 The explosion put the dry dock out of commission for the remainder of the war . The St Nazaire raid had been a success , but at a cost . Of the <unk> men of the Royal Navy and Commandos who took part in the raid , only 228 men returned to England . Five commandos escaped via neutral Spain and Gibraltar with the help of French citizens , and took a ship to England from Gibraltar . 169 men were killed ( 105 RN and 64 Commandos ) and another 215 became prisoners of war ( 106 RN and 109 Commandos ) . They were first taken to La <unk> and then sent to <unk> 133 at Rennes . The fallen British raiders were buried at the La <unk> @-@ <unk> cemetery with military honours . The cemetery is located 13 kilometres west of St Nazaire . 
