‘Ask most people about the Battle of Britain, and they will think of the Spitfires and Hurricanes of RAF fighter command in combat with the German Luftwaffe over southern England in 1940. History books will often also mention Bomber Command carrying out raids on the French and Belgian ports where the Germans were assembling the fleet of barges and small craft to be used to transport German troops across the Channel in Operation Sealion.
The Royal Navy of course were also on standby waiting to repel any invasion attempt. But it is hardly ever recorded that the Navy also made raids across the Channel in September and October 1940 to attack and bombard these ports, showing complete control of the Channel at night-time. They were following a long tradition of the Royal Navy taking the fight to the enemy coastline and ports. One of these ships had performed a very similar service in WW1, and there were 3 attempts to carry out a form of fireship attack which had worked so well against the Spanish Armada almost 400 years earlier.’
This episode was written by Simon Cains.
Simon’s father-in-law served in Royal Navy minesweepers during the 1950’s, and his 3rd great grandfather was guarding the coast during the 1779 attempted invasion of England by France and Spain. He enjoys battlefield tours and alternative histories, and has recently retired giving more time for researching and writing.
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