Early this morning the cruiser Sirius steamed up the Loire to St Nazaire , France , returning survivors to the scene of their epic raid , to honour their lost comrades . They were given a moving welcome by the people of the town as they marched ashore with the bronze plaque , bearing the words " They achived much , having dared all ", for the French prepared monolith . M Ramadier , French Premier , kisses Colonel Newman on each cheek in the traditional French manner , after investing him at a ceremony held on the quay side at St Nazaire . Colonel Newman VC led the Commandos in the epic attack on 28 March 1942 . 2 August 1947