the Atlantic coast. Of the 600 men who left the port of Falmouth, Cornwall, England on the raid only 225 would return. During the raid Sergeant Durrant was in charge of a twin Lewis gun on board H.M. Motor Launch 306. As it came up the river Loire to the port of St Nazaire ML306 came under heavy fire from the shore and was unable to land its troops at the Old Mole and it is during its withdrawal that it came head-to-head with a pursuing German destroyer of the Mowe class, the Jaguar. In the battle with the German destroyer Durrant was wounded numerous times, in the head, both arms, legs, chest and stomach. After the battle Durrant died of his wounds in a German military hospital in St Nazaire. Following his death he was buried in La Baule-Escoublac War Cemetery, from Saint-Nazaire, in Plot I, Row D, Grave 11. A week later the commander of the German destroyer, Kapitänleutnant F. K. Paul, met the Commando commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus Charles Newman, in a prisoner of war camp in Rennes. Bringing the action to Newman's attention, Paul suggested that the colonel might wish to recommend Durrant for a high award. His Victoria Cross citation reads: Aftermath Durrant is buried in La Baule-Escoublac War Cemetery, France in Plot I, Row D, Grave 11. The award of the Victoria Cross to Durrant was announced in the London Gazette on 15 June 1945, at the same time it was announced the Commando commander during the raid Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Charles Newman had also been awarded the Victoria Cross. On 29 October 1946 Durrant's Victoria Cross was presented to his mother at an investiture at Buckingham Palace by King George VI. Durrant's Victoria Cross is now on display at the Royal Engineers Museum Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent, England. References Bibliography External links (detailed description of the action) Location of grave and VC medal (France) 1918 births 1942 deaths Burials in France People from Farnborough, London British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Engineers soldiers British Army personnel killed in World War II British Army Commandos soldiers British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Kent