- SURNAME
Montanaro
- FORENAME
Gerald Charles Stokes
- UNIT
6 Commando (101 Troop)
- RANK
Lieutenant
- NUMBER
59057
- AWARD
Distinguished Service Order
- PLACE
France 1942
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Engineers
later Training Officer with 2 SAS
1965 retired final rank Brigadier
wife Pam
24.04.1979 died
CITATION:
Distinguished Service Order : On the night of 11/12th April 1942, Captain Montanaro, accompanied by Trooper Preece, entered Boulogne harbour in a canoe which had been taken by a Motor Launch to about one and a half miles from the harbour entrance. Successfully avoiding detection by the breakwater forts, and a number of vessels which were active in the harbour, they manoeuvred the canoe alongside an enemy tanker to which eight explosive charges were attached below water. They withdrew still undetected and commenced their return across channel without great expectation of being picked up until daylight some four hours later. Their canoe had suffered some damage during the operation and the sea conditions were deteriorating so that it was fortunate that as planned the motor launch was able to make contact and pick them up an hour after they had left Boulogne Harbour by which time they were 2 to 3 miles clear of the enemy coast.
Subsequent air reconnaissance has established that the tanker was damaged and beached.
Captain Montanaro displayed a high degree of courage, resolution and indifference to danger as well as skill in successfully carrying out this operation.
Subsequent air reconnaissance has established that the tanker was damaged and beached.
Captain Montanaro displayed a high degree of courage, resolution and indifference to danger as well as skill in successfully carrying out this operation.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7395542
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