Dieppe: The Canadians in Combined Ops Who Participated

             List Organized by Clayton Marks from London, Ontario, Canada

Introduction:

The number of times I have used Clayton Marks' self-published book entitled COMBINED OPERATIONS as an invaluable resource reaches into the mid-high-100s. Once again I turn to it to share information re the RCNVR/Combined Ops personnel from Canada who trained together in Hamilton, Halifax, Inveraray and Irvine (Scotland), bonded closely (many lifetime friendships formed) from mid-1941 to early1942 not knowing their first action would be manning landing crafts during the "suicide mission" aka the Dieppe Raid (referenced by one of the two Australian F.O. (Flotilla Officers) of LCTs) mentioned in the previous post. (War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (1))

F.O. Cyril Masterman wrote to Clayton Marks in 1990, perhaps in preparation for an 1992 Navy reunion at the same time as the 50th Anniversary of the raid in August 1942, Operation JUBILEE.

I have shared a lot of information on "1,000 Men, 1,000 Stories" about several of the sailors and officers who participated in the costly raid, and will share more in the future I am certain. As the names are listed I will provide just a few details about some of the brave men who survived and returned to British ports at the end of day, and some of those who did not, and some who were taken as prisoners of war on the beaches of France.

Light naval craft covering the landing during the Combined Operations daylight

raid on Dieppe. MGB 321 is nearest the camera (partly obscured by some sailors

in the foreground) whilst submarine chaser Q 014 can be seen in the middle

distance. Pelman, L (Lt) Royal Navy official photographer A11234, IWM

If readers know of other Canadians who served during the raid please contact me at gordh7700@gmail.com and I will add to the list shared by C. Marks in his book:

COMBINED OPERATIONS PERSONNEL

Dieppe - August 19, 1942

W. Alston            V-16521

R. Baxter             V-23771
G. F. Bayne         S/Lt.
W. Belontz          N/A
L. Birkenes         V-13848
W. A. Block        V-13852
J. E. Boak.           S/Lt.
D. H. Botly         S/Lt.
G. Bourcier         N/A
N. Bowen            V-6742
A. Bradfield        V-8869

The first draft of Canadians to sign up for Combined Operations were members of the Effingham Division (RCNVR), who trained at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax during the fall of 1941. The division volunteered "almost to the man" says my father in memoirs. (D. Harrison in sitting in the front row below, third from the left.) 

1941 Halifax, Effingham Div. Those in the Dieppe Raid are marked with an *

Photo from the collection of Joe Spencer. Used with permission

Row 1 (front) L - R: Woodley, Levere, D. Harrison, F. Davies, C. B. Sheeler,
J. Muirhead*, S. Dewey
Row 2 - Ray Ward*, R. Cavanaugh*, Gowan, P O Bigelow, P O Stevenson,

Muscles Martin, Don Westbrooke*, R. Brown*, Al Reneaird

Row 3 - E. Hampson, Bailey, Cabana, J. Martin, Lyle Miller, N. Mitchinson*,

J. Jennings, Jacobs, W. Moore, V. Smart*, R. Carrol

Row 4 - C. Rose*, J. E. Miller*, Al Adlington, J. Templeton, M. Redpath, Allen Kern, Don Linder
Row 5 - H. Brill, N. Hodge, J. W. Cole*, J. Stewart, L. J. Miller, G. Fuller, John Watson, W. Belontz*
Row 6 - Art Warrick*, D. Kerr, J. Costello, F. Howard, W. Lewis, R. Yokom,

Joe Watson, D. McPherson, Allen Finley

Chuck Rose (first name in Row 4 above) at Greenock Central Station, 

Scotland, '42. From the Joe Spencer collection. Used with permission

COMBINED OPERATIONS PERSONNEL

Dieppe - August 19, 1942

H. Brown            N/A
L. Brown            N/A
R. Brown            A-1637
A. Campbell       N/A

L. Campbell       V-17138         See research re Lloyd G. Campbell, died of wounds

R. Cavanaugh     N/A               See more photos of R. Cavanaugh by L. Evans

E. Chambers       N/A

J. Charity            4109-E
J. Cole                V-8989
W. C. Clifford     S/Lt.
M. Duffus           Lt.
T. Enwright         N/A
M. Grant             V-23921
W. Gray              V-22247

C. E. Henry        A-4282

F. Herring           V-6485
J. Hinscliffe        V-19249

D. S. Howes        3775
S. Ingram            V-23924
W. Katana            LSM
A. G. Kirby          4230
H. Kirk                 V-32126
L. Kirkpatrick      V-17474
J. E. Koyl             Lt.
L. Lance               N/A
N. Langevin         V-6976
W. Lank               N/A

E. Law                 V-23969

D. J. Lewis           S/Lt.

F. Logsdon           N/A
J. E. Miller           V-8913
N. Mitcheson       V-8986

G. Morrison          N/A

J. Muirhead          N/A
W. Mullins            Lt.
J. MacGregor        V-8385

B. McIntyre          V-8862
J. McKenna          N/A           Link to J. McKenna, died of wounds, Aug. 19th, 1942
A. J. McLeod       S/Lt.
R. F. McRae         Lt.             Link to passages by Lt. McRae re the Dieppe Raid

Pencil sketch of Lt. R. F. McRae while at German POW camp, 1942 - 45

COMBINED OPERATIONS PERSONNEL

Dieppe - August 19, 1942

G. A. Northgrave  S/Lt.
J. E. O'Rourke      S/Lt.
W. Owen              N/A
D. Ramsay           Lt.
G. Reynolds        V-5565
D. B. Rodgers      S/Lt.

C. Rose                V-8927          See photos re Chuck Rose from Chippewa, ONT 

N. Sheiler            N/A
W. Sinclair          S/Lt.
V. Smart              N/A
R. M. Smith        S/Lt.
J. Spencer            V-8929
K. Storey             V-35048

D. Townson         N/A
E. Walker            N/A

C. D. Wallace      S/Lt.
R. Ward               N/A
A. Warrick           V-8931

A. A. Wedd          S/Lt.

Don Westbrook   V-8833

Clayton Marks finished by writing: This is a list of personnel that was presented to the Mayor of Dieppe at the Reunion in 1992 and probably is not a complete list of all who served.

About the Dieppe Raid: More about the Naval Forces (e.g., list of H.M. Ships) and Organization of Flotillas to follow.

From COMBINED OPERATIONS by Clayton Marks, Pg 31

Please click here to read more about the Dieppe raid. 

Unattributed Photos GH

Moderne Arte: The Continual Growth of Imperfect Ideas

The Way I See It, It Looks Pretty Colourful

(with Lots of Speckles : )

If I add a speckle near a line, then I have to go around it,

and it just grows from there. (An idea born in the 1960s!)

Introduction:

There were a lot of times my mind wandered while I was in high school Math class, or in Physics (just a few times), or in French (once or twice... okay, maybe every day), during History... regularly... and so on, on and on, many days, weeks, months and years in a row.

But I didn't dare stare out the windows (too easy to spot), or tap out and put my head down (to easy to get centred out), or talk to my neighbours, etc. So, what to do? I grabbed a pencil or pen and doodled, that's what. 

Not only did I came up with several ideas for doodling but I also saved some workbooks from the mid-1960s, and am now breathing new life into old ideas found here and there inside book covers.

And, just so you know, more 'moderne arte' may show up here at IT STRIKES ME FUNNY.

You've bin warned!

Please click here for more 'moderne arte' by this local arteeest : )

Photos GH

War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (1)

 Two WWII Navy Veterans (also in Combined Operations)

Connect Via Royal Mail, While 1000s of Miles Apart

Air Mail from Queensland, Australia Arrives in London, Ontario, Canada

Introduction:

Though I feel I have prying eyes as I peruse 4 air mail letters from the early 1990s that were certainly not meant for me (my conscience, instilled or enlivened within me at a very early age by my well-meaning parents sits upon my right shoulder as I type this post), I'm pretty certain the two Navy veterans (now deceased) and their respective families will forgive me. 

They can rest assured that no deep, dark, or family secrets will be revealed, just matters related to Australian and Canadian sailors who participated in the Dieppe Raid and invasions of Sicily and Italy. Just details related to items that are now part of the public record, and if they are not, then they should be, in the form of appreciation and praise for the manner in which these men served their respective countries during WWII.

Air Mail from:

Note postal stamps below, e.g., Old Stafford Mail Centre

Recipient:

Clayton Marks authored/editted and distributed Combined Operations,

a book that started making the rounds in late 1980s, early 1990s

Mr. Cyril Masterman writes:

Dear Clayton,

Some time ago (I came across) your name and activity re the Royal Canadian Navy Association (R.C.N.A., likely in London, Ontario). Recent moves in the U.K. re the Honour Roll have prompted me to write to you.

Two Australians commanded the two Flotillas of  Tank Landing Craft (LCT) in the Dieppe Raid. My fellow Australian was killed (which suggests that C. Masterman commanded one of the Flotillas and fortunately survived the raid). I later took my Flotilla to the Mediterranean* where we took part in the landings in Sicily, Reggio and Salerno etc. etc.

Valentine tanks being offloaded from a landing craft (small LCT) during

combined operations training at Inveraray in Scotland, 9 October 1941.
Photo - War Office Photogr. Capt. W.T. Lockeyear, H14592. IWM.

(*Masterman likely spent at least 3 months in the Med, like my father and his mates in the Canadian Flotillas of Landing Craft, i.e., LCMs or landing craft, mechanised).

His letter continues:

His paragraph is repeated below for those who, like me, are sometimes "challenged by cursive":

There were no Canadians in these two Flotillas but there were several in the assault landing craft (LCAs), including D. H. Botly, R. M. Smith, D. L. Marchant, J. E. O'Rourke, P. F. McRae, and G. F. Bayne. These names are taken from a list* I have of the H.M. Ships and Landing Craft that took part in this suicide mission.

(*Clayton Marks also listed the names of all Canadians who were in Combined Operations and who had participated in the Dieppe Raid. The list was presented to the Mayor of Dieppe in 1992. All names Masterman listed above appear in Clayton's list except D. L. Marchant (he is shown to be a member of the Royal Navy (RNVR; not RCNVR) on two other lists). 

Gordon Hurley is preparing a list of all Naval personnel to be presented to the Mayor of Dieppe on the 50th Anniversary (in) 1992. He has the names I have given you but you may care to contact him. G. F. R. Hurley... (his full address in the U.K. followed.)

A couple of years ago I was asked to speak at a R.A.N. (Royal Australian Navy) Naval Symposium. The topic "The Dieppe Raid." Since the release of all the top Secret Signals, meetings etc. of the War Office after 30 years a lot has been written telling us what really did happen at the time. A documentary was written by Anthony Cave Brown in 1977 entitled "Bodyguard of Lies."* I sent to the U.K. for a copy, a paperback of 1,000 pages, but a wealth of information by W. H. Allen & Co. Ltd.

(*A. C. Brown's book can be found online at AbeBooks, Amazon, etc. Some notes reveal that there are two volumes, so "Body of Lies" may just whet your appetite.)

Photo Credit - AbeBooks

Masterman's letter continues:

(Cursive translated...) My Flotilla spent a lot of time with the Tank boys of the Calgary Regiment* and they were a great bunch of fellows.

(*many books about the Dieppe Raid mention the exploits and challenges faced by the Calgary Tank Regiment, e.g., the shingle beach, the cement tank defences, and more).

 

I am a Life Member of the Dieppe Veterans Assn. of Canada, also a long time member of the M.L.C.A. (?? Help Wanted. If a reader knows the meaning of M.L.C.A. please let me know @ gordh7700@gmail.com) The 5th Flotilla which went to the Med with us had 1 Canadian by the name of Downey. I've forgotten his Christian name.

I was on loan* to the R.N. (British Royal Navy) together with many other Australians, supposedly for two years but it was 3 1/2 before I was returned to Australia and appointed Staff Office Combined Ops at our Naval Headquarters.

(* A few Canadian members of Combined Operations also stated they were "on loan to the R.N." After two years overseas all or most were granted leave back to Canada, whereupon many were offered another assignment with Combined Operations, e.g., to train for D-Day (or to train others) for the invasion of France beginning June 6, 1944. My father and his mates were offered or chose an assignment at HMCS Givenchy III.) i.e., at Canada's Combined Operations Training School on Vancouver Island). 

Masterman's letter concludes:

I was the Senior F.O. in L.C.T.s and thoroughly enjoyed my association with the Brits. My most treasured possession is a brass plaque* the Flotilla presented to me on leaving. Beautifully engraved with all our landings, done by a stoker with a hammer and sharpened file and mounted by the chippie on the Queen Elizabeth on a piece of English Oak. (I did a short stint as Gunnery Officer on the Q.E. prior to returning to Australia).

I trust this scribble may be of interest. 

Yours Sincerely,

Cyril Masterman

(*"a brass plaque" on the Q.E. is a fine reward for service and I will attempt to locate Cyril's surviving family members to see if they have a photograph of it. Details to follow if luck is on my side).

Clayton and Cyril may have later met at the commemoration of the Dieppe Raid in 1992. If not, I know that Clayton records in his book (self-published in late 1980s or early 1990s) several lists of names, i.e., Canadian participants in the Dieppe Raid, flotilla by flotilla... including those who were aboard Landing Crafts, (for) Tanks (LCTs) which include two commanding officers who were members of the R.A.N.V.R. Masterman seems to be a fellow interested in lists of names so done might be forgotten. If he came across Clayton's book (e.g., via Navy reunions, and one was in fact held in Australia several years after WWII ended) he would have wanted Clayton to have any details he could provide.

A few details as found in Clayton's book:

More ships are listed, e.g., Landing Ships (for) Infantry, Small (LSI(S))

along with Senior Officers, Landings (S.O.L.s) at various beaches. Pg 31

More Groups from 3 - 13 are also listed. Groups 1 - 6 were destined to land at

particular beaches. Groups 8 - 12 included LCTs commanded by Aussie F.O.s

From Pages 32 - 34, Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks

All LCTs above were commanded by F.O. Cyril Masterman, RANVR. Pg 33

4 of 6 officers mentioned by Masterman in his letter are listed above,

i.e., D.H. Botly, R.M. Smith, D.L. Marchant and J.E. O'Rourke. Pg 34

Lt. McRae, also aforementioned in Masterman's letter, was my father's

Commanding officer. If my father had not been placed on leave he likely

would have either been killed or wounded and/or taken prisoner of war

along with several others in McRae's command. Pg 35

On page 36 of Clayton's book we find the names of the two Australian Flotilla Officers of the L.C.T. Flotillas who took part "in this suicide mission" (Masterman's words). Unfortunately, Lt.-Cdr. H.P. Brownell, R.A.N.V.R., did not survive the day of August 19, 1942.

The complete lists from Clayton Marks' book, i.e., Combined Operations, only partially provided above, will be shared in a future post on this site.

As well, the second of Cyril Masterman's letters to Clayton Marks will soon follow.

If readers can provide more details re the names of those from Canada, Australia, U.K., U.S.A. (e.g., 50 U.S. Rangers took part), please let me know at gordh7700@gmail.com

Clayton Marks (centre) hosts a meeting of five WWII navy veterans who 

produced a total of five books or volumes of stories. London, Ontario

Please click here to learn more about Clayton Marks and other Navy veterans who put their pens to work many years after the war - Photographs: Aging Navy Vets Reconnect at Reunions (1)

Unattributed Photos GH

Research: Three Months in the Mediterranean, 1943 (20)

 Members of Canadian Army Scale Mount Etna Cliffs

Rare Item - Members of Canadian Navy are Interviewed

The 55th and 61st Canadian LCA Flotillas (Landing Craft Assault)

are back in England, many sailors enjoying a pint. (The 80th and 81st

are still delivering supplies to shores north of Avola). Map from

Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks

Introduction:

Movement towards the successful outcome of military objectives - at least for the Allies in Sicily - is slow, gradual, costly and seemingly inevitable. Of course, we know how it all ends, but news stories of the day in July, 1943, continue to fill Canadian newspapers from coast to coast, and generally with something to cheer about.

Why, I even came across an article that mentions the actions of two Canadian landing craft flotillas (the 55th and 61st) during the opening days of Operation Husky, beginning on the east coast of Sicily on July 10th.

Here are the headlines (and much more) as found in The (Montreal) Gazette, the July 28 issue:

The German retreat from Sicily would include 1000s of tired, perhaps very lucky soldiers, excepting the ones pictured above, of course. More information about the German retreat can be found here.

 A German Tiger tank in Sicily, 1943. Photo as found at 

The War in Italy 1943 - 1945 and Environs...

Lionel Shapiro, war correspondent with The (Montreal) Gazette and with Canadian forces in central Sicily, reports on action two weeks before the German retreat from Sicily:

Canadian correspondents Ross Munro (left), Peter Stursberg, Lionel Shapiro

Photo 21083, from Album 61, Canadian Army Photo and Film Unit

Canadian and American forces fight "shoulder to shoulder" to break a savage German counterattack:

The article concludes with the following news: Spitfires and Lightnings based in Sicily get into the action, for the second time destroying "the enemy's aerial troop trains:

It's 'unconditional surrender or else' says Churchill:

More news from the front page of the July 28th edition:

More news from the foot-weary Lionel Shapiro:

The "foot-weary Lionel Shapiro" pecks away at his portable typewriter

Photo 22817 from Album 61, CAPFU 1943

L. Shapiro's news article continues with a description of "one of the most emotional experiences of my life:"

Emotions begin to run high in Palermo as the notion of freedom sinks in:

Canadian war correspondent Ross Munro writes another detailed account of action in Sicily:

"Troops in towns saw civilians celebrating the fall of the Duce with

bottles of wine..." R. Munro at work. Photo 22816 from Album 61,

Canadian Army Photo and Film Unit

And now a few details about Canadian sailors in Combined Operations, in this case two members of the 55th and 61st Flotilla of Canadian Landing Craft, having completed the job of landing British troops (Monty's Eighth Army) on the southeast coast of Sicily during Operation HUSKY beginning July 10, 1943.

Map re invasion of Sicily from Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks

Landings of Canadian Landing Craft Assault, see lower right corner

Combined Operations shoulder patch, a gift to me from Jim Jepson

of Furnace, Scotland (a few miles south of Inveraray)

A few details follow re 100 - 200 Canadian "Combined-Operations personnel" and landings in North Africa:

Combined Ops insignia as found on front cover of Combined Operations by Clayton Marks

Canadian sailors landed British and American troops of the Center Task Force

and British forces of the Eastern Task Force beginning Nov. 8, 1942

Canadian sailors, including my father Doug Harrison, landed U.S. Rangers

and supplies at R and Z Beach, near Arzew, "in sight of a cafe. Good reconn,"

writes my father. Map found on page 66, Combined Operations, C. Marks

Canadian sailor Doug Harrison (RCNVR, Combined Ops), center, welcomes

American troops ashore near Arzew during early days of Operation TORCH.

The Heading and Caption for the above photograph reads as follows:

Heading - NORTH AFRICAN OPERATIONS. BRITAIN'S ROYAL NAVY HAD A MAJOR ROLE IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST COMBINED OPERATION WHEN THE 500 SHIP CONVOY SAFELY TRANSPORTED ALLIED TROOPS TO FRENCH NORTH AFRICA, WHERE SIMULTANEOUS LANDINGS WERE MADE AT STRATEGIC POINTS. NOVEMBER 1942.

Caption - A12671 Troops and ammunition for light guns being brought ashore from a landing craft assault (ramped) (LCA 428) on Arzeau beach, Algeria, North Africa, whilst another LCA (LCA 287) approaches the beach. RCN Photographer Lt. F. A. Hudson, Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Editor's Guess - Doug Harrison is either at the end of the rope, far left

(steadying the craft's position) or enjoying a smoke aboard LCA 426,

sitting astride a round object.

The caption for the photo reads as follows:

A12649 American troops landing on the beach at Arzeu, near Oran, from a landing craft assault (LCA 426), some of them are carrying boxes of supplies. RCN Official Photographer Hudson, F. A. (Lt) Imperial War Museum (IWM)

News article SICILY JOB TOUGH, SAILORS DECLARE continues below: 

Major-General Guy Simonds (left), Canadian 1st Division, in Sicily, July,

1943. Photo 23681, Album 62, Canadian Army Photo and Film Unit

Major-General Guy Simonds (second right), in Sicily, July, 1943

Photo 23201, Album 62, Canadian Army Photo and Film Unit

Below is a paragraph from an article re the Hagersville air school:

Between 1941 and March 30, 1945, 1,783 young men received their pilot’s wings at the Hagersville School and 16 died during training. The station remained operational until September 21, 1945. After the training school closed, the site – known as Camp Hagersville – was used by the Canadian Army for various purposes and was designated as No. 1 Vehicle Company, Central Mechanization Depot. The Camp was closed in 1964.

Accompanying photo:

Photo Credit - The History of Haldimand’s Military Aerial Schools

Please click here for more information about "two of the British flight training schools" (including Camp Hagersville.

I have discovered that my father and some Navy mates played a lot of baseball at HMCS Givenchy III after returning home to Canada (several months after their three months in the Mediterranean had ended in October, 1943). Looks like WAC Diamondeers beat them to the ball park:

More information about women's baseball during WWII can be found here.

Find below news about the dangers faced by POWs as they are transported "out of the Mediterranean war zone":

The value and usefulness of U.S. Liberty ships during WWII cannot be understated: 

When the 80th and 81st Canadian Flotillas of Landing craft were busy unloading supplies, i.e., all materials of war incl. troop reserves for Monty's Eighth Army on beaches scattered along the east coast of Sicily, e.g., south of Syracusa (at Fontana Bianca and Gallina, respectively), U.S. Liberty ships were indispensable.

Below is a map found in From St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War, Volume 1, the first of 2 books of WWII veterans' stories (members of RCNVR/Combined Operations) inspired by Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks. It reveals the landing craft unloading area (HOW Sector) for the 81st Flotilla of LCMs off the coast of Gallina (about 3 miles south of Fontana Bianca and GEORGE Sector, home zone for the 80th Flotilla of Landing Crafts). Many of the ships waiting to unload valuable supplies (fuel, ammunition, food, reserves, more fuel, ammunition, rations, more fuel, etc.) are U.S. Liberty ships, e.g., Big Foot Wallace, Mayo Brothers, O. Henry, G.H. Dern.

SHHH! "MOST SECRET" MAP!!

Ships are named, indicated as dark circles offshore, From A1, A2, A3.... to F3

RED, AMBER and GREEN (Gallina) BEACHES (81st Flotilla's zone)are under-

lined w black marker. 80th's sector (GEORGE) is upper right with dark outline.

Cities Noto and Avola are actually farther south. Two or three veterans (incl. my

father) write about the HMHS Talamba being sunk. 

Write to Editor (Gord H.) at gordh7700@gmail.com for more details re HMHS (His Majesties Hospital Ship) Talamba.

The location of GEORGE and HOW Sectors can be seen more clearly on the following map of the lower east coast of Sicily (see Acid North):

The article "200 Liberty Ships Leased To Allies" continues below:

Mayo Brothers was launched by Delta Shipbuilding Co. in New Orleans.

Photo Credit - See and Hear: Museum Blog

In my reading experience, I have come across few examples of "British submarines operating in the Mediterranean" as addressed below:

More details about British submarine action in WWII can be found here: British Submarine Operations in World War II. 

The British submarine HMS Thistle of T class, Group One. She was lost

on 10 April 1940 to German U-boat U-4. Photo Credit - uboat.net

More details re British Submarines can be found here: British Submarines of WWII

War correspondents Lionel Shapiro (center) and Ross Munro (right) were busy

for several months in the Mediterranean. Photo 22701, Album 62, CAPFU

Ross Munro "Mobbed by Overjoyed Sicilians" somewhere in Sicily, July 1943:

Meanwhile, back in the Pacific theatre of war...

Items related to WWII as found in The (Montreal) Gazette on Wednesday, July 28, 1943 conclude with a piece written by Scott Young (who eventually ended up in the Canadian Navy), father of Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young:

Please click here to view Research: Three Months in the Mediterranean, 1943 (19)

More news clips to follow shortly.

Unattributed Photos GH