Operation Menace - the assault on Dakar.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ธ.ค. 2024
- A description of Operation Menace, the allied operation to seize the West African Port of Dakar in September of 1940, to use as a base for the Free French movement.
A booklet containing the script for this video can be obtained from the Wargames vault at:
www.wargamevaul...
Thanks so much for this wonderfully presented video. Hard to find good descriptions elsewhere. My grandfather was aboard HMAS Australia during this very operation
Thank you so much for your kind comment
My grandfather's brother died that day, September 23, 1940 aboard the against torpedo boat "l'Audacieux" which was hit by bursts of fire from "HMAS Australia", a torpedo stored on the deck to exploded. he was a quartermaster mechanic, he was 21 years old, originally from the city of Lorient as his Batiment "l'Audacieux", he had joined the navy to defend his country like his father before him in the navy who had fought in 14-18 and participated in the Dardenelles war. Unfortunately he found himself engaged in fighting under the Vichy regime. his name was Eugène joseph louis Le Guilloux born April 7, 1919 in Pont-scorff (56) Bretagne / France Greetings from France, from Brittany, with all my respect for your grandfather.
I really had no idea about this battle. Thanks so much for your effort.
My pleasure!
I recently read about this from a collection of old magazines I have from the 1970's called 'History of the Second World War' part 8. Indeed a unique and overlooked battle. Thank you for this!
I think I have the same magazine!
Another excellent choice of subject for a documentary, well told and illustrated. Thanks
Thank you very much for your kind comments.
volume up a lot higher would be nice!
m sorry that you find the sound a problem. It seems ok to most people, but I shall respond. I have cranked the sound up as much as I can and reloaded this video at th-cam.com/video/TAdAClgqtKg/w-d-xo.html Let me know if that is any better.
Yes, it is inaudible, and, in more, if understanding spoken english is a bit difficult for you, you can imagine how it is annoying ...
Just a bit of interest. As 7-9 year old I lived with my aunt in the village of Neatherbury Dorset. This would have been 1955-57. My aunt was house keeper for Admiral Sir Dudley North and Lady Eilean North. The house was called Stoney Cottage I think, and had big game trophies hanging on the walls. I remember a tiger's head with a tennis ball stuffed in its mouth. The house was burgled one day and all the family silver stolen. I was told that Sir Dudley had had "A bit of trouble" during the war. He told me off for wearing my school cap in the house. A formidable person. He never got over the Dakar débacle.
Thank you very much for sharing that story.
Admiral North did indeed have "a bit of trouble" during the war. He was rather unfairly blamed for allowing the French cruisers of Force Y to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar and recalled from his command.
As a PS. The uncle I was staying with. Ben Flewitt. I was told served aboard HMS Hood before the war. He then moved onto mine sweepers. The only Ben Flewitt I can find was an AB on the HMS Violet. A Flower class corvette. Might have had some influence on her getting work with the North household.
Good doco' . Volume just right .
Comprehensive and concise. One thing though, the correct collective term is Allied/Allies (not "British") since Free French, Australian and other non-British forces were involved.
I used "British" in contrast to "Allied" when specific British forces were employed, principally the naval units, but point taken re Australia.
Mers el Kebir, Dakar and Casablanca were all tragedies. We should analyse generals and admirals motivations and the complex context that faced them, but at least for Admiral Gensoul at Mers el Kebir, national and personal pride was certainly a key factor for his negligent negotiations. That catastophe then poisoned later encounters. DOI: Grandfather was sunk at both Mers el Kebir and Dakar.
This is, tragically, how these things often pan out.
Why do they say that the Richelieu was damaged? Only one shell from the Barham touched her, and just destroyed the officer's mess with ... the reserve of cognac of the captain ( a crime ... )
Because she was damaged of course, taking a 14" shell doesn't just cause a few dents and scratches, and he states that it took a year to repair.
@@tango6nf477 Well, she was nevertheless in much better state than the Resolution and the Barham... btw, the caliber of the Barham was not 14", but 15" ( the same as the Richelieu ) And there were few reparations to do to the Richelieu, but principally an augmentation of the anti-aerial defense and guns which had become no more up-to-date at that time, which was made in U.S.A.
Very good docu
Excelente Job
Thank you!
This is the kind of crap that the French did that makes me so disappointed in them. They wouldn’t fight to the death against Hitler but refused to join the Free French. Then they had the spine to fight to the end. Absolutely shameful.
It points up that France was a very divided nation during the thirties and forties.
Excellent account though marred through insufficient volume.
"Three french battleships were sunk " No, only one, the Bretagne, two others, Provence and Dunquerque were damaged, but later repaired. Btw, it is rather easy ( and not very honorable ) to attack by surprise an allied fleet at the anchor ...
You are correct. I should have said "disabled".
BTW - I did actually say the operation was a "disaster" and done with "reluctance". ~Not an honorable thing at all. It was, however, a necessary thing.
love ur calmness ... i s.scibed :)
VIVE LA FRANCE
Indeed!
En afrique nous le consideron comme un criminel
Qui? De Gaulle?
@@vandpubsell de France
Il a detruit lafrique en tuent nos leadeur
@@akalediatta2343 Ah
Please slow down for us Americans who think you have an accent.
We have the same problems with Americans Bruce