Operation Collar (commando raid)

Operation Collar
Part of Second World War, the North West Europe Campaign
Map of France the Pas-de-Calais highlighted in red
Date 24/25 June 1940 Location Neufchâtel-Hardelot Stella Plage Berck Le Touquet Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Major Ronnie Tod	Unknown
Strength
115 officers and other ranks	Unknown
Casualties and losses
One wounded	Two dead

Operation Collar was the codeword for the first commando raid conducted by the British forces during the Second World War. The location selected for the raid was the Pas-de-Calais department on the French coast. The British Commandos had not long been formed and were not yet trained and the operation was given to No. 11 Independent Company under the command of Major Ronnie Tod.

The raid's objective was the reconnaissance of four locations and the capture of prisoners. Over the night of 24/25 June 1940, 115 men of No. 11 Independent Company carried out the operation but they failed to gather any intelligence or damage German equipment; their only success was in killing two German sentries.^[1]