(For similar cases see Lt Cdr Gerard Broadmead Roope VC RN, recommended by letter from Kapitan zur See Hellmuth Heye, commanding the German cruiser Admiral Hipper, and Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg VC RNZAF, recommended by Oberleutnant Klemens Schamong, captain U-468.)

[1][2] In 1940 the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the formation of units of specially trained troops that would, "develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast.

[4] The St Nazaire Raid (Operation Chariot) was a seaborne attack on the heavily defended docks of Saint-Nazaire in occupied France on the night of 28 March 1942.

[5] The intention of the raid was to destroy the dry dock which would force any large German warship in need of repairs, such as the Tirpitz, to return to home waters rather than seek safe haven in the Atlantic coast.

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.

Following his death he was buried in La Baule-Escoublac War Cemetery, 7 mi (11 km) from Saint-Nazaire, in Plot I, Row D, Grave 11.

[9] His Victoria Cross citation reads: For great gallantry, skill and devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun in HM Motor Launch 306 in the St Nazaire raid on 28 March 1942.

[1] On 29 October 1946 Durrant's Victoria Cross was presented to his mother at an investiture at Buckingham Palace by King George VI.

[1] Durrant's Victoria Cross is now on display at the Royal Engineers Museum Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent, England.