To many of those consulted it seemed a preposterous idea... an undersea pipe-line laid across the bed of the English Channel to fuel the advance of the Allied armies from the Normandy beaches. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before. It would have to be done in the utmost secrecy - concealed from the eyes of friend and foe alike. The experts shook their heads. It was surely impossible.
Fortunately, not everyone shared that view. First suggested by Lord Louis Mountbatten, Britain's Chief of Combined Operations, the project called for the highest levels of engineering prowess and ingenuity -and an abundance of endeavour, enthusiasm and energy. It needed a flair for the unorthodox and a determination to succeed against the odds.
That there were people who were both able and willing to fulfil such a formidable mixture of requirements, and turn Mountbatten's 'impossible' plan into astonishing reality, speaks volumes for the indomitable British wartime spirit The plan evolved into Operation PLUTO, the Pipe-Line Under The Ocean. It ran - initially, at least - for 70 miles along the Channel seabed from the Isle of Wight to Cherbourg, and then on the shorter route between Dungeness, in Kent, and Boulogne. The Germans failed to detect it And it worked!

PLUTO was one of the greatest of Britain's wartime secrets and - in the words of Eisenhower - it was "second in daring only to the artificial (Mulberry) harbours."


HMS Latimer during her historic first cable-laying run from Shanklin to Cherbourg.
10th August 1944


Adrian Searle's book is the first comprehensive history of Operation PLUTO covering its origins, development and operation after D-Day. The book examines the role the undersea pipe-line played in the liberation of Europe, and takes the story a stage further by describing the overland extensions from the French terminals which eventually provided a continuous pipe-line link between the Bristol Channel and Mersey tanker ports in England and Germany itself.
Intended as a tribute to the people who masterminded the project, and those who actually built and operated it, the book is profusely illustrated with photographs - many of them rare - maps and documents.

Published in paperback by Shanklin Chine and incorporating 50 illustrations.

Price £7.99+ £1.51 P&P.
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Shanklin Chine - the proud publishers of a new book celebrating the Chine’s long association with 40 Royal Marine Commando, who trained for the 1942 Dieppe Raid at the Chine. A specialist force, the commando were designed to undertake penetration of enemy defences to make way for more conventional troops. With astonishing daring, they  quickly gained a reputation for toughness and resolution.

 

This fascinating life story, written by ex-commando Jock Farmer, born into a working class Scottish family in Paisley, records his devotion to his parents and the standards set for him and his brothers and sisters. His relatively tough upbringing served him well when he became a member of the first Royal Marine Commando, formed in 1941.

 

His account is a testament to the bonds that welded this ‘band of brothers’ into a superb fighting unit.  Their baptism of fire was violent – at the unsuccessful Dieppe Raid.  With other survivors of his sunken landing craft, Jock was literally plucked from the sea on a rope suspended from a passing ship.  The main attacking force was Canadian.  Their losses were immense causing much bitterness.  However, it was claimed that valuable lessons learned contributed to the success of the Normandy landings in 1944.

 

In Sicily and Italy, Jock was twice wounded.  His description of life in the ranks is a refreshingly frank account of the day to day life of tough fighting men, trained to use their initiative to secure a degree of comfort for themselves and a maximum of discomfort for their enemy.  It reveals a spirit of comradeship that still exists amongst the veterans of Jock’s commando.  Each spring, they meet for a reunion weekend and a service of remembrance at their memorial at Shanklin Chine.

 

Sadly Jock died in November 2006 while his manuscript was in course of preparation for printing.  He was involved with this process until two days before his death.  The book stands as a fitting memorial to the wartime exploits of this gallant force, 40 Royal Marine Commando, in which he had been proud to serve.

 

Published in paperback by Shanklin Chine, and incorporating 33 illustrations - March 2007.

 

Price £10.00 + £1.50 p&p


 

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