Schuyt Exercises 1 and 2, Lady Helen (LCA 17) and a Silent Pact
And Two Canadian Flotillas of Landing Craft at Work
Photo found in St. Nazaire to Singapore, The Canadian Amphibious
War 1941 - 1945, Volume 1, Page 50. NB Photo by Len Birkenes*
Introduction:
About the title of these posts: The story of 'LCA 17, Lady Helen' by David J. Lewis (RCNVR, Combined Ops) can be found in Part 1 of this short series of WWII reports; the story about a 'Silent Pact' by Doug Harrison (RCNVR, Combined Ops) can be found in Part 2. Other details and links to related stories are sprinkled throughout the first two posts as well.
Has the best been saved 'til last? Quite possibly, though I am biased, of course, and lean toward Part 2 since it is a story by my father, and I have found a contact number for The Old Hat Pub in Southend-On-Sea in which - I believe - part of Dad's story could actually haven taken place (and not the Top-Hat Pub). Unfortunately, the pub is closed because of the pandemic.
So, onto Part 3, a story by Canadian Navy Officer William Sinclair concerning important details about the early training of Canadian officers and ratings in the use and deployment of landing crafts, and more. His story continues into the time of the Dieppe Raid and may provide a springboard into more stories re that tragic event.
[*I have found the obituary of Len Birkenes and will try to make contact with surviving family members. Perhaps some sharing of RCNVR, Combined Ops information can be one positive result.]
Early Engagements of the First Two Canadian Flotillas
by W. R. Sinclair
Intro by David Lewis, editor of St. Nazaire to Singapore, Volumes 1 and 2 (with the able assistance of his wife Catherine and Len Birkenes):
Following his description of initial training at HMS Northney, Combined Ops based on Hayling Island, Hampshire, and HMS Quebec on Loch Fyne, Bill Sinclair writes of his participation in exercises "Schuyt I and II."
Sinclair's story begins:
Photo found in St. Nazaire to Singapore, The Canadian Amphibious
War 1941 - 1945, Volume 1, Page 50.
*David Lewis adds the following as a footnote: Mountbatten had just taken over as "Representative" of Combined Operations, not yet Chief.
Editor's Note - Adjacent to HMS Dundonald as mentioned above, Camp Auchengate (Navy) was located. Canadian sailors recall living in bell tents, sneaking off property to hike into Irvine for pints at Harbour Lights pub, adjacent to the channel. Towns mentioned above, e.g., Ayr, Prestwick, etc., may have been the officers' choices. Related photos below:
St. Nazaire to Singapore, Volume 1, page 53 (David J. Lewis)
"Bell Tent at Irvine: Don Westbrook (Hamilton) and Butler emerging"
My father's Navy records reveal movement from Halifax (Stadacona) to
Combined Operations in Jan. 1942. Early training was at Northney and
a change in location beginning in April, 1942. Inveraray, Irvine, etc.
Questions, comments can be sent to GH at gordh7700@gmail.com
Officers outside their Nissen Hut, HMS Dundonald, Irvine.
L-R: David Lewis, Johnny Boak, Davy Rogers, Charlie
Pennyfather, Jake Koyl before Schuyts I and II
Photo - St. Nazaire to Singapore, page 44
Len Birkenes returning on Board through a makeshift gangway
Finding relatives of Len Birkenes may result in better photos!
Joe 'Spenny' Spencer is far left. RCNVR, Combined Ops
Bill Sinclair's story continues:
RFA Ennerdale, at Greenock, Scotland. From the collection of Joe Spencer
Sinclair writes:
RFA Ennerdale
This ship, a 10,000 ton Admiralty tanker, was fitted with gantries and carried 14 LCM (landing craft, mechanised) as deck cargo. In company with the Daffodil we sailed for the Solent, and what looked like a forthcoming operation**. Our coastal convoy left the Clyde about the 10th of June, 1942. Our first port was Belfast Loch, following which we put in at Milford haven on the Welsh coast.
This ship, a 10,000 ton Admiralty tanker, was fitted with gantries and carried 14 LCM (landing craft, mechanised) as deck cargo. In company with the Daffodil we sailed for the Solent, and what looked like a forthcoming operation**. Our coastal convoy left the Clyde about the 10th of June, 1942. Our first port was Belfast Loch, following which we put in at Milford haven on the Welsh coast.
We then proceeded across the Bristol Channel and along the coast of Deven, past Lundy Island and round land's End. Bishop's Rock and the Scilly Isles were visible to the south and west. About 10pm, just as it was getting dark, and when were a few miles off Portland Bill, our convoy was attacked by some eight JU 88s. After a few close ones, two of the Gerries were shot down and we proceeded to Portsmouth where the Ennerdale went into dry dock for two weeks as some of her plates had sprung due to near misses. (St. Nazaire to Singapore, page 50)
David Lewis added the following footnote to paragraph 1 above:
From what I have read, Operation Rutter (raid on Dieppe, France ) was scheduled for July 7, 1942. Operation Jubilee (Dieppe) took place approx. 5 weeks later. As well, I suppose this would be a good time to say that my father was aboard the Ennerdale when it was attacked by JU 88s, saw who tried to shoot down one of them, and later wrote a pretty good description of what happened from a rating's POV. His account compares nicely, in part, to Sinclair's own.
Part of my father's story - written in the mid-1970s - follows here, with a link to the conclusion:
It is very difficult to put a finger on where I was and when I was there because I have only my service sheet and memory to go by and neither seem to be up-to-date. However, I believe we went from Irvine to H.M.S. Quebec (Inveraray, Scotland), then to H.M.C.S. Niobe (a Canadian transit centre near Greenock, Scotland) and then aboard the oil tanker Ennerdale at Greenock in late April, 1942. Our barges were loaded on the ship too, by use of booms and winches. I do recall that before leaving Greenock one of the ship’s crew said to me, “I wish we weren’t going on this trip, matey.” When I asked why he said, “‘Cause we got a bloody basinful last time!” We got our basinful this time too.
During the trip down the west coast of England it seems we pulled into an Irish seaport one night; however, farther down the coast of England we headed south past Milford Haven, Wales, and all was serene.
We usually had a single or maybe two Spitfires for company. There were eight ships in the convoy; we were the largest, the rest were trawlers. Of course, the Spitfires only stayed until early dusk, then waggled their wings and headed home.
On June 22, 1942, my mother’s birthday, O/D Seaman Jack Rimmer of Montreal and I were reminiscing on deck. We must remember there was daylight saving time and war time, and to go by the sun setting one never knew what time it was. Jack and I were feeling just a little homesick - not like at first - and it was a terribly hard feeling to describe then.
Our Spitfire waggled his wings and kissed us goodnight though it was still quite light, and no sooner had he left when ‘action stations’ was blared out on the Klaxon horn.
Eight German JU 88s came from the east, took position in the sun and attacked us from the stern. It was perhaps between eight and nine o’clock because I had undressed and climbed into my hammock next to Stoker Fred Alston. When the Klaxon went everybody hit the deck and tried to dress, and being the largest ship, we knew we were in for it.
During the trip down the west coast of England it seems we pulled into an Irish seaport one night; however, farther down the coast of England we headed south past Milford Haven, Wales, and all was serene.
We usually had a single or maybe two Spitfires for company. There were eight ships in the convoy; we were the largest, the rest were trawlers. Of course, the Spitfires only stayed until early dusk, then waggled their wings and headed home.
On June 22, 1942, my mother’s birthday, O/D Seaman Jack Rimmer of Montreal and I were reminiscing on deck. We must remember there was daylight saving time and war time, and to go by the sun setting one never knew what time it was. Jack and I were feeling just a little homesick - not like at first - and it was a terribly hard feeling to describe then.
Our Spitfire waggled his wings and kissed us goodnight though it was still quite light, and no sooner had he left when ‘action stations’ was blared out on the Klaxon horn.
Eight German JU 88s came from the east, took position in the sun and attacked us from the stern. It was perhaps between eight and nine o’clock because I had undressed and climbed into my hammock next to Stoker Fred Alston. When the Klaxon went everybody hit the deck and tried to dress, and being the largest ship, we knew we were in for it.
(From "Dad, Well Done", page 19)
[Editor: Just a few pages later in the text St. Nazaire to Singapore, David Lewis shares many relevant details re the loss of Cliff Wallace. Below is a photo and opening paragraph of his account as found on page 60 of Volume 1.]
Bill Sinclair's account concludes below:
ALC 269 leaving Newhaven on August 21, 1942 with Charlie
ALC 269 returning to Southampton from Newhaven with C. Sheeler
Please click here to read the conclusion of the story.
Bill Sinclair's account continues:
HMS Calshot
Our Flotilla proceeded under its own power to Calshot, located at the eastern tip of the New Forest. Here we did nothing much for two weeks except for marches into the New Forest and some interesting bus trips to Southampton, Winchester, Andover and Salisbury. We then sailed in the Daffodil back down the English Channel to Milford Haven (Wales), then to the Clyde.
HMS Calshot
Our Flotilla proceeded under its own power to Calshot, located at the eastern tip of the New Forest. Here we did nothing much for two weeks except for marches into the New Forest and some interesting bus trips to Southampton, Winchester, Andover and Salisbury. We then sailed in the Daffodil back down the English Channel to Milford Haven (Wales), then to the Clyde.
See Comb. Ops establishment # 33. As found in Combined Operations,
by Londoner Clayton Marks, page 7
HMS Roseneath is a Comb. Ops establishment on above map; see no. 9
Paragraphs above are from St. Nazaire to Singapore, Vol. 1, pg. 51
Unfortunately, very few words are recorded about the type(s) of training the Canadians in Combined Ops experienced. More words are shared about the location of some trips. Such is life, as my father would say. Hopefully, more information is out there re Comb. Ops training and I'll find it.
Sinclair's account now goes on to include details related to the role of Canadians in Combined Ops during the Dieppe raid. (My father missed the raid by one day, he writes. He was on leave at Calshot Castle and knew something big was happening as he watched ships and landing craft leave The Solent from Southampton).
Bill Sinclair's account continues with the photo and paragraphs below, from the same source:
Sinclair's account continues:
We arrived at the shore about 5:30 A.M. Our beach was at Pourville, under its code name Green beach, and there we landed them in good order although firing was heavy.
Thence we left for "Pool" and floated there for some time, with other craft. We were supposed to enter the harbour, to the "Basin de Paris", to tow out German landing craft and E-Boats. Our Flotilla and the 7th were to follow the gunboat HMS Locust and some Free French Chasseurs. Unable to see them we headed east for the harbour entrance but were forced to turn back.
A little later, after the Locust and the Chasseurs appeared, we again tried it but were unsuccessful in forcing an entrance.
[Editor's Note - more information re the Dieppe raid, including aspects of HMS Locust's mission and goals, can be read in the book One Day in August by David O'Keefe. Details about the book can be found here. A recommended read. ]
Bill Sinclair's account concludes below:
After Bill Sinclair mentions a few words about seeing "dog-fights" over Dieppe first hand, he says he returned to Inveraray, i.e., HMS Quebec, Combined Operations No. 1 Training Camp.
He was there "most of September, 1942 in the "Ettrick" as the Canadian officers and sailors in Combined Operations prepared for Operation Torch, i.e., the invasion of North Africa, beginning in early November.
The accounts of David Lewis, Doug Harrison and Bill Sinclair give us important information about some of the training and experiences of Canadians in Combined Ops in their first year overseas. We have here their memoirs and collected stories to inform us.
However, one more paragraph remains, as found at the end of Sinclair's account. A final footnote by David Lewis:
Photo of footnote as found in St. Nazaire to Singapore, Vol. 1, page 52
Readers can read more information about "Dieppe, Dieppe", Brereton Greenhous's book here.
Sheeler (front) and Len Birkenes aboard. Photo - Joe Spencer
(left) and Joe Spencer under White Ensign. Photo - Joe Spencer
Readers can also read Al Kirby's 25-page account of his experience at Dieppe here.
For more information about this time in the lives of Canadians in Combined Operations, i.e., spring - summer, 1942, please link to Training for Combined Operations: Shortly Before the Dieppe Raid (Part 2)
Questions and comments can be addressed to Gord Harrison at gordh7700@gmail.com
Unattributed Photos GH
Questions and comments can be addressed to Gord Harrison at gordh7700@gmail.com
Unattributed Photos GH
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