Tom McCormack, 5 Troop, 2 Commando, Died St Nazaire

Had a very moving visit to Tom's grave in Rennes on Monday followed by a tour of the school which was used as a hospital during the second half of the war and where the charioteers were taken after initial casualty care at L'Hermitage at La Baule. All hosted by our friend Hubert Marie who has made a special study of Tom and the charioteers and their time in Rennes. I'll send in some pictures once we're back in the UK. Mark

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/04/2013 22:50:33

Excellent tour of St Nazaire yesterday including entering the bottom of the Form Ecluse and right to the bottom of the pumping house. Great to meet so many of the charioteers' families and friends. Not to mention the charioteers themselves. Also met with the party from Liverpool Scottish at the ceremony at the Escoublac CWGC cemetery to discover they had laid a wreath at Tom's grave in Rennes alongside ours, so Tom is well remembered. Mark

Another year passes and our thoughts are of Tom's passing 71 years ago today.

Attached is a picture of the wreath we laid at Tom's grave in Rennes last year - complete with Forbes tartan.

Also a picture of the Lycee Jean Mace, which was converted for use as an infirmary during the Occupation, and was where Tom died of his wounds on 11th April 1942.

Mark

Here also are shots of the commemorative plaque in the lobby of the Lycee Jean Marie to the French medical team who nursed the allied prisoners of war for the duration.

They must have been great comfort to Tom and the other wounded charioteers.

Mark

Remembering Tom today (as I often do) and all the others who died.

Remembering Tom today on the anniversary of his death in Rennes from wounds sustained during Operation Chariot.

He will not be forgotten.

Mark

RIP Tom

Another year gone and remembering today the passing of Tom

Not forgotten

Remembering today Tom McCormack on the 76th anniversary of his death from the wounds sustained on the raid.

This year I am posting Stephen's lovely pictures of the four friends on leave in 1941 - Sid Murdoch, Tom McCormack, Ken McAllister and Bill Hughes.

We shall not forget them.

Mark

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 25/05/2022 14:33:28

Today is the 78th Anniversary of Tom McCormack finally succumbing to the grenade fragment wounds he sustained at Operation Chariot some 11 days before.

By now he was at the military hospital set up in the École primaire supérieure de jeunes filles in the Rue Jean Macé in RENNES where he was cared for by a team of French volunteer medics.

According to witnesses, his funeral on 15 Apr 1942 was attended by 5,000 local Rennais, despite orders from the German occupiers against mass gatherings.

The event thus became one of the first protests against the Nazi occupiers.

To this day, Tom is well remembered in both Rennes and St Nazaire, as well of course as this side of the Channel.

We will remember him

Mark

Another year passes.

Not forgotten.

Mark

Remembered with honour

Bill

Bill,
Was up at my Mum's last November. We couldn't get to Spean Bridge obviously, so instead we left a wee poppy cross in memory of Tom and the other Operation Chariot Fallen at the Ganavan RAF Coastal Command Memorial.
Mark

Mark

Will remember them when I get up soon, all of them, as I will stop at the Memorial on my way to Achnacarry.

Bill

Remembering Tom eighty years on.

Was in Liverpool at the municipal cemetery close to Tom's home in Allerton thinking he must have people here too, then imagining him walking the area before the clouds of war broke in '39.

Have just got home and back to access to computer, so later than usual in posting here.

Not forgotten.

Mark