Cockleshell Canoes,those who served so we may be free,yet another sailing boat of note,
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Marking the 66th anniversary of the daring raid by the Cockleshell Heroes, this new and unique display explores the untold story of the British Military Canoes of World War II.
During the war approaching the enemy coast had to be done in secret and canoes were the ideal tool. Difficult to spot and easy to hide, canoes could be used to land and collect special agents, launch attacks and seek out possible landing places; whilst collapsible canoes could be carried and launched from submarines.
The display brings together three of the rarest military canoes of the time. The oldest, the Mark 2, was made famous by Operation Frankton in December 1942 which was the basis for the film The Cockleshell Heroes. The 'Cockleshell Heroes' were Royal Marine Commandos who got their nickname from the canoes that they used which were known as ‘cockles.’ The other two canoes are unusual in that they were built of aluminium for use in the tropics.
Captain George Hogg, Museum Trustee says “The significance of this display is that it spans the development of military canoes during World War II, from the first to the last, from wood and canvas to sectional aluminium types. There is a great deal still to be learnt from these canoes and I look forward to the response from the public.”
The complete story of the World War II British military canoes can be read in the recently published book The Cockleshell Canoes by Quentin Rees.
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