Exclusive Channel Dash Prints

Prints for sale:          1.   "Chance Encounter"                                                             2.  “Operation Fuller” – “The Channel Dash”

 

Limited Edition Prints:         100 Copies only.

 

Price:                                  £50:00  each. P&P extra

 

Canvas prints                       £95.00  each. P&P extra

 

For Orders Contact:              Channel Dash Chairman

                                                Mr. Peter Nixon.

                                                189, Ramsgate Road

                                                Broadstairs,

                                                Kent. CT10 2EW

                                                Tel:  01843 860242

Email: chairman@channeldash.org

 

Some signed prints are available (10 plus signatures) £85:00 per print 

(phone for details)

 

All proceeds from the sale of prints will be added to the funding for the Channel dash Memorial Trust Monument to be erected in Dover and planned to be unveiled during 2012, the 70th Anniversary of “Operation Fuller” – “The Channel Dash” The Monumentt will commemorate all units from all three Services that took part in the action.

 

The first Channel Dash Memorial Trust Monument was unveiled at Ramsgate, Kent, on Friday 12 February 2010 and commemorates the outstanding bravery displayed by the 18 Fairey Swordfish aircrew members who took part in “Operation Fuller”.

 

 

“Operation Fuller – The Channel Dash”

12 February 1942

 

 

 The first three of six Fairey Swordfish led by Lt. Cdr. Eugene Esmonde DSO commence their combined attack with six Motor Torpedo Boats from Dover commanded by Lt. Cdr. Nigel Pumphrey against the German Battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau accompanied by the Cruiser Prinz Eugen with an escorting fleet of destroyers, Flak ships and E-boats and air support of over 250 Luftwaffe fighter aircraft.  All six Swordfish were shot down and of the eighteen gallant airmen only five were rescued alive from the dark cold waters of the Dover Straits.  For his valiant attempt Lt. Cdr. Esmonde was awarded a posthumous VC.  The six Motor Torpedo Boats, although damaged by shells from the German ships and aircraft, managed to limp back into Dover Harbour.

 

The artist R.J. Mitchell was a young 19 year old Telegraphist serving on MTB 48 during the Channel Dash and is shown standing on the deck to starboard of the bridge with a rifle.

CHANCE ENCOUNTER

World War II -12 February 1942

 

 

 1020 hrs Squadron Leader ‘Bobby’ Oxspring [1] and his number two, Sergeant Roland ‘Bee’ Beaumont take-off from Hawkinge on a ‘Jim Crow’[2] reconnaissance sortie over the English Channel.   Some minutes later they stumble on three battleships below them, the SCHARNHORST (the flagship of the German Battle Fleet), the GNEISENAU and the PRINZ-EUGEN, heavily escorted by ‘E’ Boats and destroyers and an umbrella of Luftwaffe fighter aircraft.

 

Since breaking out from the Brittany port of BREST in German Occupied France, the German Battle Fleet, totally undetected and unmolested had been at sea some 14 hours (4 in daylight!); 360 miles completed, only 200 to go to the safety of their home port in Germany.  The puzzled German Admiral Ciliax feared a trap had been baited ahead – he was mistaken ……!

 

Taken completely by surprise the British response was very slow and unco-ordinated.  However, the valour and raw courage of the British Military who took part in the resulting failed action has gone down in the annals of British History.  The “Channel Dash”, as it became known, merits alongside such gallant failures as the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava.

 

Victories are often forgotten.  Glorious failures – never!

 

 [1]  Squadron Leader R W ‘Bobby’ Oxspring CO 91 Squadron, Jan 1942 to July 1942.

[2] ‘Jim Crows’ name given for the specific task of carrying out patrols to intercept enemy aircraft coming in over the coast.