Memorial unveiled to a hero of WW2
AMILKMAN who took part in one of the most daring of all wartime missions has been rightfully honoured by his home town.
A memorial statue of Royal Marine James Conway was unveiled in Stockport as a tribute to his incredible bravery and sacrifice 75 years ago.
On the night of December 7, 1942, the 20-yearold was one of ten men to paddle five collapsible canoes – codenamed ‘cockles’ – more than 80 miles up the Gironde estuary in Nazi-occupied France. Their target was docked German merchant ships heading for Bordeaux onto which they would fix limpet mines then escape overland to Spain.
Six German ships were sunk but six of the Marines, including Conway, were shot by the Gestapo after being captured in France. Another two drowned and only two survived the raid.
Operation Frankton, as the mission was codenamed, would go on to form the basis of the 1955 film ‘The Cockleshell Heroes’. An unveiling ceremony at Mount Tabor, opposite the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, was attended by civic dignitaries as well as members of his family.
Marine Conway, who lived with his mother Mary Ann at Heaton Mersey View in Larkhill, Edgeley, left for France when he was just 19 and sadly, did not live to see his 21st birthday. It’s understood his canoe sunk after hitting an underwater object, although he made it to shore.
He only owed his place on the commando mission to a sporting injury sustained by one of the original men selected to take part, Marine Norman Colley.
The statue unveiling follows a long campaign for a permanent memorial in Stockport led by the Salford Royal Marines Association.
Acclaimed sculptor Luke Perry designed and created the memorial after spending months researching the clothing Conway would have worn at the time of the mission and meeting his family to capture his likeness.
Coun Kate Butler said: “James Conway’s role as one of the Cockleshell Heroes makes him a true Stockport and national hero. I’m delighted that he’s been honoured with a lasting tribute in his home town.”
Royal Marines Major General Martin Smith said: “The Royal Marines are honoured that on the 75th anniversary of James Conway’s death, Stockport is recognising one of its sons who bravely served in our corps and gave his life in the service of his country.”