NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008 13
Remembering men with Dash
T
WO Royal Navy warships took part exhibitions of self-sacrifice and devotion to the Bismarck; his Swordfish is credited with airfield, gloomy skies. It was not a good day. The
in moving commemorations of one
duty the war had ever witnessed.” damaging Hitler’s flagship. contrast could not have been greater.”
of the bravest – and most tragic
Sixty-six years later to the day, They were joined by relatives of Lt Cdr The Channel Dash Association was formed to
– episodes in the history of the Fleet
minehunter Ledbury and Cambridge Esmonde, local dignitaries and the Rev honour the men of 1942 and to erect a statue
Air Arm.
university training boat Raider sailed Peter Adams, who led a service of in their memory at Manston – today a civilian
Under glorious skies HM Ships Ledbury and
from Dover and Ramsgate respectively remembrance. international airport.
Raider lolled over the spot where six Swordfish
and converged in the Channel off With the wreaths laid and prayers The aim is to install a full-size statue of a
torpedo bombers had charged against three of
Deal with a pilot boat and a Dunkirk said, the four craft returned to Swordfish as a permanent tribute to 825 NAS in
the most potent warships in the German Navy 66
‘small ships’ veteran, Sundowner, for a port and guests and sailors retired front of a museum which celebrates the former
years ago.
memorial service with members of the to Ramsgate RNA for lunch and airbase’s Spitfire and Hurricane heritage.
All six were shot down and the German heavy
Channel Dash Association. presentation of numerous mementoes. It’s expected to cost £150,000 and more than
ships – Prinz Eugen, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
Survivors of the Dash were few in “There were some incredibly brave two thirds of that sum has already been raised.
– reached the safety of home waters after breaking
number in 1942 – of the 18 Swordfish crew, stories and one thing we learned from The association’s vice patron is legendary
out from Brest.
just five were plucked from the Channel – but 66 speaking to Lt Cdr Lee was that the Dash brought record producer Sir George Martin (the man
The ‘Channel Dash’ as it became known was
years later, three are still with us and two were about a revolution in co-operation between behind The Beatles), who trained as an observer
seen initially as one of the most embarrassing
able to attend the ceremony. the three Services,” said Lt Mark in Swordfish and was taught aerial gunnery by
episodes in British naval history by the media.
Guest of honours at the wreath laying were Headley, HMS Raider’s CO. CPO Don Bunce, credited with shooting down a
But newspapers of the day were quick to
former observer Lt Cdr Edgar Lee – also a survivor “What was striking particularly Focke Wulf 190 on the day of the Dash.
praise the bravery of the fliers of 825 Naval Air
of HMS Ark Royal’s sinking was the difference between “Sadly, he was unable to attend – he had to go
Squadron who set off on what was effectively a
in the Mediterranean in 1942 and 2008. to the Grammys instead. As excuses go, that’s a
suicide mission.
1941 – and Telegraphist/ “There we were on a pretty good one,” said Lt Headley.
The antiquated Swordfish ran into an umbrella
Air Gunner Les Sayer, fine day, enjoying glorious You can read more details about the appeal at
of modern German fighters protecting the
a veteran of sunshine. In 1942 there www.channeldash.org
warships. Their leader, Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde,
the attack on was snow on the
● ‘There we were on a fi ne day, enjoying glorious
earned the Victoria Cross.
sunshine...’ HMS Raider follows HMS Ledbury
The futile attack was, said Admiral Bertram
into the Channel for the memorial service for
Ramsay, architect of the Dunkirk
men of 825 NAS
evacuation and Normandy Picture: Peter Nixon, Channel Dash Association
landings, “one of the finest
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