I will certainly take photos of the restoration as it progresses.
Quentin is the man when it comes to these items. I am sure he won’t mind me saying he is mad as a hatter :mrgreen:
Cheers, Ade.
Hi Adrian, and welcome.
I really hope you get a summer down there ! As for here in Montreal, we’re burried (again!) in snow, when it’s not icy rain.
I’m eager to here comments about the performance of your ship when sailing.
I started this thread last year, as I have a BIG interest in sailing kayaks.
As you can read on the start of the thread, nobody believed it until Quentin put his “grain of salt” (or I might say, a full bag of it). (Tourist boat ? come on…):shock:
That maybe the cause of the tone sometime not so friendly employed here. But I can understand the sensibility issues. Nobody likes to being told they don’t know shit!
I am glad you found this thread and thanks for the link
Let us hope now for a quick spring, and a long summer of paddling:mrgreen:
Hi, thank you for the kind welcome. I will certainly add some more pics as and when I take them.
We are hoping for a good summer here this year. Last year was a wash out with heavy rains.
If you have not checked out the WAF forum, I think you and the other members will find this link of great interest. It shows the same pattern of boat as mine and was kindly shared by the boat designers son. The article is in a British trade magazine which was published after the war in a typical “Now it can be told” style 
http://dalgety.org/CTD/canoes/copp.htm
Cheers, Ade.
Hi Adrian,
Thanks for the very interesting article.
What is “muscle power” mean ? They obliously don’t use paddles on some pictures.
Are the handlebars-like things linked to the propeller ? If so it seems odd, but they mentionned it’s a prototype…
at a guess, it is a pedalo type propelled kayak.
Kizzy has more info on detachment 385
the british used kayaks during one night misson to attack a german ship
Yup, the folding kayak is the Klepper Aerius. My dad used to have the 1980s expedition model, which was similar to the military version, except that the military one was black and the expedition one bright red. It comes in single seat and double seat verions. I still own a 1960s Klepper Master, a folding dinghy built according to the same principle (wooden frame with a canvass / rubber skin), which holds up to five people and can be powered by a 6 hp outboard motor.
Jan
Jan
I know about klepper folding kayaks, yes they were used during ww2, but if you look at the thread starter, we are talking here about an aluminium kayak. Not quite the same, and much less known.
At the risk of being “flamed” by the author/researcher, I post this for people who don’t take the time to read all the posts in the thread, to avoid repeating…
For more details, go to google groups “WW2 British Military Canoes”
This is the example of the Mk 7 aluminium sailing canoe (Note: It’s really more a kayak than a canoe)
The floats or sponsons showing on the side of the centre section are also detachable and secure onto aluminuim arm or outrigger arms attached to a sliding mechanism on the centre section. The bow and stern sections have integral, round, watertight, pivitol aluminium hatches. this canoe also featured a lateen sailing rig and paddles along with yoke and rudder. It was used from early 1945 from a base in Ceylon notably by COPPS and Detachment 385 although other forces had the use of but it was the M.O. that dictated the use of various canoes; some units had differing requirements.
These sections are extremley light* - so much so that one man could easily portage the sectionss alone; although two men would normally operate.
They were carried in seaplanes such as the Catalina although they were manufactured with the thought of using from submarines. By the time they came into production the seaplanes were being used as the primary method of carraige as this allowed the men on the operations to maintain their fitness level which was of paramount importance; subs took a long time to get to the operation site which was often 1000 miles away. (Note: a thousand miles in open sea is quite a journey…)
So, this is what we’re talking about in this thead. Nothing to do with klepper-type boats, as you can clearly see…
*Hope you enjoy
I am pleased to annouce the publication of…
[SIZE=“6”]
The Cockleshell Canoes[/SIZE]
This represents a very significant part of British Military Maritime history never previously written about.
The National Maritime Museum Falmouth will have THREE exceptionally rare canoes on display in DECEMBER 08 in support of the book launch.
Along with my Mark 2, the bonus item is a canoe that has never been seen since WW2.
This represents the largest collection of British Military Canoes ever to be exhibited at one venue.
Even after nearly 70 years the memory and celebration of the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ effort still remain with this legendary wartime exploit.
Both film and book were produced in commemoration.
Ten highly trained commandos undertook ‘The Frankton Raid’ on Bordeaux Harbour in occupied France during December 1942 in five extremely specialised military canoes.
Sir Winston Churchill believed this mission shortened the war by six months.
Admiral the Earl Mountbatten deemed it as the
“most courageous and imaginative of all the raids ever carried out by the men of Combined Operations Commands”.
There is continuing resurgence of wartime historical information.
Now the entire world is introduced to an entirely NEW section of hitherto unknown
British Military Maritime History
with
‘The COCKLESHELL CANOES’
The publication is a truly fascinating and ‘gripping tale’, and also contains the complete history and development of the
British Military Canoe of World War 2.
AT LEAST 95% OF THE INFORMATION WITHIN HAS NOT BEEN REVEALED BEFORE NOW
Those hosting book launches/exhibitions will be National Maritime Museum in Cornwall, Combine Services Military Museum in Essex and Royal Marines Museum in Hampshire.
Event Date Launch c.Nov/Dec 2008 Anniversary of 1942 Frankton Raid ( 30 Nov - 12th Dec)
Copyright Quentin Rees 2008
[CENTER] The COCKLESHELL CANOES
British Military Canoes of World War 2
256 Pages with 133 Photographs. Size 248x172mm
ISBN 978-1-84868-065-4
Filled with many rare and unpublished photographs, this publication contains a gripping tale. A tale about a most unusual mode of warfare wrapped up within a very human story. This remarkable account represents the first and only definitive work of the entire history and development of British military canoes during World War Two. Much of the ‘Most Secret’ information within has never been revealed before.
The story is a celebration of those individuals, some of great fame like ‘Blondie’ Hasler and the other Cockleshell heroes, who have become part of canoe history. Many others will have their previously unsung roles acknowledged through this work, a weaving of real-life testimonies within the stories of the commanders, inventors and designers. It tells of the epic journey of progress that canoe development took from Cornwall, all along the Southern English Coast and beyond, even to the tropical island of Ceylon.
Thousands of various marks of canoe were sent worldwide and used operationally, this represents an entirely new facet of maritime military history and shows how clandestine warfare was conducted by the various Special Forces during World War Two, including the S.O.E. This ‘Most Secret’ endeavour used the code name ‘Cockle’ for the canoes. One such ‘Cockle’ was equally at ease below the water as it was above; the designer even suggested that it could be used as a carrier for an Atomic bomb.
Quite possibly it represents the most comprehensive study ever undertaken in the field of the twentieth-century naval ‘small boats’.
Deserving the description ‘indispensable’, it tells the dramatic story of the ‘Cockles’ and how these tiny canoes helped the Allied cause on almost every front.
[/CENTER]
Congratulations !!!
I’m eager to read it.
Hi ADE
Trouble is when its read all those who have written will then have all the info and then realise that what has been written by members is no accurate.
For some it will take a while to understand the finer points.
From my point of view at least I wont have to ‘defend’ myself.
Anyquestions you know where I am.
And before anyone goes on about the content - its eight years of research and does NOT take info from anywhere but source material.
This is the ultimate on the subject - as you will see.
Re your canoe - have you understood the weave? That last bit was only found end Nov 2008.
C U
Q
Its funny , I was the provost at Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth during the mid 80,s before it closed down, leaving just the Museum, the point is I used to wander around the old disused barrack blocks and they contained gems, there were at least 2 kleppers of ww2 vintage as well as a human torpedo type mini sub. I wonder if the Kleppers are the same ones now on display a the MM
Bootneck…
Sir I know who you are, I believe.
without indicating you will know well the writer of the foreword to my book ‘the Cockleshell canoes’ - Lt G Davies.
when I last visited him ( you will know his recent status I think) he mentioned certain factors and I have just put 2 and 2 together having looked and now noticed your location.
If I am correct I will mention you to him tomorrow.
Q
Dear Ade…
Thought you might be interested in some important and heavyweight REVIEWS on
'The Cockleshell Canoes’
This from Prof. Eric Grove - Review in Navy News May 2009.
’ this volume really is one of the most original, interesting and informative to have appeared recently’
‘an excellent and ground breaking work’,
‘described in great detail’.
From ‘The Croaker’ April 2009 issue by M.J.A.
‘Clarity of delivery’.
‘Rees writes well and his narrative flows’
‘a stimulating and revealing tract’
‘fascinating and detailed accounts’
Globe and Laurel - March - April 2009 issue by G.A.D
‘remarkable book’,
’ this great and important military and maritime story - which he tells very well’,
‘good looking and man sized book’ with ‘stunning photographs’
‘Navy News’ is a Uk based magazine highly rated. highly subscribed.
‘The Croaker’ is a Subscription only magazine especially for Special Forces past and present ONLY.
‘The Globe and Laurel’ is a magazine of the Royal Marines.
The Navy News does a free on line edition - review is on page 44.
Apart from the additional Television to come there is only one other thing to report on… Cachalot has been identified.
Hello There,
I am an ex RAF dog handler who was at one period stationed in Ceylon. I am researching the many RAF/FAA stations and units that were in Ceylon 1930/1959. During my research I came across Royal Marine unit 385 at Hammenheil, The RAF had a small air sea rescue unit close by and used to collect rations from the Royal Marine base. I have made contact with quite a number of the 385 unit and recieved photographs from as far as Australia, also info on the day to day operations and training. Info Available !
Regards,
Robbie,
Researcher and Historian.
Hi Robbie, sounds interesting especially your contact with ‘quite a number of the 385 unit’ … the late Mr Buxton maybe is included?
would love to chat over the phone… let me have a landline and i will call you. I have one chap from 385 living very close to me and another not 10 miles as the crow flys. George Davies from 385 did me the great honour of writing the forward to my book , The Cockleshell Canoes’. He too would be interested. LETS CHAT.
Q
Hello There,
My Home Phone is 91352 780489 if not in please leave your number with my wife,
Regards,
Robbie.