Photographs: Combined Operations Training, November 1942 (2)

 The Black Watch (and a Few Canadian Sailors in Comb. Ops)

Learning the Ropes re Landing Crafts, in Scotland, 1942

IWM (H 25386) Black Watch landing after "touching down.”

6th Ben. Black Watch (at HMS Quebec, Scotland) Nov. 1942

Introduction:

It has been reported that thousands upon thousands of British, Commonwealth, Polish, etc., soldiers underwent training aboard landing crafts at the No. 1 Training Camp for Combined Operations situated about 1 or 2 miles south of Inveraray, Scotland, on the western shores of Loch Fyne. 

Inveraray, located in NW Scotland, is well out of range of most German aircraft so was safe from bombings. And the lochs and terrain in the area were perfect for putting all kinds of craft (and the crews to man them) through their paces. 

The first two drafts of members from the RCNVR who volunteered for Combined Operations in December, 1941 (about 100 sailors, including my father Gordon 'Douglas' Harrison, Norwich, Ontario) passed through Inveraray in the spring - summer of 1942. So, when the photos shared below were originally taken - November 17, 1942 - many of those earliest of Canadian recruits would have been serving upon British (or possibly U.S.) landing crafts (sprinkled among the crews) on the shores of North Africa as part of Operation TORCH which began in early November, 1942.

A12647 American troops manning their landing craft assault from a doorway

in the side of the liner REINA DEL PACIFICO. Two of the landing craft

are numbered LCA 428 and LCA 447. (Hudson, F A (Lt))

(Doug Harrison, second left, about to grab a rope)

A12671 Troops and ammunition for light guns being brought ashore from

a landing craft assault (ramped) (LCA 428) on Arzeu beach, Algeria, N. Africa,

whilst another LCA (LCA 287) approaches the beach. Lt. F.A. Hudson

(Doug Harrison, RCNVR/Comb. Ops, center, welcomes U.S. troops!)

Please click here to read more about Doug's adventures while training in Scotland.

The hired transport Ettrick, at Inveraray: Photo credit - link to combined ops.com

Please click here for more adventures related to 'early days of training' for Combined Operations.

Badge re HMS Quebec, No.1 Comb. Ops. Training Centre

Art Warrick, RCNVR/Comb.Ops., first draft at HMS Quebec, 1942

More photographs now follow taken by Walter Thomas Lockeyear, War Office Official Photographer, from his very lengthy collection of 3853 photos:

(Editor's note - When I first saw the photo below, a few years ago, I immediately thought that the sailor hanging onto the top of the right side of the LCA (landing craft, assault) was my father. "He's built like my dad, and he wears his hat on the back of his head - like dad." Then I noticed the date on the picture, i.e., Nov. 17, 1942. "Dad participated in TORCH, was in the Med. as of Nov. 8, said he was there 9 - 10 days, almost starved to death except for stealing some grapefruit juice from the Yanks, he said. Can't be him!")

IWM (H 25391) (1/4) Men of 6th Battalion, the Black Watch crouch down

in a landing craft as it approaches the shore, during combined operations

training in Scotland, 17 November 1942.

IWM (H 25391) (3/4) Same caption as above but with poorer quality photograph.

("Unfortunately, the better quality photos are not always available," says GH)

IWM (H 25391) (4/4) Slightly different caption appears on the back of the

photograph. 'Combined Operations Training' (in Scotland), 17 Nov. 1942

IWM (H 25392) 6th Black Watch running ashore on touching down.

IWM (H 25393) (1/2) Original wartime caption: 6th Black Watch negotiating

beach wire defences. Creator War Office official photographers (Photographer)

Lockeyear, Walter Thomas (Undefined) Production date 1942-11-17

IWM (H 25393) (2/2) Original wartime caption: 6th Black Watch

negotiating beach wire defences.

IWM (H 25394) Besides infantry troops, gunners are trained to land guns.

Photograph shows Bofors guns of a Light A.A. Battery landing from a

Tank Landing craft. 91st Light A.A. Battery.

IWM (H 25395) (1/2) A 40mm Bofors gun of 91st Light Anti-Aircraft

Regiment is hauled into a landing craft during combined operations

training in Scotland, 17 November 1942.

IWM (H 25395) (2/2) A modified caption appears on the back of the photograph.

IWM (H 25396) Silhouetted against the first morning light, 25-pounder Field

guns of 77th Field Regiment, R.A. landing from a Tank Landing craft (LCT).

IWM (H 25397) After landing, the 25-pdr. Battery goes into action.

IWM (H 25398) Man-handling 6-pdr. anti-tank guns from a

tank landing craft on to the beach.

Some photos in this series from H25383 - H25398 are filed under the heading “The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939 - 45”

More timely photographs by Lt. Walter Thomas Lockeyear will soon follow, a handful from May, 1942, then a lengthy set taken in December, 1942, just a few weeks after the above set were taken.

I think after filing the photos from mid-November, 1942, Walter got a shave and a haircut (cost only two bits!) and went right back to work.

Please click here to view Photographs: Combined Operations Training, November 1942 (1)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (3)

 Training for Operation Rutter Scheduled for July 7, 1942??

Or Operation Jubilee (Dieppe) Planned for August 19, 1942?

IWM (H 21715)(1/2) Original wartime caption: Canadian troops taking

part in the exercise await their turn to embark.

(H 21715)(2/2). Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

While looking through a series of two dozen photographs entitled "Training For Combined Operations" (see parts 1 and 2 of this series), I noticed one particular photo (i.e., H 21363) was filed under a different heading - DOMINION AND EMPIRE FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45. Same date as all the others in the series, same photographers. (Then, when I used placed DOMINION AND EMPIRE FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 on the search line I did find H 21363, but under a slightly different heading! I.e., DOMINION AND COLONIAL FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45. 

Confused? You're not alone : ) However, by searching under the new heading I found another series of 23 photographs (H 21715 - H 21737), and on the back of each was the original caption for the photos - "Training For Combined Operations". 

Confused?? No matter. The photographs are very informative except for two things. No exact date. No exact location given with the captions. So, 'Help Wanted.' If you can supply further details please let me know - gordh7700@gmail.com

I have not yet found if the exercise in July, 1942 has an official name but I am starting to think it took place somewhere on England's south shore between Southampton and Newhaven. I will be visiting that part of England's coastline very shortly and hope to come back home with more information about Canadians in Combined Operations and their significant role in Allied exercises and operations.

Please click here to read more about "The RCN and Overseas Operations 1939 - 1945" which includes details re a Canadian sailor's involvement in the Dieppe Raid.

Eleven more photographs in the "Training For Combined Operations" series follow with original caption from the Imperial War Museum:

IWM (H 21716) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21717) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21718) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21719) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21720) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21721) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21722) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21723) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21724) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21725) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21726) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

More photographs related to the above series will soon follow.

Please click here to learn more about the Dieppe Raid, i.e., Al Kirby's 25-page 'eye-witness' report.

Al Kirby aboard an LCM of the 80th Flotilla, prior to Operation HUSKY

beginning July 10, 1943. Property of Al's son, David Kirby

Please click here to view Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (Part 2)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (1)

 Canadian Troops and Sailors Train for a Significant Exercise

Likely for the Dieppe Raid, Held in August, 1942

IWM (H 21355) - Canadian troops loading equipment on landing craft*.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205493918

*and because small landing craft are involved in the exercise, so too may several members of the RCNVR be involved, i.e., about half of those who had volunteered earlier for Combined Operations to serve on small craft and dangerous duties overseas (and who had arrived in the UK prior to the raid).

Please click here to read an article entitled Why Dieppe?

 
Introduction:

As readers perhaps already know, there are many books written about the Dieppe Raid, aka Operation Jubilee, held on August 19, 1942. And for every book one can find about the raid there are likely 1,000 photographs at the Imperial War Museum or other archives in several countries around the world, especially in British Commonwealth countries, e.g., Canada.

Recently I located about 2 dozen photographs at IWM under the same heading, 'Training For Combined Operations,' taken by Lts. Arthur James Tanner and Walter Thomas Lockeyear, (British) War Office Official Photographers in July, 1942. The chief subjects are Combined Operations Commander Lord Louis Mountbatten, Canadian troops, sailors from the RN and RCNVR*, and the occasional landing craft.

I encourage readers to make the effort to locate more photographs taken by Art Tanner and Walt Lockeyear (if I can be so bold as to use their first names). Some help finding their WWII collections is provided under the next photograph shared below.

*about 100 members of RCNVR - those who had volunteered for Combined Operations in late 1941 while under going training at HMCS Stadacona (including my father Doug Harrison, volunteer no. V8809) - were in the UK at the time, though only about half were assigned to take part in the Dieppe Raid in August (not including my father). 

Training For Combined Operations, from Imperial War Museum:

IWM (H 21350) - Original wartime caption: Vice Admiral Lord

Louis Mountbatten discussing the scheme with troops taking part.

Please click here to view the above photograph at the IWM. The page includes a 'search line'* with the number H21350. Click on the 'magnifying glass icon' or the small-sized photo (or its heading) to go to a larger, cleaner original version of the photograph.

Or, click here to quickly go to the larger, cleaner original version.

*re 'search line.' If you are reading a book re WWII that includes numbered photos from IWM, delete H21350 and replace it with the number your book supplies. Go to the original photo and note the links suppled to other related material including names and links to the official photographers (e.g., Lts. Tanner and Lockeyear), giving you access to other WWII photos they took at various times during WWII. (Warning - searching for sets of particular photos re the Dieppe Raid (August, 1942), Operation Torch (invasion of North Africa beginning in early November, 1942) and/or 1000s of other topics can become addictive!)

Information on back of each photo was also provided by IWM. I have shared the 'back photo' of only three photographs because in all cases except one the back is the same as the original caption. Below is the exception, because it acts as a fitting introduction to the full set of photographs:

Lord Louis Mountbatten, the second commander of Combined Operations, continues the discussion re an upcoming scheme (or exercise):

IWM (H 21351) - Original wartime caption: Vice Admiral Lord

Louis Mountbatten discussing the scheme with troops taking part.

IWM (H 21352) - Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten

with personnel taking part in the exercise.

More about Lord Mountbatten and his role in Combined Operations can be found in a very important book entitled The Watery Maze. Please click here to view several details about the book.

IWM (H 21353) - Canadian troops taking part in the exercise,

listen to a talk by Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten.

IWM (H 21354) - Troops waiting to embark on landing craft. It

will be noticed that they are wearing Mae Wests (inflated life belts).

IWM (H 21356) - Canadian troops waiting to go aboard landing craft. One

has a portable wireless set or "Walkie Talkie" as American troops call it.

IWM (H 21357) - Canadian troops waiting to embark

on landing craft for the exercise.

IWM (H 21358) - Air Force and Royal Navy wait to go aboard land-

ing craft for the exercise. The RAF man has a portable wireless set.

IWM (H 21359) - Canadian troops embarking in landing craft for the exercise.

IWM (H 21360) - Canadian troops embarking in landing craft for the exercise.

Soon to follow, more photographs related to 'Training For Combined Operations, July 1942' as found at the Imperial War Museum (IWM).

Link to Imperial War Museum in London, England here.

Please click here to view photographs related to Canadians in Combined Operations and their role in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, beginning July 10, 1943.

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: The Imperial War Museum (1)

 The Trip of a Lifetime, Combined Ops-Related in 2014 

London Was Actually a Detour, Lost-Passport-Related

Introduction:

The trip to Scotland was well-planned and my first days in Irvine were a treat. I walked over some of the same beaches and sat in some of the same pubs that my father had during WWII.

I didn't see any Nissan or Quonset huts that housed members of RCNVR and Combined Operations when they were training to handle landing crafts south of Irvine, toward Troon. But I did see the water and shore that was abuzz with practice operations during the months preceding the Dieppe Raid, the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy, and more.

Before I headed to Inveraray and Edinburgh I had to make an unscheduled detour to London, however, in order to deal with (what I thought was) a stolen or lost passport. Within five minutes of unpacking at my bed and breakfast, my missing passport tumbled onto my bed from deep within my backpack and my worries were over. I was duly informed at Government House that my passport was still valid so I skipped down the street to a coffeeshop and made exciting plans re the city of London.

I visited my great-aunt's neighbourhood and sampled wares at pubs my father had mentioned in memoirs. I walked for hours, loving every minute, snapped 100s of photos (Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square, shiny beer taps, on and on, and visited the Imperial War Museum to donate a copy of my father's memoirs and newspaper columns re his time in Combined Operations.

Below are a few photos of my trip to the Imperial War Museum (IWM):

The IWM is south east of Lambeth North (centre, blue ink, subway hub) at

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park (green space just below 'sub hub', centre)

A landmark east of Lambeth North hub, on my way to the IMW

and (later) the Ship Inn Pub on Borough Road*

*My father wrote in memoirs, "You could not get me lost in London even if I was three sheets to the wind." I only got turned around once, quickly corrected myself ("That store doesn't look familiar. Better retrace my way back to the pub, then start over."

Front entrance to IWM is well-guarded!

The Grand Hall is open to several levels

"A pint of beer costs 2 pence." Not anymore. Average price 3 GBP

Navy boys on landing crafts moved tonnes of fuel in these cans

The size and functions of landing crafts grew as the war progressed

1000s upon 1000s were required for ever-larger operations, from raids,

e.g., St. Nazaire, Dieppe; to invasions N. Africa, Sicily, Italy, France

LCAs would hold 3 dozen men; later LCMs, the next size up, were not on display

LCT - Landing Craft, Tank seemed gigantic, then came LST - Landing Ship, Tank

An LST has its own RHINO bridge attached to its sides

This is an LCI(S) - Landing Craft Infantry, Small; later came LCI(L) - large

Landing Craft Assault, perhaps the most common landing craft

LCAs in the Far East perhaps Burma

A Lancaster or Lanc. Many were produced in Toronto Ontario Canada

An Italian mini-submarine/"glorified torpedo", a two-man weapon

More photos of the 'mini-sub-torpedo can be seen here

Attlee (left, W. C. Churchill (right)

IMW is home to its own significant gallery. Photos were not allowed

but a few may appear in another entry in the future. Photo - GH

One of my favourite two pubs in the area in which I stayed for a few days

Please link to Photographs re Combined Operations and "The Spit" at Comox, Vancouver Island, BC for more information and photographs re Canadians in Combined Operations.

Unattributed Photos GH