66564 Lieutenant Victor Peter de Chatillon De Kock, South African Naval Forces. Served on H.M.S. Angelo. Son of Mr and Mrs V de Kock, of Onrust River, Cape Province, South Africa. Awarded the MBE for the rescue of a torpedoed merchant ship (London Gazette 16 June 1942), the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) during the Passage to Tobruk (London Gazette 17 Mar 1942), and Mentioned in Despatches during the withdrawl from Crete (London Gazette 8 Jan 1942). Missing in action, on a reconnaissance of the Southern beaches of Sicily, with Combined Operations Pilotage Parties. Also commemorated on Panel 83, Column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, England (see Find A Grave Memorial# 13290807) and on the Hermanus War Memorial, Western Cape, South Africa.
In March 1943, just a few weeks after the Hayling COPP depot was established, a team of 15 men was sent out on an ill-fated mission, to examine the southern beaches of Sicily. Canoes were transported to within half a mile of their target and then launched from submarines. Before launching they were loaded with the equipment, and then floated free from the partially trimmed submarine. Depending on the distance and the operating conditions the canoes were also often launched from small landing craft. The teams operated in pairs, the navy personnel normally doing the sea reconnaissance, and the army the on-shore military surveys. The army officer sat in the front cockpit with his navy paddler in the rear. They paddled to within a few hundred yards of the shore and anchored. The heavily equipped army man would then swim to the beach. Tragically, of the 15 men who set out, five were captured, five were lost, and only five returned to base. But lessons were learned, and ultimately thousands of Allied troops would owe their lives worldwide, to the dedication of the men of COPP.
In March 1943, just a few weeks after the Hayling COPP depot was established, a team of 15 men was sent out on an ill-fated mission, to examine the southern beaches of Sicily. Canoes were transported to within half a mile of their target and then launched from submarines. Before launching they were loaded with the equipment, and then floated free from the partially trimmed submarine. Depending on the distance and the operating conditions the canoes were also often launched from small landing craft. The teams operated in pairs, the navy personnel normally doing the sea reconnaissance, and the army the on-shore military surveys. The army officer sat in the front cockpit with his navy paddler in the rear. They paddled to within a few hundred yards of the shore and anchored. The heavily equipped army man would then swim to the beach. Tragically, of the 15 men who set out, five were captured, five were lost, and only five returned to base. But lessons were learned, and ultimately thousands of Allied troops would owe their lives worldwide, to the dedication of the men of COPP.
66564 Lieutenant Victor Peter de Chatillon De Kock, South African Naval Forces. Served on H.M.S. Angelo. Son of Mr and Mrs V de Kock, of Onrust River, Cape Province, South Africa. Awarded the MBE for the rescue of a torpedoed merchant ship (London Gazette 16 June 1942), the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) during the Passage to Tobruk (London Gazette 17 Mar 1942), and Mentioned in Despatches during the withdrawl from Crete (London Gazette 8 Jan 1942). Missing in action, on a reconnaissance of the Southern beaches of Sicily, with Combined Operations Pilotage Parties. Also commemorated on Panel 83, Column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, England (see Find A Grave Memorial# 13290807) and on the Hermanus War Memorial, Western Cape, South Africa.
In March 1943, just a few weeks after the Hayling COPP depot was established, a team of 15 men was sent out on an ill-fated mission, to examine the southern beaches of Sicily. Canoes were transported to within half a mile of their target and then launched from submarines. Before launching they were loaded with the equipment, and then floated free from the partially trimmed submarine. Depending on the distance and the operating conditions the canoes were also often launched from small landing craft. The teams operated in pairs, the navy personnel normally doing the sea reconnaissance, and the army the on-shore military surveys. The army officer sat in the front cockpit with his navy paddler in the rear. They paddled to within a few hundred yards of the shore and anchored. The heavily equipped army man would then swim to the beach. Tragically, of the 15 men who set out, five were captured, five were lost, and only five returned to base. But lessons were learned, and ultimately thousands of Allied troops would owe their lives worldwide, to the dedication of the men of COPP.
In March 1943, just a few weeks after the Hayling COPP depot was established, a team of 15 men was sent out on an ill-fated mission, to examine the southern beaches of Sicily. Canoes were transported to within half a mile of their target and then launched from submarines. Before launching they were loaded with the equipment, and then floated free from the partially trimmed submarine. Depending on the distance and the operating conditions the canoes were also often launched from small landing craft. The teams operated in pairs, the navy personnel normally doing the sea reconnaissance, and the army the on-shore military surveys. The army officer sat in the front cockpit with his navy paddler in the rear. They paddled to within a few hundred yards of the shore and anchored. The heavily equipped army man would then swim to the beach. Tragically, of the 15 men who set out, five were captured, five were lost, and only five returned to base. But lessons were learned, and ultimately thousands of Allied troops would owe their lives worldwide, to the dedication of the men of COPP.
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