base with a distant mast beyond it. This illustrates just how close the two radars were to each other. On the left is the edge of the wooded farm complex(RECTANGLE)from where the main German opposition developed. The Freya radar was not a target of this raid. The Wurzburg array was, as its performance was unknown to the British. This view is looking south towards the objective.The Freya radars are marked on the map.
Picture 4
Another short diversion takes you to the RV just off the Drop Zone. From it (Picture 4) and looking west there is a fairly good view of the LONE HOUSE position left of centre on the horizon and the route the attackers took to get it. RECTANGLE is on the left. Also visible in the centre just below the skyline is the bank mentioned in some accounts where the RE dismantling party and Flight Sgt Cox sheltered while the opposition was being cleared. The photo is taken from Drop Zone RV and marked as 'Forming Up Point' on the map
Picture 5
The remains of the LONE HOUSE. Burnt out in the raid and demolished by the Germans after the raid so it could not act as a ground/air marker. A new Wurzburg site was set up within the Freya site near the lighthouse.
Picture 6
LONE HOUSE as seen from a photo recce sortie which picked up the existence of the radar in front of the Villa
Picture 7
Looking towards the Freya site which can be seen in front of the lighthouse at Cap D'Antifer. The photo is taken from the site of LONE HOUSE
A visit to Bruneval repays the effort handsomely and is a wonderful early example of a successful combined operation. Members should read John Frost's account of the action in his book 'A Drop Too Many'
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