Operation Basalt was a small British raid conducted during World War II on Sark during the German occupation of the Channel Islands.
The objective of the raid was offensive reconnaissance and capturing prisoners.
Second attempt
On the night of 3–4 October 1942 12 men from the Special Operations Executive commanded No. 62 Commando (also known as the "Small Scale Raiding Force") and No. 12 Commando, left Portland on MTB 344 at 1900 and landed on Sark with the object of offensive reconnaissance and capturing prisoners.
Climbing the cliff at the Hog's Back, between Dixcart Bay and Derrible Bay, the commandos were not spotted by German sentries nor did they encounter any guards. Several of the raiders broke into the house of a local. The occupant of the house, Mrs Frances Noel Pittard, proved very informative and advised that there were about 20 Germans in the annex to the nearby Dixcart Hotel. She also declined an offer to take her to England. Mrs Pittard provided the commandos with documents, including local newspapers from Guernsey.
It is also believed that this raid contributed to Hitler's decision to issue his Commando Order on 18 October 1942 instructing all captured commandos or commando-type personnel be executed as a matter of procedure. This order resulted in a number of war crimes being committed.
Participants on second attempt
Names of the soldiers who are known to have participated in the raid:
- Major Geoffrey Appleyard
See also
- Commando Order
- No. 62 Commando
- German occupation of the Channel Islands
- Sark during the German occupation of the Channel Islands