Durrant, Thomas Frank, born 17-10-1918 in Farnborough, Kent, 
Thomas attended Green Street Green Primary School, formally known as Vine Road Primary School. After leaving school, he worked as a butcher’s boy, then as a builder’s labourer. Durrant enlisted in the Corps of Royal Engineers 
prior to the Second World War on 01-02-1937. His service number was 1874047. In 1940 the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill 
ordered the formation of units of specially trained troops that would, “develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast.” Durrant volunteered for service with the Special Service Independent Companies and was posted to No. 2 Special Independent Company. It was when serving with No. 2 Independent Company in the Norwegian campaign that he was promoted in the field to Sergeant. When his company returned from Norway all the independent companies were formed into battalion sized units known as Commandos. Durrant then became a member of No. 1 Commando 
Thomas attended Green Street Green Primary School, formally known as Vine Road Primary School. After leaving school, he worked as a butcher’s boy, then as a builder’s labourer. Durrant enlisted in the Corps of Royal Engineers prior to the Second World War on 01-02-1937. His service number was 1874047. In 1940 the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the formation of units of specially trained troops that would, “develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast.” Durrant volunteered for service with the Special Service Independent Companies and was posted to No. 2 Special Independent Company. It was when serving with No. 2 Independent Company in the Norwegian campaign that he was promoted in the field to Sergeant. When his company returned from Norway all the independent companies were formed into battalion sized units known as Commandos. Durrant then became a member of No. 1 Commando Thomas became a soldier in the British Army 
during World War II and a posthumous English recipient of the Victoria Cross 
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His award of the Victoria Cross was unique in that it is the only award given to a soldier in a naval action and it was on the recommendation of the enemy commander. Durrant enlisted in the Corps of Royal Engineers 
prior to World War II on 01-02-1937. In 1940 
Durrant volunteered for service with the Special Service Independent Companies and was posted to No. 2 Special Independent Company, later Durrant became a member of No. 1 Commando 
under Admiral Louis “Dickie” Mountbatten. 
The St. Nazaire Raid, Operation Chariot, was a seaborne attack on the heavily defended docks of St. Nazaire in occupied France on the night of 28-03-1942. This was a combined operation undertaken by Royal Navy 
and Commando units. The main commando force was provided by No. 2 Commando with supporting demolition parties from other commando units, including Durrants No. 1 Commando. The intention of the raid was to destroy the dry dock which would force any large German warship in need of repairs, such as the Tirpitz.
during World War II and a posthumous English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His award of the Victoria Cross was unique in that it is the only award given to a soldier in a naval action and it was on the recommendation of the enemy commander. Durrant enlisted in the Corps of Royal Engineers prior to World War II on 01-02-1937. In 1940 Durrant volunteered for service with the Special Service Independent Companies and was posted to No. 2 Special Independent Company, later Durrant became a member of No. 1 Commando under Admiral Louis “Dickie” Mountbatten. The St. Nazaire Raid, Operation Chariot, was a seaborne attack on the heavily defended docks of St. Nazaire in occupied France on the night of 28-03-1942. This was a combined operation undertaken by Royal Navy and Commando units. The main commando force was provided by No. 2 Commando with supporting demolition parties from other commando units, including Durrants No. 1 Commando. The intention of the raid was to destroy the dry dock which would force any large German warship in need of repairs, such as the Tirpitz.
During the raid Sergeant Durrant was in charge of a Lewis gun on H.M. Motor Launch 306. As it came up the River Loire to the port of St. Nazaire it came under heavy fire from the shore and from a pursuing German destroyer Jaguar. In the battle with the German destroyer Durrant was wounded 
numerous times, in the head, both arms, legs, chest and stomach.
The explosive charges on board HMS Campbeltown, 
which was still stuck in the dry dock on the lock gate, were scheduled to go off at around 9am. Meanwhile, the Germans investigated the ship and failed to find the hidden explosive charges. Then the undermined HMS Campbeltown exploded at around 10.35 am, killing and wounding many Germans. About 250 soldiers and civilians in the immediate area were killed or injured by the flying debris. The reason for the late ignition that caused the explosion was the fact that the British had used ‘pencil’ detonators. By using these ‘pencil’ detonators alone, they provided an approximate duration delay. Several more explosions followed on March 30, at approximately 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM, when delayed ignition torpedoes launched by MTB 74 through the Old Entrance exploded in the Bassin de Saint-Nazaire. These belated explosions caused panic among the German garrison. This led to confusion and suspicion towards the French civilian population because the Germans thought they were dealing with the French Resistance, so they shot at French civilians. 16 French civilians were killed in the provoked cross barrage and about 30 French were wounded. Later, about 1,500 French citizens were arrested and taken to an internment camp in Savenay. In the total operation approximately 400 Germans were killed.
which was still stuck in the dry dock on the lock gate, were scheduled to go off at around 9am. Meanwhile, the Germans investigated the ship and failed to find the hidden explosive charges. Then the undermined HMS Campbeltown exploded at around 10.35 am, killing and wounding many Germans. About 250 soldiers and civilians in the immediate area were killed or injured by the flying debris. The reason for the late ignition that caused the explosion was the fact that the British had used ‘pencil’ detonators. By using these ‘pencil’ detonators alone, they provided an approximate duration delay. Several more explosions followed on March 30, at approximately 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM, when delayed ignition torpedoes launched by MTB 74 through the Old Entrance exploded in the Bassin de Saint-Nazaire. These belated explosions caused panic among the German garrison. This led to confusion and suspicion towards the French civilian population because the Germans thought they were dealing with the French Resistance, so they shot at French civilians. 16 French civilians were killed in the provoked cross barrage and about 30 French were wounded. Later, about 1,500 French citizens were arrested and taken to an internment camp in Savenay. In the total operation approximately 400 Germans were killed.Death and burial ground of Durrant, Thomas Frank.
After the battle Durrant died of his wounds in a German military hospital in St Nazaire, following his death, age 23, he was buried in La Baule-Escoublac War Cemetery, France in Plot I, Row D, Grave 11. Next to his pal Petty Officer Reginald Joseph Charles Hodder 28-03-1942, aged 39,
On 29-10-1946 Durrant’s Victoria Cross was presented to his mother at an investiture at Buckingham Palace by King George VI. Sergeant Durrant’s gallant fight was commended by the German officers on boarding the Motor Launch. This very gallant non-commissioned officer later died of the many wounds received in action
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