Two of my school teachers, just after the war , were captured by the Japanese and severely tortured. One escaped from Java. They told us of their exploits and how many died whilst they survived. I remember them regularly and understand they wanted the next generation to understand the need for peace and democracy. This Remembrance day I shall think of all my teachers and family who served and pray for better times.
Yep. Gotta dust off the old beret and my sewn RCR cap badge. Had to get it off my faded Belgian beret and back on to standard crap Issue green beret. It’s been a dozen years. Don’t mind standing in the rain at a cenotaph. At least they won’t hear me coming, lol. 🇨🇦
Had a teacher that escaped Hungary in ‘56-always good for an eye-opening conversation. In the mid-90s, I used to play chess with a vet in Fort Wayne, Indiana who was a Marine captued on Corregidor. He was a Jap POW for 4 years and learned to play chess with finger bones as pieces. (Wasn’t a big fan of MacArthur either…for obvious reasons.) But he let me help him take his American flag down in the evenings i was there and we folded it properly and with proper solemnity. That generation is never going to repeat itself. I was the first Canuck or officer he let handle his flag. I will never forget the honour. Also, the uncle of a friend who was a kid in a Japanese internment camp in the Dutch East Indies-not sure which island…but the tales were harrowing.
Sigh. Not pure. Wearing civilian clothes OR the uniform of your enemy instead of your uniform is a war crime called perfidy. Anyone caught committing perfidy is subject to summary execution under the Geneva Conventions. The same applies to spies. These men were war criminals. In the United States, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 states that anyone who uses perfidy can be punished by death or other punishment, depending on the outcome. Summary execution is illegal in military law under almost all circumstances. However, there are some exceptions in emergencies and perfidy in warfare.
They did not attack a battle cruiser or something. The attack was on merchant vessels manned by civilians; what a petty target to risk life and limb for.
I'm from Queensland , Australia. Z forces trained on Fraser Island just off Hervery Bay. There is a plaque on the sea front explaining what these brave guys trained for. As a kid I must have read that Plaque a 100 times, just dreaming of what they did. RIP brave commando you are always remembered.
When I went to Tech in Cairns in1969, the "House on the Hill " was still there. A sword bearing the MZ diamond patches was out front. I believe the building has since burnt down.
A dozen years later, my Dad volunteered for a small op in the Suez ‘crisis’. Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Gurkhas in 4-man teams. He never spoke of it until just before he died in 2022. I imagine it will come to light but i’ve had no luck getting beyond Queen’ Bn 22 regiment SAS
A dozen years later, my Dad volunteered for a small op in the Suez ‘crisis’. Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Gurkhas in 4-man teams. He never spoke of it until just before he died in 2022. I imagine it will come to light but i’ve had no luck getting beyond Queens’ Bn, 22 regiment SAS, 1955
The Krait was berthed at Church Point for years forgotten about. I used to fish next to it as a kid. My dad had told me the story about it & I was always in awe of it. Thankfully it was it was rescued & repaired before it was too late & now has a fitting home. Fond memories of that old boat as a boy 🙂
Wow. I'm still in awe. I wonder when it left church point. The Krait vets are absolute champs and heroes of a strength of character we almost could not imagine today.
Just how old are you. It looks more and more that technology is truly making you young one absolutely stupid. Go back to school and really learn something damn something damn ijit.
Well…THEY had no casualties. But as usual when the Japanese military was frustrated… they took it out on the locals. There is a reason the Japanese are still hated and distrusted in Southeast Asia.
Coda to this story. A year later, Ivan Lyon led a second raid on Singapore, Operation Rimau. They were within 80 km of Singapore when their luck ran out. Their Chinese fishing vessel encountered a Japanese patrol vessel that challenged them. Cover blown, they took out the vessel and beat a retreat. Over the next four months the commandos hopped islands attempting to escape. All of them were either killed, or captured and then executed. Lyon was the first to be killed while fighting a rear-guard action to protect his men. We shall not forget their sacrifices.
Thanks for the video - this remarkable operation deserves to be much better known here in the UK. These men were true heroes and should be household names...
There's a movie called "The Heroes" made in Australia about it. I remember thinking it was great when I watched it last... will have to watch it again.
As an Aussie I was unaware of this massively ballsy effort ( and I worked in defence science with some out there guys back in the 70s). I actually know a Russian who worked on mobile SAMs and his group shot down Gary Powers. He was a Jew who was born in Kiev in Oct 1940. His mother took him to beautiful downtown Siberia to escape the warm and sensitive Wehrmacht and Ukranian anti-Semites. He escaped in the 1980s via Israel to Australia. We get on the piss every October to trip down memory lane.
One way to reduce the amount of unrelated footage would be to show the journey on a map so we can get a sense of the journey and the distances--2,000 miles while showing unrelated footages. TIt would have been SO easy to show the journey on more detailed maps, but the maps briefly shown were either useless or of barely any use at all. Why not show the journey of both craft with dotted lines--AT LEAST! A second craft was introduced but not shown where it was, it's journey, and what was going on with the main craft. A timeline could have been shown depicting what was happening where with the two craft. It was quite a journey to be able to get a good sense of without maps. Then "three days of island-hopping" such an easy thing to show a map of. And if you don't have access to the actual route and islands, just show the layout of the vicinity. You could also show locations of enemy strongholds, harbor layout, etc. In fact, there is SO much more that could be very easily added to eliminate all the useless stock footages that we must endure. For example, at 10:00 you begin to describe a complex night operation while showing unrelated daytime images. It would have been SO easy to create timeline maps showing the routes with the things you describe of the trip and raid. Instead, while discussing the actual tension-filled raid, we are shown ridiculous footage of a canoe being carried through what appears to be a Canadian forest--twice (so far)! And I'm just halfway into the story. In fact, the continued footage of guys paddling canoes through a NorthAmerican forest got to be SO effing ridiculous I could hardly contain myself from ceasing to watch this ridiculousness any longer. Then you describe the routes of the three canoes at night while continuing to show canoes in a North American forest. Jeeze, couldn't you muster the effort to draw us a map? Please put a little more thought and effort into these. I've got five and a half minutes left to watch and I don't want to make this any longer. (Ok just got to the end and the commemorative plaque mentioned crew that were lost but this wasn't mentioned in the narration--what happened?). And it wasn't a "move," it was a mission. And what's with the harbor mine? That had nothing to do with the story either.
@@ae4164 first time seeing channel not a fan but just found it amusing that someone has so much to say without doing anything themselves. I hope you have a great Christmas
@@Ducksalot-v7h Must be hard work never ever not once criticizing anything without having personally done the same thing better. Odd that you call it "Christmas" when obviously you must have always just known it as your birthday, no?
“Cockleshell Heroes” - is the film of the 12 SBS that used a submarine to be dropped off in their canoes. Only 2 that actually survived their operation, the rest being drowned, capsized, murdered by the Germans. There was a pair that had to stay behind on the submarine as their Klepper Canoe was damaged during its removal from the torpedo hatch. A very good friend that’s a archaeologist/conservator was asked by former Royal Marine Commando/SBS member and former British politician Paddy Ashdown, for her to examine the damaged canoe some years ago, to clear up any doubts of deliberate damage to the canoe but as she said later it wasn’t sabotage but bore the marks from the metalwork in the submarine torpedo loading system, instead of a Fairbairn & Sykes dagger cut. It’s a shame it couldn’t have been cleared up properly a lot sooner as it would have been a question hanging over the heads of the two that couldn’t even set off - in those days any hint of cowardice would follow your career no matter what you went on to achieve. It was one of the earliest missions (the SBS being formed a bit earlier than the SAS) and led by Blondie Hasler and his sergeant they managed to complete the mission into occupied France and were able to escape by walking into Spain (that takes bimbling to a different level and might be one of the earliest/longest yomps ever)
According to an episode of World War Weird some years ago these limpet mines had a strange aspect. To create a delay of about 5 hours before exploding each mine had an aniseed ball placed next to the detonater. Once these had dissolved the arming mechanism would set off the main charge.
Many Australian soldiers and islanders served in z special force. They were coast watchers, stationed on the islands, behind Japanese lines, they reported Japanese troop and ship movements. Many were caught and executed by the japanese, but many survived, and played a crucial role in the fight against the yellow peril.
These brave soldiers risked everything in their pursuit of duty. for their country, and we of the modern war free generation owe them more than we can ever offer. With our deepest appreciation and respect, many will have died, if not all of them by now, but we stand in awe at their bravery, and we salute every last one of them,
This sounds loosely similar to the movie "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warefare" Which was based on a true story of an operation similar to this, but against the Germans.
Men such as these still exist, although they are fewer and farther between.... But those men were the very antithesis of the types of men who would become units like the SAS, Rangers, SEALS, and other such specialized units who risk everything to strike at the Enemy in defense of their Country, Homes, and families.... God Bless America, and our Allies, and the men and women who serve them....
Err,sorry but antithesis means opposite. Howabout archetype ? Which means original pattern or model. I just looked up epitome, which I thought meant the same thing. Only to find it means a short summary. Problem is,nobody teaches Greek and Latin anymore. And learning words by context usage is a slippery slope.
Actually, you are dead wrong. As a person who served in the RAF REGIMENT. There wasn't a man who wouldn't have volunteered for such a jaunt. It's a mixture of courage and daring lunacy that we all had. Everyone has it
@@paulmanson253 I thought it was "the essence of " So my bad.... But my point was there aren't as many around who would volunteer for such duty now (in 2024 ) as back then.... And I'm talking the general population, not out of those in service in Special Forces already.... Let's face it, that takes a Patriot, and there aren't as many of us around any more.... But then the leadership we had back then, and what we've had lately doesn't compare that would bring that out in our people as much anymore.... It's hard to give our blind devotion to a government that has been caught over and over again LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH to "We the People" so blatantly as we have by our leadership (Especially the DemocRATs) lately.... Especially since JFK's assenation in the 60s.... Not to Mention, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King.... And since the WOKE MOB took control over our Culture it's really been crazy, like up is down and left is right....
@PhilipFear In a word,yes. The fathers of the kids I chummed with as a kid,were,almost to a man,WW2 combat veterans. Us kids were in awe of them. Steven Ambrose the historian remarked on the men he used to go hunting with. Ditto. Comparing them to the weasels of the current crop of wannabes,yuck. Civilization actually has a pretty thin veneer. Which few understand. And a significant percentage of current adults seem determined to wreck it. All of a sudden,that whole period,from the death of the Grachhi to the ascension of Augustus, that incredible period of Rome,has a resonance I never expected. Not in this culture, not in my lifetime.
Tomorrow is November 12, 2024. It is Veteran's Day, in the USA. To all veterans: Thank you for your service. No one truly understands the sacrifice of your unselfish service, unless they have been through your experience, to protect America, and the Constitution of the United States of America.
He has explained before that some video is purely indicative- only to assist in the flow of the story. So you're right but they had native garments as well.
@@pipclements316as an intermediate historian 😂 you can gain some insight from video's and documentaries which I've found appealing but real history wasn't made with a camera, it was recorded in books. Books are where you'll gain so much more insight and it's unburdened by the constant stream of people changing the history and how they interpret thing's or skew things based on their own biases. They cost a bit yes BUT Youll get it directly from the source. Tacitus, Livy, Sen Augusta, Clyestenies even Marcus Aurelius's writings are mostly in their words. Plus you don't have distractions from your phone.
I met a few of the z force men when i was younger and a lady involved in the organisation, i think they also used to use the house on the hill in Cairns
Years ago, i met a woman who was in a Japanese prison camp when she was young. Her family ran a business on an island that was taken over by Japan. The town was fenced in as a prison camp. They were hungry, and for her sixteenth birthday they boiled and ate a cat that they had caught as it went across their compound. She said it was their best meal ever.
Not just the tropics, old son. Singapore is literally bang on the bloody Equator. Darks impeccable record of attention to the accuracy of its visual content can only mean one thing. The ambient nocturnal Temp must have dropped from 36 deg C and 95% humidity to 35.5 deg C and 98% humidity. I would also be reaching for my Balaclava and duffel coat under such changed circumstances. Hope no one caught a chill.
Krait has good lines, especially for a work boat. Clearly capable as she transited the South Pacific , which requires a good vessel. She’s kept at the Australian National Maritime Museum in beautiful working condition and is free to board if you’re in the neighbourhood. Thanks for the story. BTW, it’s pronounced Ko-foo-coo. Ma-roo. Kofuku Maru. Maru is a word used as a designator on Japanese commercial vessels, meaning circle but in English we would probably say “ship”.
The Krait, the actual very same vessel that took both crews from Australia to Singapore, twice, is stationed at the Australian National Maritime Museum, in perfect working order, ready to go and do it again if required.
The raid is inspired by the Cockleshell heroes raid carried out by the Royal Marines. Hence the use of Folboats as they were Royal Marine Commando kit. The journey however was significantly more dangerous. Australian units were part of the larger Imperial Army and did not operate independently so the combining of UK and Australian forces was the norm.
There is a photo in the Australian War Memorial collection showing Krait moored at Timor behind a party accepting the surrender of the local Japanese garrison at the war's end. The Raiders were the start of Z special force which carried out a number of raids in the region. One of the later members was a Malay pearl diver from Broome. His language skill and local knowledge were invaluable. After thexwar he returned to Broome where he was a leader in a strike against the companies exploiting Malay and native labour. As a "reward" for his service because deported.
It took a lot for the men involved to not get publicly recognized for their exploits at the time , but being who they were , they knew what they have done was rewarding enough . Even though they did get the recognition later . A hell of a crew . I doubt any are still with us to this day , but if there are , my respect gentlemen . If not , R.I.P. soldiers and may God take care of you .🙏
I the orthorites should of took it right up to the japs and let them know as much as they could that it was only a handful of very very brave ausies that kicked there arces and not all the inosent people that died while being suspected of the raid wrecken it would hurt for them to have more egg on their faces knowing it was only 6 men that caused so much damage not forgetting the backup team
Seeing that barnacle encrusted mine reminded me of a time when I was sailing back from Hawaii and spotted what we took to be an old mine. Looked just like that.
It was a brilliant and brave operation, however, The raid took the Japanese authorities in Singapore completely by surprise. Never suspecting such an attack could be mounted from Australia, they assumed it had been carried out by local saboteurs, The local civilian operation and some interned POW's paid the price for the raid's success.
The British also did this against German shipping in a French port called Operation Frankton. They also had a sentry looking down on them, luck was with both. BTW, "Operation Jaywick was followed by Operation Rimau. Although three ships are sometimes claimed as sunk in this raid, no corroboration of this has ever been found and in all likelihood no vessels were sunk; but the participants, including Lyon, were either killed in action or captured and executed."
I was once told a tale about Royal Marine Comandos using canoes to put lympet mines on ships in Toranto harbour timed to explode when the Swordfish arrived. I believe the gentleman who told me about. I also know the Brits like keeping things classified for ever. Ive been called an idiot for believing it. One commenter said the mines were too heavy for canoe!?!? I'd give my left testicle for some form of confirmation.
The movie “The Wackiest Ship in the Army!” was based on this Operation. It was a Comedy, staring Jack Lemon. Also the British tried this kind of operation again only using a Submarine in place of surface ship. The Raider’s were caught and killed sadly.
No, that movie was based upon the real USS Echo and is totally different from the MV Krait. The followup operation on Singapore involving a submarine was Operation Rimau - all operatives were either KIA or were captured and eventually executed approx 1 month before the Japanese Surrender!😢 Unfortunately a lot of the operatives from Operation Jaywick were also involved in Operation Rimau in which all were lost!!!😢
“Cockleshell Heroes” - is the film of the 12 SBS that used a submarine to be dropped off in their canoes. Only 2 that actually survived their operation, the rest being drowned, capsized, murdered by the Germans. There was an extra pair that had to stay behind on the submarine as their Klepper Canoe was damaged during its removal from the torpedo hatch. It was one of the earliest missions (the SBS being formed a bit earlier than the SAS) and led by Blondie Hasler and his sergeant they managed to complete the mission into occupied France and were able to escape by walking into Spain (that takes bimbling to a different level and might be one of the earliest/longest yomps ever)
i remember seeing the krait way back 50+ yrs ago or there abouts it docked in the clarence river in our town i think it was on tour of east coast AUS..i was about 10 back then and iv never forgoten the story of the krait
Anybody know where Dark Seas got the thumbnail for this video? I recall it as being from a doc that was quite good, I'd like to see it again but I have no recollection as to the name or who made it. Thanks.
first someone sees them just below their ship and never raises the alarm then a patrol boat pulls up alongside but doesn't recognize them as being in disguise and never speaks to them. luckily the enemy was incredibly incompetent
I was stationed at Exmouth, WA, where the ship was modified. It isn't the edge of the earth, but you can see it from there. The sandbags of old defensive bunkers around the lighthouse are still there. OK, they have turned to sandstone, but you can still make out the weave of the canvas bags they used. We all knew it was active during WWII, but never heard THIS story. Very cool story.
I have seen this ship. I think it was on a dock in Sidney Harbor, or maybe Cairnes. It was memorialized with a plaque. It was great to hear the full story. It is not big at all. It would have been tossed about during high seas.
Great respect for the men. Not for the people who made the video. What does the incidental music contribute? Stock footage of Mk 14 mines. What had they to do with the operation? Why the phoney white flecks around the 17 minute mark? Stock footage of fishermen in foul weather gear suitable for the North Sea. Why?
At 1.37 there are 2 flags on the screen. One is a Japanese Rising Sun flag and the other appears to be two horizontal zig zag lines . Do you know what this is ?
I'm not sure that a good full length movie could be made. OTOH there are plenty of other untold stores like this one, so maybe someone could take several of them and make a movie that has several 'subplots' so to speak.
Two of my school teachers, just after the war , were captured by the Japanese and severely tortured. One escaped from Java. They told us of their exploits and how many died whilst they survived. I remember them regularly and understand they wanted the next generation to understand the need for peace and democracy. This Remembrance day I shall think of all my teachers and family who served and pray for better times.
Good Grief, it's only two days away. I've got to remember to put out my American Flag on my front porch.
Yep. Gotta dust off the old beret and my sewn RCR cap badge. Had to get it off my faded Belgian beret and back on to standard crap Issue green beret. It’s been a dozen years. Don’t mind standing in the rain at a cenotaph. At least they won’t hear me coming, lol. 🇨🇦
Had a teacher that escaped Hungary in ‘56-always good for an eye-opening conversation. In the mid-90s, I used to play chess with a vet in Fort Wayne, Indiana who was a Marine captued on Corregidor. He was a Jap POW for 4 years and learned to play chess with finger bones as pieces. (Wasn’t a big fan of MacArthur either…for obvious reasons.) But he let me help him take his American flag down in the evenings i was there and we folded it properly and with proper solemnity. That generation is never going to repeat itself. I was the first Canuck or officer he let handle his flag. I will never forget the honour.
Also, the uncle of a friend who was a kid in a Japanese internment camp in the Dutch East Indies-not sure which island…but the tales were harrowing.
There is more war heroes in schools than in the actual military, amazing
and thats why Donald Trump. ❤😂❤
Pure, unadulterated bravery. Respect.
Sigh. Not pure. Wearing civilian clothes OR the uniform of your enemy instead of your uniform is a war crime called perfidy. Anyone caught committing perfidy is subject to summary execution under the Geneva Conventions. The same applies to spies. These men were war criminals.
In the United States, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 states that anyone who uses perfidy can be punished by death or other punishment, depending on the outcome.
Summary execution is illegal in military law under almost all circumstances. However, there are some exceptions in emergencies and perfidy in warfare.
✌️✌️🇬🇧🇬🇧💪💪🇬🇧🤨👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
@@elessartelcontar9415 Get over yourself. These men were in no way war criminals.
@@elessartelcontar9415 Timeline was 1943! So stick to something you know about! Not your wondering comments about 1943!
They did not attack a battle cruiser or something.
The attack was on merchant vessels manned by civilians; what a petty target to risk life and limb for.
I'm from Queensland , Australia.
Z forces trained on Fraser Island just off Hervery Bay.
There is a plaque on the sea front explaining what these brave guys trained for.
As a kid I must have read that Plaque a 100 times, just dreaming of what they did.
RIP brave commando you are always remembered.
When I went to Tech in Cairns in1969, the "House on the Hill " was still there. A sword bearing the MZ diamond patches was out front. I believe the building has since burnt down.
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍✌️💪🇬🇧🇬🇧
A dozen years later, my Dad volunteered for a small op in the Suez ‘crisis’. Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Gurkhas in 4-man teams. He never spoke of it until just before he died in 2022. I imagine it will come to light but i’ve had no luck getting beyond Queen’ Bn 22 regiment SAS
A dozen years later, my Dad volunteered for a small op in the Suez ‘crisis’. Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Gurkhas in 4-man teams. He never spoke of it until just before he died in 2022. I imagine it will come to light but i’ve had no luck getting beyond Queens’ Bn, 22 regiment SAS, 1955
@@axeguy3856 Peter Wright mentions that in his book "Spycatcher". A really good read. Still banned in the UK I believe.
The Krait was berthed at Church Point for years forgotten about. I used to fish next to it as a kid. My dad had told me the story about it & I was always in awe of it. Thankfully it was it was rescued & repaired before it was too late & now has a fitting home. Fond memories of that old boat as a boy 🙂
Glad that the Krait got better treatment in the end.
Wow. I'm still in awe. I wonder when it left church point. The Krait vets are absolute champs and heroes of a strength of character we almost could not imagine today.
Where is Church Point?
@@twiki1963I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess Australia... Raid originated there and the ship is in a museum in Sydney
@@twiki1963 one of the northern suburbs of Sydney. Located on Pittwater, Broken Bay
Pure courage and determination. To travel covertly for 2,000, successfully attack the ships, and then to travel back 2,000 is absolutely amazing.
Would have been 1700 miles if they used Sri Lanka as the base, and Sri Lanka ( or Ceylon as it was called then) was under the British at that time
They must have thought this was a one way trip. N GPS, Japanese ships all around no casualties!What courage these men had.
Just how old are you. It looks more and more that technology is truly making you young one absolutely stupid. Go back to school and really learn something damn something damn ijit.
Well…THEY had no casualties. But as usual when the Japanese military was frustrated… they took it out on the locals. There is a reason the Japanese are still hated and distrusted in Southeast Asia.
Не путайте мужество и глупость.
@@kotnapromkethis was courage
@@kotnapromkestupid like you moron.
Coda to this story. A year later, Ivan Lyon led a second raid on Singapore, Operation Rimau. They were within 80 km of Singapore when their luck ran out. Their Chinese fishing vessel encountered a Japanese patrol vessel that challenged them. Cover blown, they took out the vessel and beat a retreat. Over the next four months the commandos hopped islands attempting to escape. All of them were either killed, or captured and then executed. Lyon was the first to be killed while fighting a rear-guard action to protect his men.
We shall not forget their sacrifices.
He sounds like an absolute hero among men.
Hats off to this brave exemplar of true grit!
Wh whataguy
Thanks for the video - this remarkable operation deserves to be much better known here in the UK. These men were true heroes and should be household names...
A fabulous story, thanks so much for bringing it to my attention.
There's a movie called "The Heroes" made in Australia about it. I remember thinking it was great when I watched it last... will have to watch it again.
Still one of the most daring raids in history.
SBS🇬🇧💪✌️👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
As an Aussie I was unaware of this massively ballsy effort ( and I worked in defence science with some out there guys back in the 70s). I actually know a Russian who worked on mobile SAMs and his group shot down Gary Powers. He was a Jew who was born in Kiev in Oct 1940. His mother took him to beautiful downtown Siberia to escape the warm and sensitive Wehrmacht and Ukranian anti-Semites. He escaped in the 1980s via Israel to Australia. We get on the piss every October to trip down memory lane.
I appreciate that the British sent their criminals to Australia and generations later they use it as a farm for devious allies.
One way to reduce the amount of unrelated footage would be to show the journey on a map so we can get a sense of the journey and the distances--2,000 miles while showing unrelated footages. TIt would have been SO easy to show the journey on more detailed maps, but the maps briefly shown were either useless or of barely any use at all. Why not show the journey of both craft with dotted lines--AT LEAST! A second craft was introduced but not shown where it was, it's journey, and what was going on with the main craft. A timeline could have been shown depicting what was happening where with the two craft. It was quite a journey to be able to get a good sense of without maps. Then "three days of island-hopping" such an easy thing to show a map of. And if you don't have access to the actual route and islands, just show the layout of the vicinity. You could also show locations of enemy strongholds, harbor layout, etc. In fact, there is SO much more that could be very easily added to eliminate all the useless stock footages that we must endure. For example, at 10:00 you begin to describe a complex night operation while showing unrelated daytime images. It would have been SO easy to create timeline maps showing the routes with the things you describe of the trip and raid. Instead, while discussing the actual tension-filled raid, we are shown ridiculous footage of a canoe being carried through what appears to be a Canadian forest--twice (so far)! And I'm just halfway into the story. In fact, the continued footage of guys paddling canoes through a NorthAmerican forest got to be SO effing ridiculous I could hardly contain myself from ceasing to watch this ridiculousness any longer. Then you describe the routes of the three canoes at night while continuing to show canoes in a North American forest. Jeeze, couldn't you muster the effort to draw us a map? Please put a little more thought and effort into these. I've got five and a half minutes left to watch and I don't want to make this any longer. (Ok just got to the end and the commemorative plaque mentioned crew that were lost but this wasn't mentioned in the narration--what happened?). And it wasn't a "move," it was a mission. And what's with the harbor mine? That had nothing to do with the story either.
Lol then you do it 😂 so easy
@@Ducksalot-v7h Almost as easy as vapid fanboyism.
Thank you for your critique, it helps people to better understand the video.
Hopefully the producer accepts the points made.
@@ae4164 first time seeing channel not a fan but just found it amusing that someone has so much to say without doing anything themselves. I hope you have a great Christmas
@@Ducksalot-v7h Must be hard work never ever not once criticizing anything without having personally done the same thing better. Odd that you call it "Christmas" when obviously you must have always just known it as your birthday, no?
The finest episode of this channel that I have seen. Well done.
Wow! Balls of steel!
Tungsten
Or very very large brass balls.
SBS 🇬🇧👍✌️💪🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
One of your best videos! Thank you
“Cockleshell Heroes” - is the film of the 12 SBS that used a submarine to be dropped off in their canoes. Only 2 that actually survived their operation, the rest being drowned, capsized, murdered by the Germans. There was a pair that had to stay behind on the submarine as their Klepper Canoe was damaged during its removal from the torpedo hatch.
A very good friend that’s a archaeologist/conservator was asked by former Royal Marine Commando/SBS member and former British politician Paddy Ashdown, for her to examine the damaged canoe some years ago, to clear up any doubts of deliberate damage to the canoe but as she said later it wasn’t sabotage but bore the marks from the metalwork in the submarine torpedo loading system, instead of a Fairbairn & Sykes dagger cut.
It’s a shame it couldn’t have been cleared up properly a lot sooner as it would have been a question hanging over the heads of the two that couldn’t even set off - in those days any hint of cowardice would follow your career no matter what you went on to achieve.
It was one of the earliest missions (the SBS being formed a bit earlier than the SAS) and led by Blondie Hasler and his sergeant they managed to complete the mission into occupied France and were able to escape by walking into Spain (that takes bimbling to a different level and might be one of the earliest/longest yomps ever)
Bimbling,yomps. Interesting slang.
The breathless commentary is over the top.
So are the irrelevant stock photos, at least identify the ones that really are of the actual event.
100%
breathless + too much unnecessary descriptions.
Thanks!
According to an episode of World War Weird some years ago these limpet mines had a strange aspect. To create a delay of about 5 hours before exploding each mine had an aniseed ball placed next to the detonater. Once these had dissolved the arming mechanism would set off the main charge.
Bloody Marvelous Raid Chaps !
No worries, mate
This might be your best one.
So many subplots of epic scale in War.
Many Australian soldiers and islanders served in z special force. They were coast watchers, stationed on the islands, behind Japanese lines, they reported Japanese troop and ship movements. Many were caught and executed by the japanese, but many survived, and played a crucial role in the fight against the yellow peril.
This was good Dark , very good indeed
Good story video as usual, one small point, the British officers are leftenants not lootenants.
Yup. Brits can't pronounce anything right.
seeing the photos is exactly what i saw thank you
Great narrative - you do it every time. Thanks for bringing history to life!
Ivan Lyon was a distant relative of mine. A hero to my Dad. My Dad corresponded with his brother for years and knew his son.
These brave soldiers risked everything in their pursuit of duty. for their country, and we of the modern war free generation owe them more than we can ever offer. With our deepest appreciation and respect, many will have died, if not all of them by now, but we stand in awe at their bravery, and we salute every last one of them,
They should make a movie out of this!
I was just about to write that also. What a story!
Agreed 100%
This sounds loosely similar to the movie "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warefare"
Which was based on a true story of an operation similar to this, but against the Germans.
I agree!
Is there a book about this mission?
One reason for keeping the raid secret was to keep open the option of a repeat raid.
One lot was caught by the Japs and executed !
So much great footage of people paddling Peterborough canoes through the Canadian wilderness. I wonder if they caught some pike.
Men such as these still exist, although they are fewer and farther between....
But those men were the very antithesis of the types of men who would become units like the SAS, Rangers, SEALS, and other such specialized units who risk everything to strike at the Enemy in defense of their Country, Homes, and families....
God Bless America, and our Allies, and the men and women who serve them....
Err,sorry but antithesis means opposite. Howabout archetype ? Which means original pattern or model. I just looked up epitome, which I thought meant the same thing. Only to find it means a short summary. Problem is,nobody teaches Greek and Latin anymore. And learning words by context usage is a slippery slope.
Actually, you are dead wrong.
As a person who served in the RAF REGIMENT.
There wasn't a man who wouldn't have volunteered for such a jaunt.
It's a mixture of courage and daring lunacy that we all had.
Everyone has it
@@paulmanson253
I thought it was "the essence of "
So my bad....
But my point was there aren't as many around who would volunteer for such duty now (in 2024 ) as back then....
And I'm talking the general population, not out of those in service in Special Forces already....
Let's face it, that takes a Patriot, and there aren't as many of us around any more....
But then the leadership we had back then, and what we've had lately doesn't compare that would bring that out in our people as much anymore....
It's hard to give our blind devotion to a government that has been caught over and over again LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH to "We the People" so blatantly as we have by our leadership (Especially the DemocRATs) lately....
Especially since JFK's assenation in the 60s....
Not to Mention, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King....
And since the WOKE MOB took control over our Culture it's really been crazy, like up is down and left is right....
@PhilipFear In a word,yes. The fathers of the kids I chummed with as a kid,were,almost to a man,WW2 combat veterans. Us kids were in awe of them. Steven Ambrose the historian remarked on the men he used to go hunting with. Ditto. Comparing them to the weasels of the current crop of wannabes,yuck. Civilization actually has a pretty thin veneer. Which few understand. And a significant percentage of current adults seem determined to wreck it. All of a sudden,that whole period,from the death of the Grachhi to the ascension of Augustus, that incredible period of Rome,has a resonance I never expected. Not in this culture, not in my lifetime.
Very interesting story great video keep them coming
Amazing men who answered the call and served with all they had while not knowing if they would see another day or their story would ever be known.
Tomorrow is November 12, 2024. It is Veteran's Day, in the USA. To all veterans: Thank you for your service. No one truly understands the sacrifice of your unselfish service, unless they have been through your experience, to protect America, and the Constitution of the United States of America.
Those must have been some awesome canoes to be able to float with the weight of those guys massive balls.
The crews are always dressed in Duffel coats, Jerseys and flat cloth caps in the tropics.
He has explained before that some video is purely indicative- only to assist in the flow of the story. So you're right but they had native garments as well.
@@stuart8663 I agree, but find it distracting as an amateur historian. I saw a film on TV with Jason Donovan which appeared to be based on this story.
@@pipclements316as an intermediate historian 😂 you can gain some insight from video's and documentaries which I've found appealing but real history wasn't made with a camera, it was recorded in books.
Books are where you'll gain so much more insight and it's unburdened by the constant stream of people changing the history and how they interpret thing's or skew things based on their own biases. They cost a bit yes BUT
Youll get it directly from the source. Tacitus, Livy, Sen Augusta, Clyestenies even Marcus Aurelius's writings are mostly in their words.
Plus you don't have distractions from your phone.
Camouflage
Never heard of this. Thank you.
This would make for a real banger of a Sabaton song
A bit obscure? Also, a lot of bravery for one song
I met a few of the z force men when i was younger and a lady involved in the organisation, i think they also used to use the house on the hill in Cairns
Years ago, i met a woman who was in a Japanese prison camp when she was young. Her family ran a business on an island that was taken over by Japan. The town was fenced in as a prison camp. They were hungry, and for her sixteenth birthday they boiled and ate a cat that they had caught as it went across their compound. She said it was their best meal ever.
Kudos to the video editor for running clips of Arctic seafarers for a story set in the tropics.
Not just the tropics, old son. Singapore is literally bang on the bloody Equator. Darks impeccable record of attention to the accuracy of its visual content can only mean one thing. The ambient nocturnal Temp must have dropped from 36 deg C and 95% humidity to 35.5 deg C and 98% humidity. I would also be reaching for my Balaclava and duffel coat under such changed circumstances. Hope no one caught a chill.
Krait has good lines, especially for a work boat. Clearly capable as she transited the South Pacific , which requires a good vessel. She’s kept at the Australian National Maritime Museum in beautiful working condition and is free to board if you’re in the neighbourhood. Thanks for the story. BTW, it’s pronounced Ko-foo-coo. Ma-roo. Kofuku Maru. Maru is a word used as a designator on Japanese commercial vessels, meaning circle but in English we would probably say “ship”.
Sounds like a great idea for a movie.
The Krait, the actual very same vessel that took both crews from Australia to Singapore, twice, is stationed at the Australian National Maritime Museum, in perfect working order, ready to go and do it again if required.
That is an epic level of fitness!
Great storytelling!
Absolute mad lads.
Great story, thank you!
Upping your game. Great vid.
Why hasn’t this been made into a movie?
Facinating bit of Australian war history.
The raid is inspired by the Cockleshell heroes raid carried out by the Royal Marines. Hence the use of Folboats as they were Royal Marine Commando kit. The journey however was significantly more dangerous. Australian units were part of the larger Imperial Army and did not operate independently so the combining of UK and Australian forces was the norm.
Amazing. It is also amazing that you didnt show a few photos of the Krait today.
There is a photo in the Australian War Memorial collection showing Krait moored at Timor behind a party accepting the surrender of the local Japanese garrison at the war's end. The Raiders were the start of Z special force which carried out a number of raids in the region. One of the later members was a Malay pearl diver from Broome. His language skill and local knowledge were invaluable. After thexwar he returned to Broome where he was a leader in a strike against the companies exploiting Malay and native labour. As a "reward" for his service because deported.
Unequaled bravery despite the dangers they face
That mission took big balls
10:06 the canoes shown are non collapsing wooden 'Voyager' types from northern US or Canada.
The pictures hardly ever match the story.
Not to mention the fishing poles
And the evergreen trees from northern forests.
Well he wanted footage, and I doubt any of the guys on this mission happened to pack along a video camera.
Excellent stuff bro
It took a lot for the men involved to not get publicly recognized for their exploits at the time , but being who they were , they knew what they have done was rewarding enough . Even though they did get the recognition later . A hell of a crew . I doubt any are still with us to this day , but if there are , my respect gentlemen . If not , R.I.P. soldiers and may God take care of you .🙏
I the orthorites should of took it right up to the japs and let them know as much as they could that it was only a handful of very very brave ausies that kicked there arces and not all the inosent people that died while being suspected of the raid wrecken it would hurt for them to have more egg on their faces knowing it was only 6 men that caused so much damage not forgetting the backup team
🎖️🏆⭐🙏❤️🩹🛐
Thank you for sharing this
Ok they have made a movie about it , it’s called The Highest Honour, made in 1982 and it’s on UA-cam
Seeing that barnacle encrusted mine reminded me of a time when I was sailing back from Hawaii and spotted what we took to be an old mine. Looked just like that.
Bravo Sir thank you
The boats were made by Grants. My friend had a 4 person with sails and leeboards😊
Why did they use Canadian canoes in the film? I find this distracting from a real piece of WW2 history.
It was a brilliant and brave operation, however, The raid took the Japanese authorities in Singapore completely by surprise. Never suspecting such an attack could be mounted from Australia, they assumed it had been carried out by local saboteurs, The local civilian operation and some interned POW's paid the price for the raid's success.
Absolutely amazing and inspiring
Great Stuff!
This commando raid is similar to the the British raid -- Operation Frankton -- in Bordeaux, Fance, 1942.
Second one to mention that.
Similar to an attack the British carried out in France, but that one didn't end as well.
If it’s the one I’m thinking of then it was a success in that it destroyed the dry dock.
@@Charles-k9g5ythat was St Nazaire. Jeremy Clarkson did a brilliant documentary about it.
Bruneval was a brilliant success, as was the British use of a midget submarine to blow the bottom out of a Japanese battleship.
@@Charles-k9g5y The commandoes didn't fare as well.
@@nickjung7394 The Japanese apparently were less alert about such matters than the Germans were.
Amazing! How were the mines set off? Timer?
The British also did this against German shipping in a French port called Operation Frankton. They also had a sentry looking down on them, luck was with both. BTW, "Operation Jaywick was followed by Operation Rimau. Although three ships are sometimes claimed as sunk in this raid, no corroboration of this has ever been found and in all likelihood no vessels were sunk; but the participants, including Lyon, were either killed in action or captured and executed."
Wow!!!!!
Excellent video.
"You say that you have orders to go to Camp X. There are three of them within 20 miles of here. You fellows need some imagination."
Next time I’m in Sydney I’ll have to go see the little miracle boat!
I was once told a tale about Royal Marine Comandos using canoes to put lympet mines on ships in Toranto harbour timed to explode when the Swordfish arrived. I believe the gentleman who told me about. I also know the Brits like keeping things classified for ever. Ive been called an idiot for believing it. One commenter said the mines were too heavy for canoe!?!?
I'd give my left testicle for some form of confirmation.
The movie “The Wackiest Ship in the Army!” was based on this Operation. It was a Comedy, staring Jack Lemon. Also the British tried this kind of operation again only using a Submarine in place of surface ship. The Raider’s were caught and killed sadly.
No, that movie was based upon the real USS Echo and is totally different from the MV Krait.
The followup operation on Singapore involving a submarine was Operation Rimau - all operatives were either KIA or were captured and eventually executed approx 1 month before the Japanese Surrender!😢
Unfortunately a lot of the operatives from Operation Jaywick were also involved in Operation Rimau in which all were lost!!!😢
The Highest Honor 1982
“Cockleshell Heroes” - is the film of the 12 SBS that used a submarine to be dropped off in their canoes. Only 2 that actually survived their operation, the rest being drowned, capsized, murdered by the Germans. There was an extra pair that had to stay behind on the submarine as their Klepper Canoe was damaged during its removal from the torpedo hatch.
It was one of the earliest missions (the SBS being formed a bit earlier than the SAS) and led by Blondie Hasler and his sergeant they managed to complete the mission into occupied France and were able to escape by walking into Spain (that takes bimbling to a different level and might be one of the earliest/longest yomps ever)
Amazing. Deserves a film?
Those men had a well deserved pint (or two!) of Guinness when they got back.
i remember seeing the krait way back 50+ yrs ago or there abouts it docked in the clarence river in our town i think it was on tour of east coast AUS..i was about 10 back then and iv never forgoten the story of the krait
Anybody know where Dark Seas got the thumbnail for this video? I recall it as being from a doc that was quite good, I'd like to see it again but I have no recollection as to the name or who made it. Thanks.
Very sad that UA-cam wont allow Australians to talk about our country or anything that we've done ?
I had a Folboat back in the day [70s] and we had many an adventure. Got it for mowing a lawn IIRC.
first someone sees them just below their ship and never raises the alarm then a patrol boat pulls up alongside but doesn't recognize them as being in disguise and never speaks to them. luckily the enemy was incredibly incompetent
I was stationed at Exmouth, WA, where the ship was modified. It isn't the edge of the earth, but you can see it from there. The sandbags of old defensive bunkers around the lighthouse are still there. OK, they have turned to sandstone, but you can still make out the weave of the canvas bags they used. We all knew it was active during WWII, but never heard THIS story. Very cool story.
The Krait has been restored and is my on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour, Sydney Australia.
Lest we forget.
Wow ! What a story !!!
On ya lads, what a generation.
The highest honour is a must see film about this raid , please watch it
Guts and determination
Unfortunately, while this raid succeeded, the British tried again, and the Japanese were prepared.
So did they pick up the 6 guys?? It seemed like Krait left without them?
I have seen this ship. I think it was on a dock in Sidney Harbor, or maybe Cairnes. It was memorialized with a plaque. It was great to hear the full story. It is not big at all. It would have been tossed about during high seas.
Nerves of steel and balls of titanium!
Thank you Dark Sea !!!🙏👌⚓🦉
Great respect for the men. Not for the people who made the video.
What does the incidental music contribute?
Stock footage of Mk 14 mines. What had they to do with the operation?
Why the phoney white flecks around the 17 minute mark?
Stock footage of fishermen in foul weather gear suitable for the North Sea. Why?
Footnote : Sadly most of the canoe crews from Jaywick were killed or executed as a result of operation Rimau.
At 1.37 there are 2 flags on the screen. One is a Japanese Rising Sun flag and the other appears to be two horizontal zig zag lines . Do you know what this is ?
This would make a great movie.
I'm not sure that a good full length movie could be made. OTOH there are plenty of other untold stores like this one, so maybe someone could take several of them and make a movie that has several 'subplots' so to speak.