There was no doubt in the minds of everyone involved in Operation Biting that the raid had been a complete success. The day after the homecoming the newspapers were full of details about the audacious enterprise against enemy-occupied territory. The main object of the operation was kept from the public, for there had still been no general disclosure that the country possessed radar and it remained a closely guarded secret for the rest of the war. Nonetheless, people could at last celebrate what was a carefully planned and executed force of arms and a demonstration of the country’s ability to strike back at Hitler’s forces. It was the first armed landing in German-occupied Europe and it showed that Britain had fully trained airborne forces equal to those of the enemy. ‘Bruneval’ became the first battle honour of the newly formed Parachute Regiment.
A German report on the raid acknowledged its success as a military venture: ‘The operation of the British commandos was well planned and was executed with great daring. During the operation the British displayed exemplary discipline when under fire. Although attacked by German soldiers they concentrated entirely on their primary task. For a full thirty minutes one group did not fire a shot, then suddenly at the sound of a whistle they went into action.’
The Bruneval Raid has quite naturally been seen as a great triumph for the Parachute Regiment. Combined Operations HQ should also be given the same accolade, for Operation Biting was the result of much meticulous organization by its planners. Bruneval was just one of the great raids prepared by Mountbatten’s team that year: Operation Biting was followed by Operation Chariot, the commando raid on the dry docks at Saint-Nazaire in March and Operation Jubilee, the major landings at Dieppe in August.
The site today has changed dramatically since 1942 and is probably one of the least interesting battlefields that the author has visited. After the villa was demolished the area was fortified with a number of bunkers and defence positions. These great monoliths were all blown up after the war and remain just a jumble of reinforced concrete shells. A few post-raid Tobruk positions are scattered across the landscape and the rectangle of woods around the buildings of Le Presbytère now house crumbling German gun emplacements. The ground over which Major Frost led his paratroopers that snowy February night has been given over to grazing cattle, corralled into certain grassy patches by a criss-cross maze of electric cow fences. ‘Interdit’ notices everywhere warn the visitor that it is prohibited to stray onto the land, though there is no real point in doing so for nothing remains from the time of the raid.
This monument to those who took part in Operation Biting is situated on the site of the German defences located on the high ground to the south of the beach. (Ken Ford)
Down at the beach a straightened road, an ugly reinforced sea wall, a modern house and areas of bland concrete make it impossible to try to recreate in one’s mind’s eye the events of more than half a century ago. On the south cliff is a recent monument to the raid. On the top of the north cliff the outline of one of the German casemates can be seen perched high up on the path that leads down to sea level, although only the very brave would attempt to reach it along so precipitous and dangerous a route.