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 . A large crowd watch the unveiling ceremony performed at St Nazaire by M Ramadier and attended by members of the British and French forces . 2 August 1947