The News and Views from Winnipeg, February 11 - 12 1944
Anzio Beachhead*, Beer Quota Gone (!), "Storm Bogs Tanks" and More
(*A link is provided to a video re the Anzio Beachhead and more)
Exploding grain elevators, from The Winnipeg Tribune, Feb. 12, 1944
"You are needed in Canada's Army. Don't delay" (!)
Introduction:
The war raged in Italy and Russia and other fronts in the Pacific in early 1944 while dozens of young Canadians in Combined Ops - veterans of Dieppe, N. Africa, Sicily and Italy - adjusted to new routines at HMS Givenchy III, a Canadian navy base on The Spit at Comox, Vancouver Island, BC. They had returned from Europe in December and were soon on their way by train - after enjoying an extended leave in their hometowns, e.g., in 'dairy and tobacco country' in southern Ontario - to the west coast of Canada.
My search continues for more information about members of the Canadian armed forces who returned to Canada in late 1943 and were interviewed by their hometown newspapers. A few items have already been provided in this series of posts, chiefly about my chief interest, i.e., members of RCNVR who were also members of Combined Operations.
Below (before we get to the news from The Trib) are a few details about the Combined Ops School in the Courtenay/Comox region:
Courtenay/Comox face inland waters near the Strait of Georgia between
Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia
I took this picture in 2014 before travelling from Victoria to Courtenay
In a newspaper article by Judy Hagen in The Record (Vancouver Island free daily) we learn that the Comox Valley was "used as training grounds for the Normandy Invasion (beginning June 6, 1944)."
Ms. Hagen writes:
When 21,000 Canadian troops descended upon Juno Beach on June 6, 1944, it was the culmination of years of preparation. Many of the assault teams had been trained under the “Combined Ops” program; one training site was Courtenay. Many lessons had been learnt at the ill-fated Raid on Dieppe in August 1942. It was hoped that the “Combined Ops” training would better prepare the men for landing at Juno Beach on D-Day...
The army established "a tent camp on the old Piercy farm" Photo Credit - The Record
When the Combined Ops training became the primary activity at the spit, it was commissioned as HMCS Givenchy (III) – on Oct. 1, 1943...
View of The Spit, 1930s. Government oyster beds are visible and possibly
a short rail line - to help with transporting oysters to waiting trucks
During WWII most of Canada's landing crafts were at
The SpitPhoto - with J. Hagen's article in The Record
The plywood "ramped cargo lighter, designed and built in Canada"
Photo - from Canada's War at Sea, Postscript page 28
Typical training carried out by the Combined Ops was described in a report of the Midland Regiment, which was at Givenchy III in August 1944.
“Three assault craft exercised ‘C’ Company in boat drill, six craft exercised Support and Headquarters Companies as well as ‘A’ Company in boat drill and landing net procedure; three craft drilled in ‘D’ Company in landing on Goose Spit, four companies in nine craft practised landings on Sandy Isle, five cutters were employed teaching soldiers boat pulling.”
Practise landings with live explosives on or nearby
The Spit, 1944 - 1945
[Editor's Note: In my father's Navy memoirs he writes about "teaching soldiers boat pulling" in navy cutters while on The Spit from January 1944 - August 1945. "I acted as Coxswain on large navy cutters as soldiers worked the oars. The cutters were 27 feet long and wide enough (except at the bows) to seat four men, two men to an oar. This was fun, getting the proper stroke amongst 18 green oarsmen. If the rhythm was wrong and an oar caught a crab (got stuck in the water), the effect was that nearly every thwart was cleared of oarsmen and bedlam prevailed. “Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!” I hollered, bursting from laughter. The oars are about 12 feet long and are they ever heavy. To give the soldiers a well-earned rest I would give the order “Rest oars.” Then the oars would be pulled in, rested on each side of the cutter, and the soldiers could rest their weary arms on the looms for awhile." "Dad, Well Done", page 126]
“I enjoyed giving the order to toss oars” at The Spit, Comox BC
Photo credit - Sailor Remember by W. H. Pugsley
J. Hagen continues:
Two men who trained here as part of the Combined Ops would, after the war, serve as mayors of the City of Courtenay.
(E.g.) George Hobson* (see team photo below) of Edmonton enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Givenchy II. He participated in the assault landings in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. After the Mediterranean Campaign, his unit returned to the spit to assist in gunnery training for the Pacific Theatre.
Navy #1 Team: Front: (L-R) V. Mauro, C. Rose, D. Harrison, B. Kidd, J. Spencer
Back: J. Ivison, J. Malone, W. Grycan, G. Hobson, D. Arney, D. Zink
(Editor's father, Doug Harrison of Norwich ONT, is front row, centre)
When the Second World War ended, Givenchy III was closed. “The Mission was accomplished.”
The navy barracks were for a short time used as primary classrooms until Courtenay West School was opened. The army barracks were still in use at GP Vanier High School as maintenance buildings, as recently as 2010.
In May 2004, the Heritage Commission of the City of Courtenay recognized the historical significance of the Combined Ops training by unveiling a plaque at Simms Millennium Park, near the Courtenay Slough.
I have come to understand that those Canadians in Combined Ops who returned to Canada in late 1943 enjoyed a unique experience at the Combined Operations School on The Spit (HMCS Givenchy III) for their final two years (approx.) of service.
"It was absolute heaven there," said my father and I'm inclined to agree for the most part.
And now, news clippings from The Trib:
The locations of the beachhead at Anzio, and actions at Mount Cassino are indicated below:
More information re "Canadian-American Special Service Force" is provided in this article by Ross Munro:
FYI - The first article above continues below:
A second news item re Finland was presented a few pages farther into the newspaper, in the same issue, and I have added it here:
And now a word from our sponsors: "Got B.O.??!!
The ads directly above and below are about items from the area south of my hometown as a youth (Norwich) and the area west of my current home as an adult (London). The pipe tobacco is likely from the Norfolk County region, incl. Delhi, Simcoe, etc., and the beans were from Chatham ONT.
Who is the cartoonist depicting beside Hitler? HELP WANTED.
I believe the original story about the lost girl is in the previous entry.
Link is provided at bottom of page
A former Tribune staff photographer is killed in the line of duty:
A newsreel about the beachhead battle at Anzio (ANZIO LANDINGS IN ITALY, MONTE CASSINO, RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN ROMANIA...)
can be found here (link).
Many members of the armed forces hoped to be home by Christmas. It was not to be.
A few examples of vintage artwork follow:
Be the 'best dressed' for 33 bucks. Not bad.
Speaking of getting dressed up!!
For more details about memoirs by Lloyd Evans, a member of RCNVR and Combined Ops who returned home to Canada in late 1943 after serving two years overseas (i.e., re Dieppe Raid - invasion of Italy), please visit Combined Operations Command by Scotsman Geoff Slee.
Unattributed Photos GH
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