Every year Falmouth Town Council commemorates the Raid with a parade through the town from the Town Hall to the memorial at the Prince of Wales Pier, where a service is held. Normally taking part are the Mayor of Falmouth and the Town Council, Falmouth Branch Royal Naval Association, other veterans associations, the St Nazaire Society, the St Nazaire Raid Memorial Trust and in 2025 schoolchildren from St Nazaire, France.
The original memorial was erected on Fish Strand Quay – the site where Campbeltown was moored and sailed for St Nazaire. In the ensuing years the area became a car park. It was here that ceremonies took place as it was a big enough venue to accommodate the many who wished to attend. In recent years this original memorial has been moved to be part of a larger memorial on the Prince of Wales Pier. It has been positioned so when viewing it is pointing in the direction of St Nazaire.
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- Able Seaman Bill Savage VC
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- Original Memorial
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- The words …..
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- Prince of Wales Pier
Pre Raid 1942
13th March:
Lt Col Newman leaves London for Falmouth, Cmdr Ryder having left a few days earlier.
12th – 19th March :
Training Programme for A/S Sweep.
Vessels proceed to Falmouth and manoeuvres take place between these dates, returning to Falmouth following all exercises.
19th March:
HMS Campbeltown, MGB 314 and MTB 74 are present in Falmouth.
21st March: All available forces sail from Falmouth arriving off Plymouth Breakwater after sunset for a full scale rehearsal of the attack on Devonport Dockyard. HMSub Sturgeon used as a navigational beacon. The force returned to Falmouth the following morning.
Thursday 26th March: Chariot flotilla leaves Falmouth for St Nazaire.