British and American Troops Land Together East of Algiers
Operation TORCH, the U.S. Entry into the Mediterranean War.
American troops of the 34th Infantry Division landing on the beaches
at Surcouf, twenty miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942. NA 30
Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM)
The Imperial War Museum, home to 11,000,000 photographs, amongst a few other WWII items, is something like a giant maze. For example, when I start to explore a certain photographer's records, i.e., Sgt. C. Bowman's from Salerno, Sicily, Tunisia (240 pictures in all), it's not long before I learn another name and another name and another name after that, followed by another set of photos and then another set... until I'm either lost in wonder or awe, or really close to it.
About 10 - 20 per cent of the total number of Canadian sailors (RCNVR) who volunteered for Combined Operations during WWII found themselves participating in Allied landings in North Africa less than one year after enlisting. My father - from Norwich, Ontario - landed American troops at Arzew, east of Oran, and his mate Buryl landed U.S. and U.K. at Surcouf, east of Algiers, both beginning November 9, 1942 (about 3 months after the Dieppe Raid).
My father, Doug Harrison (left) and Buryl McIntyre, at HMCS Stadacona,
a month or two before before heading to the U.K. for training aboard LCAs
and LCMs. Fall, 1941. Photo - from the collection of Doug Harrison
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. Photographer - Lt. F.A. Hudson
Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM) A12647
In this blog post I share between 2 and 3 dozen photographs that capture a small part of the action related to D-Day North Africa. The photographer was Sergeant C. Bowman, of No. 2 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit. Photo Credits - Imperial War Museum (IWM). And because of IWM's online structure I quickly was introduced to many more photos than 2 - 3 dozen, by photographers Stubbs, Wackett and West. So, more to follow I bet.
NA 17 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division and RAF Regiment
personnel disembarking from landing craft at the beach at Surcouf,
20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 18 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division driving away in
Jeeps after landing at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers,
9 November 1942
Map re Operation TORCH as found at Wikipedia
NA 19 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division after landing at the
beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942. Note a M3
Gun Motor Carriage tank destroyer with a 75 mm anti-tank gun
NA 22 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division awaiting orders under
cover of date palms after landing at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of
Algiers, 9 November 1942.
NA 26 First French prisoners being escorted by troops of the US 34th
Infantry Division after Allied landing at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles
east of Algiers, 9 November 1942.
NA 27 Men of the Royal Air Force Regiment marching inland to take
possession of Maison Blanche airfield after landing at the beach at
Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 28 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division disembarking from
a landing craft (serial number 556) at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east
of Algiers, 9 November 1942.
NA 29 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division disembarking
from a landing craft at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers,
9 November 1942.
For context, a great many details from The Winnipeg Tribune related directly and indirectly to Operation TORCH can be found on this site, at this location.
A wee Combined Operation can be seen above, i.e., U.S. troops disembarkfrom British landing craft manned by Canadian volunteer members of
RCNVR and Combined Ops.
Caption with the above photo, as found at Imperial War Museum:
American troops landing on the beach at Arzeu, near Oran, from a
landing craft assault (LCA 26), some of them are carrying boxes of
supplies. Photo Credit - RN Photographer F. A. Hudson
Photos taken by Sergeant C. Bowman, of No. 2 Army Film and Photo Section continue:
NA 30 American troops of the 34th Infantry Division landing on the
beaches at Surcouf, twenty miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942.
Operation Torch signalled the American entry into the Mediterranean
War. 1942-11-09
NA 32 American troops of the US 34th Infantry Division manhandling
their artillery guns off the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, after
disembarking from a landing craft, 9 November 1942. One of the guns is
named "Slim's Deadly Poison".
NA 33 One of the guns of the US 34th Infantry Division, named "Slim's
Deadly Poison", after disembarking at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east
of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 34 American troops of the US 34th Infantry Division setting off
inland after disembarking at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of
Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 36 Troops of a Royal Air Force regiment waiting to unload a truck
from the LCM 543 landing craft after disembarking at the beach at
Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 37 Troops of the Royal Air Force Regiment waiting to unload a
truck from the LCM 543 landing craft after disembarking at the beach
at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 46 Landing craft conveying American troops of the US 34th Infantry
Division and RAF personnel arriving at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles
east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 47 American troops of the US 34th Infantry Division guiding
approaching landing craft with a signalling device at the beach
at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 48 A bulldozer assisting a 75 mm Gun Motor Carriage M3 tank
destroyer of the US 34th Infantry Division over the sand after landing
at the beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 49 A reconnaissance party of the Royal Air Force Regiment, led by
Captain P. R. Prior, questioning a local shepherd after landing at the
beach at Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 51 Troops of the RAF Regiment after landing at the beach at
Surcouf, 20 miles east of Algiers, early morning of 9 November 1942
NA 53 Arab boys watching American troops of the US 34th Infantry
Division disembarking from landing craft at the beach at Surcouf,
20 miles east of Algiers, early morning of 9 November 1942
NA 56 Sentry of the British 78th Infantry Division on duty at cross-
roads near Maison Blanche Aerodrome, Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 58 Troops of the RAF Regiment marching to Maison Blanche
Aerodrome, Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 61 Despatch riders of the British 78th Infantry Division with
their BSA motorcycles in captured Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 63 Humber armoured cars of the British 78th Infantry Division
in the captured Algiers docks, 9 November 1942
NA 66 A Royal Navy troopship docking at captured Algiers, 9 Nov. 1942
NA 67 Troops of the US 34th Infantry Division disembarking from a
Royal Navy troopship docked at captured Algiers, 9 November 1942.
Note gunners of the British 78th Infantry Division setting up their
Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun in the foreground.
NA 68 A Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun of the British 78th Infantry
Division at the docks in captured Algiers, 9 November 1942
NA 69 Troops of the British 78th Infantry Division unloading supplies
and equipment from a troopship at the docks in captured Algiers,
9 November 1942
The last photo in this group is filed under the following heading - THE ALLIED OCCUPATION OF FRENCH NORTH AFRICA, 1942-1945
NA 166 A 250 kg bomb landed here, failed to explode and broke in half
during the enemy air raid in Allied-occupied Algiers, 21 Nov. 1942. One
of the halves landed alongside two British Army photographers, Sergeants
who were lying flat in the roadway; a remarkable escape for them.
More photos from IWM archive re North Africa and Operation TORCH soon to follow.
Questions or comments can be addressed to Editor (Gord H.) at gordh7700@gmail.com
Unattributed Photos GH
