| Page Created |
| October 6th, 2022 |
| Last Updated |
| October 7th, 2022 |
| Country |
 |
| Special Forces |
| No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando |
| May 16th, 1943 – May 18th, 1943 |
| Operation Tarbrush |
| Objectives |
- Gain last-minute intelligence of any beaches, and their German defences, on which an Allied landing might be attempted.
| Operational Area |
Normandy and neighbouring regions in Northern France.
| Unit Force |
- No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
| Opposing Forces |
- German Beach Defences
| Operation |
Operation Tarbrush is the overall designation of a numerous small-scale beach reconnaissance operations undertaken along the coast of Normandy and neighbouring regions in Northern France. The mission is to gain last-minute intelligence of any beaches, and their German defences, on which an Allied landing might be attempted.
During the preparations for D-Day, a Royal Air Force aircraft attacked a pillbox on the French coast. The aircraft is equipped with a camera and films are taken during the flyover. The scientists who examine the images notice that underwater explosions take place when the plane’s rockets hit the ocean. Since this is possible evidence of mines, the Allied forces need to investigate whether the enemy has deployed a new type of mine.
Three of the missions send out to examine this are commanded by Lieutenant George Lane. His expeditions find out that in the water near the coast, the Germans had equipped Teller mines on stakes. At high tide, the mines would be underwater, and landing craft would be unable to see them, especially at night. However, the setup did not account for the fact that the mines are corroded because they are not waterproof. Because of the corrosion, the mines only detonate because of the exploding rockets from the Royal Air Force fighter. Lane’s conclusion was that the deployment was only a hasty improvisation and did not represent an advance in the German Mine technology.
Captain Hilton-Jones commands four other missions. Captain Ernest Leigh Smith leads operation Tarbrush 8.
May 16th, 1943 – May 17th, 1943
Operation Tarbrush 3. Two men of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. Their mission was a beach and defnces reconnaissance between Bray Dunes and Plag, France.
The men are unable to land because of the roughness of the sea.
May 16th, 1943 – May 17th, 1943
Operation Tarbrush 4. No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. Their mission was a beach and defnces reconnaissance between Quend Plage and Les Pins, France.
The men perform a successful reconnaissance.
May 15th, 1943 – May 16th, 1943
Operation Tarbrush 5. Two men of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. Their mission was a beach and German defences reconnaissance round Les Hemmes
The men perform a successful reconnaissance.
May 15th, 1943 – May 16th, 1943
Operation Tarbrush 8. Two men (Captain Ernest Leigh Smith) of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. Their mission was a beach and German defences reconnaissance round Quend plage, France.
The men successfully return with vital information, including a Teller mine.
May 17th, 1943 – May 18th, 1943
Operation Tarbrush 10. Two men (Lieutenant Lane) of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. Their mission was a beach and German defences reconnaissance round Cayeux sur Mer. France.
The operation is attempted on three consecutive nights, the first two attempts fail due to unsuitable weather, although on one occasion the enemy coast is sighted.
Despite the physical fatigue resulting from this, Lieutenant Lane, with superior seamanship, navigated his Dory to the selected landing point without error, although there were definite indications of the presence of enemy patrols in the area.
Having landed, Lieutenant Lane accompanies and gives material assistance to his sapper officer in obtaining a large part of the required intelligence. Having carried out a preliminary reconnaissance, Lane sets out again on a second reconnaissance with his sapper officer, having first ensured that arrangements had been made for getting the intelligence back to the parent Motor Torpedo Boat
Shortly after leaving the officers are surprised whilst at work by an enemy patrol moving down the beach and are captured.
He expects to be executed in accordance with Hitler’s Kommando Befehl but instead he is questioned over tea by Field Marshal Rommel. Lane pretends not to speak any German, and to be Welsh to hide his Hungarian accent when speaking English. (The commanding officer of 3 (X) Troop, Captain Bryan Hilton Jones, was Welsh). Eventually he is imprisoned at Fresnes Prison near Paris and then at Oflag IX-A/H at Spangenberg Castle in Hesse, Germany.
He later escapes and is liberated, finding shelter with his brother-in-law Victor Rothschild in Paris, whose house has plenty of Château Lafite and Dom Pérignon but no hot water.
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