The Search for Lieut. Frank Royal's Photographs, Continued...
Success!! Rare Resources are Available to Determined Hunters
Royal's photographs should be accessible today. But where are they?
Lieutenant Ken Bell of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit digging a
slit trench in the Normandy beachhead, France, 10 June 1944.
Photo Credit - Canada DND, LAC, PA-131443
The news clipping about Lt. Frank Royal of Winnipeg, as found in The Winnipeg Tribune nine days after the Dieppe Raid, has led me on quite the excursion - research-wise. I have chased down many excellent photographs, articles related to photographers, videos, newsreels and films by Canadian film producers, and more (e.g., the above photo of Lieut. Ken Bell 'Scooping the Mud' for a slit trench in an article called 'Scooping the War'; see previous entry), but no Frank Royal... until just lately.
The internet, as usual, can lead us to many other closely related Canadian men and women photographers, and the hundreds of videos and films produced in the War Years - and almost immediately shown in theatres across Canada - are often now available to diligent readers. And U.S. WWII film crews got into the action as well, in a big way.
For example:
Fox Movietone News volume 25, issue 93 27 July 1943 [[OFFICIAL PICTURES OF THE SICILIAN INVASION]] [[Described by LOWELL THOMAS]] (music throughout) -
Reel 22, Segment 5: United to Conquer - A Black Watch combined operations beach landing exercise; land, climb up rocks, climb on ropes and slide down.
Questions or comments about Combined Operations can be addressed to GH at this email address: gordh7700@gmail.com
Requiring unique skills, members of the CFPU were made up of personnel familiar with the art of photography and film-making. The Unit was comprised of a total of 74 cameramen, both stills and cine. These combat cameramen were a unique bunch, with backgrounds ranging from film studio director’s to Hollywood stuntmen.
Using the 'search option' top of page, I typed in 'Frank Royal' and after landing on a new page, and scrolling through information re filming at Dieppe I spotted a news article from another Winnipeg Newspaper (The Winnipeg Free Press) about the photographer that encouraged this short series of posts.
(His) "still pictures were acclaimed by London (UK) newspapers as the best in the Sicilian campaign...He covered the landing at Dieppe and was in charge of the Canadian still and motion picture photographic section in Sicily and Italy..."
And with that information, e.g., re Sicily, a determined hunter might be able to find some of Royal's film work. We shall see!
And, by looking down the same page the article from The Winnipeg Free Press was on, I saw a few lines re the Dieppe Raid and concerns related to the number of Canadian photographers allowed/needed to go ashore on August 19:
“At 1730 hrs, 14 August, 1942 a request reached the P.R.O. office at C.M.H.Q. from Major Wallace, P.R.O. Army, for Cpl. (Alan) Grayston of the Film Unit to report with Lieut. (Frank) Royal the next morning for an unspecified job. Grayston was unavailable, being engaged in another job, so Pte. (George) Cooper, an equally competent cameraman, was sent in his place.”
However, circumstances had changed by the time they arrived. Lieut. McDougall goes on;
“Upon arrival at Army H.Q., Lieut. Royal was told that the job was ‘not important’ enough to warrant sending two men, and Cooper was sent back to C.M.H.Q.” (From an article entitled Glory of the Innocents: Dieppe Decoded by Richard Tomkies, Nov. 7, 2017)
Fox Movietone Newsreels are now available online "by the dozen"
via a link to a University in South Carolina! Awesome.
Newspaper ad found in The Winnipeg Tribune, Aug. 1942
Below are the introductory details re newsreel No. 093
Screen shot, GH
Screen shot, GH
From Africa steams the American invasion convoy. In this assault distinguished by massive power and skillful execution. Expert command, the officers planning with the utmost precision. Here we see a tank commander instructing his subordinate officers concerning the armored drive when they get ashore. American Commander, General Patton gives his orders, to wade right in and slug, keep punching. Old blood and guts Patton favors tough tactics. The landing is covered by the guns of warships, a heavy naval bombardment. (cannon fire and explosion) General Patton surveys the effect of the shelling. The amphibious operation is featured by perfect coordination of all arms, warships, air squadrons, and land troops. The Americans then invade onshore while the British and Canadians have the task of driving up the east coast. The enemy is taken by surprise because the Axis command expected an assault against the western side of Sicily, and not here. General Patton to take Command ashore goes the same way as any soldier, wading to the beach. This is one of the many Allied landings, which striking with coordinated swiftness and power so bewildered the Italians and Germans that resistance was reduced to a minimum. The first successful invasion of enemy home territory, Italian Sicily. (truck engine) Masses of equipment come ashore, and swiftly the Allied forces strike inland. A fighting drive that cuts the enemy force. (cannon fire and explosion) These Signal Corps pictures show Americans as they drive straight across Sicily, and as the British and Canadians push up the coast towards strategic Messina. Axis positions have been pulverized by gunfire and air bombing. For weeks, Allied forces of the sky have bombed the Sicilian bases preparing the way for the invasion. The defeat of the Italians and Nazis proceeds swiftly, and it was foreshadowed by the rapid and smashing successes of the landings and early advances. This important outpost of Hitler’s Fortress Europe is subjugated. Wrecked flying field, Allied bombing was concentrated against the Sicilian air bases, and now these are captured by the ground troops to serve as American bases. An Italian plane bombed on the ground, and similarly, a Nazi plane. Scenes of havoc, but in a brief time the airport is repaired, and used by Allied war plane. The drive through Sicily, Movietone cameraman Jack Barnett landed with the troops and filmed their advance. On they march, and they must always keep a careful lookout for snipers. Thousands of prisoners are taken, and are herded aboard boats. The Italians surrendering cheerfully. Here’s the capture of a Sicilian town, and it shows significantly the attitude of the local population. (engines) In the occupied sections, the Sicilians say they are sick of the war, which they never wanted anyway, and they are glad to be rid of the oppression of the German Nazis whom they hate. (engines) Allied equipment rumbles through the streets hurrying on in the relentless drive to conquer the island. Sometimes it’s rough going through the debris. The town was damaged in the rain of explosives that hit the enemy war points. Sometimes it’s a job to get through the wreckage, but it’s hard to stop a jeep. The welcome the people give to the Allied soldiers is a vivid state of Italian morale in the war. (Transcript included with newsreel)
Please click here to view Newsreel No. 093 - Sicilian Invasion
Please click here to view Newsreel No. 093 - Sicilian Invasion
Another news ad in The Winnipeg Tribune (also from August 1942) informed readers of Canadian-made newsreels:
Newsreels produced by The Canadian Army Film Unit "by the dozen"
are on YouTube. Link to playlist for 106 newsreels. See previous post
for a sample of the details re the 5 - 10 segments in each newsreel
Readers interested in the meaning and purpose of Combined Operations (as a term, organization) can gain some insight from film no. 22, in which a few details are provided from approx. 6min:30sec to the end of the reel:
Please link to Canadian Army Newsreel No. 22 at YouTube
A few details are provided below about the combined ops segment as well (with the reel), but the film provides many more:
Questions or comments about Combined Operations can be addressed to GH at this email address: gordh7700@gmail.com
Importantly, my own searches led me as well to a well-organized, informative site about the Canadian Film and Photo Unit (CFPU) and under the menu heading "CFPU Stills Photographers" we find 24 names listed, including Frank Royal of Winnipeg.
By clicking on the name of the lone female photographer we find an informative page that provides not only details re Sgt. Karen Hermeston, CWAC, but the photographers in general:
Requiring unique skills, members of the CFPU were made up of personnel familiar with the art of photography and film-making. The Unit was comprised of a total of 74 cameramen, both stills and cine. These combat cameramen were a unique bunch, with backgrounds ranging from film studio director’s to Hollywood stuntmen.
Using the 'search option' top of page, I typed in 'Frank Royal' and after landing on a new page, and scrolling through information re filming at Dieppe I spotted a news article from another Winnipeg Newspaper (The Winnipeg Free Press) about the photographer that encouraged this short series of posts.
Frank Royal appears in a photo with his father and looks happy to be back in Canada. We read the following:
And with that information, e.g., re Sicily, a determined hunter might be able to find some of Royal's film work. We shall see!
And, by looking down the same page the article from The Winnipeg Free Press was on, I saw a few lines re the Dieppe Raid and concerns related to the number of Canadian photographers allowed/needed to go ashore on August 19:
“At 1730 hrs, 14 August, 1942 a request reached the P.R.O. office at C.M.H.Q. from Major Wallace, P.R.O. Army, for Cpl. (Alan) Grayston of the Film Unit to report with Lieut. (Frank) Royal the next morning for an unspecified job. Grayston was unavailable, being engaged in another job, so Pte. (George) Cooper, an equally competent cameraman, was sent in his place.”
However, circumstances had changed by the time they arrived. Lieut. McDougall goes on;
“Upon arrival at Army H.Q., Lieut. Royal was told that the job was ‘not important’ enough to warrant sending two men, and Cooper was sent back to C.M.H.Q.” (From an article entitled Glory of the Innocents: Dieppe Decoded by Richard Tomkies, Nov. 7, 2017)
Readers are encouraged to visit and explore the CFPU website created and maintained by Dale Gervais. Mr. Gervais has put tremendous effort into preserving photographs and films taken by Canadian photographers during World War II, and his website is a portal to very rare material.
Earlier I encouraged readers to let me know if Frank Royal photographs or films are 'out there' somewhere and I've simply missed them. Well, with a bit of digging on Mr. Gervais' site I located photographs with a definite link to Mr. Royal (linked to Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily beginning July 10, 1943).
Earlier I encouraged readers to let me know if Frank Royal photographs or films are 'out there' somewhere and I've simply missed them. Well, with a bit of digging on Mr. Gervais' site I located photographs with a definite link to Mr. Royal (linked to Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily beginning July 10, 1943).
By linking to an article entitled Library & Archives Canada: “Army Numerical” Series (110 Albums) Now Available Online and then using the "Library & Archives Canada Search page HERE" link at the half-way point in the article, I was able to locate Army Numerical 18371-22533 - Sicily - Album 61 of 110 [graphic material] at LAC.
Inside the album are several pages of black and whites by Frank Royal. A few are shared below (captions are not provided in the albums, but I have found - over the years - similar photographs online from other sources with captions included), and I have shared a few words where I can:
Name of 'Royal' penned in by someone who organized the photos
I will say Royal Navy' (UK) sailors ferrying Canadian Army officers ashore in
a Landing Craft Personnel (LCP) on the southern shore of Sicily, July 10 1943
(At the time, RCNVR sailors in Canadian landing craft flotillas transported
Montgomery's 8th Army ashore at locations on Sicily's eastern shores)
I'll add here a map from Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks which shows where Canadian landing craft flotillas were at work (manned by RCNVR incl. my father) and where the Canadian Army landed:
Canadian Landing Craft Flotillas (LCAs: No. 55 and 61. LCMs: No. 80 and 81)
ferried British 8th Army to beaches south of Syracuse, e.g., at Noto and Avola.
Canadian Army landed on beaches south of Pachino, west of Cape Passerro
As found in Combined Operations, by Clayton Marks, Page 76
Members of RCNVR/Combined Operations, including C. Marks
As found in Combined Operations, Page 89
Doug Harrison (right) with shipmate Joe Malone, RCNVR/C.Ops while
aboard S.S. Silver Walnut, June 1943, on way to Operation Husky, aka
invasion of Sicily, beginning July 10, 1943. Photo - Norwich Gazette
Questions, comments re Combined Ops? gordh7700@gmail.com
Frank Royal gets his due; his name is neatly typed onto another page
Small landing craft speeds toward shore while troops and supplies wait a
mile or two from the shoreline. Photo by Frank Royal, Album 61, pg. 48
Navy and Army personnel work together to unload a Landing Craft, Tank (LCT)
Is this photo banned because it reveals an LST (landing ship, tank) in background
or there's a guy wearing short-shorts (another bare-backed) in the foreground??
A busy beachhead with all manner of landing craft at work. The round
disc upon a tripod likely bears a number, to designate a landing zone
Photo 21092 reveals how two LSTs (landing ship, tanks) can easily dwarf
an LCI(L) (landing craft, infantry, large). LSTs carried their own bridges
(tough, floating 'Rhino bridges') to help vehicles and troops get ashore.
Gen. 'Monty' Montgomery addresses troops (Rhino bridge in background)
Something I found in my files. Source Unknown. GH
Gen. B. L. Montgomery. Photo by Lieut. (or was it Captain?) Frank Royal
War correspondents, including Ross Munro, in Sicily
Terry Rowe's name, N. Africa location crossed out, and corrected.
Terry Rowe was a casualty of the war, did not make it back home.
I remarked earlier that I have seen similar photos from the above group, with captions included. I now share an example, as found in my own files. Yes, "I simply missed" Frank Royal as some readers may have been guessing:
Captain or Lieut.? I'm not sure, but I know it felt good to discover that
F. Royal's photographs are available for today and tomorrow. GH
I made an effort to find a better copy of the news article shared at CFPU (D. Gervais' site) re Frank Royal returning to Canada, as seen in The Winnipeg Free Press, March 28, 1944. The article did not appear, as far as I could see, in The Winnipeg Tribune (an excellent online resource). That being said, I did find in The Trib an article - reported on the same date - about the death of Lieut. Terry Rowe, a WWII photographer mentioned earlier in this entry.
I share it here as it reminds us that some members of the Canadian Film and Photo Unit (CFPU) - in an effort to record history for our benefit - paid with their lives:
Please click here to view Research: Canadian WWII Photographers, Videographers, Films (2)
Unattributed Photos GH
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