Sunday, November 20, 2016

A - Z DIRECTORY. Start Here

1,000 Men, 1,000 Stories: Archive by Gord Harrison

Inspired by WWII Navy Memoirs of Doug Harrison 


Canadians in RCNVR and Combined Operations, 1941 - 1945
Back L - R: Don Westbrook (Hamilton), Chuck Rose (Chippawa), Joe Spencer (Toronto)
Front L - R: Joe Watson (Simcoe), Doug Harrison (Norwich), Art Warrick (Hamilton)
Their stories and more appear below. Photo - D. Harrison, circa 1945. Comox, B.C.

THE A - Z DIRECTORY

A - Z Directory was last updated on December 21, 2024. Total entries - 793

Introduction:

This website/archive of materials is growing slowly but surely. Patient readers will see it is mainly related to the 950 - 1,000 (approx.) Canadians who enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve beginning in 1941, and then - shortly thereafter - volunteered for Combined Operations as well, i.e., a British wartime organization dedicated to offensive (vs defensive) operations. The first operation that the earliest group of Canadian sailors - including my father, Doug Harrison - trained for was the Dieppe raid.

Contributions from readers and countless visits to other resources and online sites (e.g., microfiche at the University of Western Ontario, and digitized newspapers) have helped a great deal.

As well, I present my father's own newspaper articles and self-published memoirs alongside many other related self-published materials by Canadian WWII veterans. I include copyrighted written materials and photographs with accurate attributions or credits wherever possible. Readers who wish to use/share any materials found here are encouraged to also use accurate attributions and credits to this site (or those I mention) in the spirit of fair play.

Questions or comments can be addressed to Gord Harrison at gordh7700@gmail.com

Each entry or post listed under the headings below will lead to one of the many articles, audios, books, etc. (Every entry under the headings are 'live links' and if I've goofed up please let me know). And just about every entry is linked to an earlier entry that is closely related, which is also linked to an earlier entry that is closely related, and so on. Some headings will link to a full set of related entries (e.g., Doug Harrison, "Dad, Well Done" (Parts 1 - 13)), a more convenient way to navigate a 'related set'.

Additional posts or entries will be added month by month, as time allows.

"Happy hunting," I say.

A - Z DIRECTORY

Articles re Combined Operations

Why Dieppe?

Roy Burt, WW2 Experiences

Norwich Boys in Two Invasions

Norwich Sailor Sees Mediterranean Action

Merchant mariner True Hero

Malta's Role in Operation Husky

Landing Craft in Malta

Friends Reunite After WWII

We Chattered All the Way Home

Canadian Soldiers Showed Up Everyone

Canadian Seamen - A Motley Crew

Recalling a War-Time Christmas

The Invasion of Italy

Lt. Comdr. Jacob Koyl

Stout Heart Required in War-Time England

Dad Had Sailed These Same Waters

Only "Highest Standard" Troops at Dieppe (Parts 1 - 3)

Only "Highest Standard" Troops at Dieppe (1)

Only "Highest Standard" Troops at Dieppe (2)

Only "Highest Standard" Troops at Dieppe (3)

The Official Statement on the Dieppe Operation

News Clips Linked to the 'Dieppe Report'

Canadian War Correspondents on the Move

The Navy Commando Dotes on Fighting

Loading Coal and Unloading Rum

1943 Issues of Gangway, Navy News

Joe Watson, RCNVR and Combined Operations, 1941 - 45

Down Memory Lane by Doug Harrison

Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft in Italy (Parts 1 - 4)

Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft in Italy, Part 1

Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft in Italy, Part 2

Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft in Italy, Part 3

Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft in Italy, Part 4

"First Wave of Invaders..." Italy, by Alan Moorehead

The Navy Had Its Own Language

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (1)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (2)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (3)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (4a)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (4b)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (5)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines (6)

Six Canadian Sailors Make Headlines, Parts 1 - 6

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Rutter/Jubilee (1 - 9)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (1)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (2)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (3)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (4)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (5)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (6)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (1)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (2)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (3)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part1)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part2)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part3)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 4)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 5)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 6)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 7)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 8)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 9)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 10)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 11)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 12)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Part 13)

Operation Torch, North Africa, 1942 (Parts 1 - 13)

75th Anniversary of Operation Husky, WWII




















Italy, September 1 - 2, 1943 (Part 1)

Italy, September 3, 1943 (Part 2)















British 8th Army Lands in Sicily, LIFE Magazine



Audio re Combined Operations































The Comox District Free Press 1944 - '45 (6)

Some History - HMCS Givenchy III, 1940s (1)

Some History - HMCS Givenchy III, 1940s (2)



Context re Combined Operations

Nova Scotia on Alert, 1941

Uncle Sam's Merchant Fleet

Training in Commando Work

Canadians Hit St. Nazaire

HMS Belmont Sunk, January 1942

Tales of Gallantry

Corvette Beats Up Submarine

Four-Stacker Takes a Fish

Happy New Year 1942

Some Successes in Early 1942

Smaller Items, Bigger Story

Shipping Out, December 1943

Commandos, Landing Craft...

Frank Gillard, BBC News

Herbert Jones, on Reina Del Pacifico

The Link to Commandos

First Convoy for Canadians in Combined Ops

Some Good News in Scotland

More News From Irvine, Scotland

"Navyman Sent to Jail" in Scotland

Days Before Operation Husky (Sicily)

Tide Turns as Operation Husky Nears

Sicily Blasted As Operation Husky Nears

D-Day Sicily But Three Days Away

D-Day Sicily Two Days Off

The Day Before D-Day Sicily

Operation Torch, North Africa, Nov. 1942 (Part 1)

Operation Torch, North Africa, Nov. 1942 (Part 2)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) Part 1

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) Part 2

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) Part 3

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) Part 4

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) Part 5

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) Parts 1 - 5

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (Entries 1 - 13)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (1)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (2)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (3)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (4)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (5)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (6)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (7)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (8)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (9)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (10)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (11)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (12)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations Rutter/Jubilee (13)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (1)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (2)

Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation Jubilee (3)



Correspondence































Lloyd George Campbell, London Ontario (Part 4)

Lloyd George Campbell, London Ontario (Parts 1 - 4)


Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (1)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (2)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (3)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (4a)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (4b)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (5)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (6)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (7)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (8)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) (9)

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) 10a

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) 10b

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) 11a

Operation Baytown (Italy WWII) 11b

Operation Baytown Series, Parts 1 - 11

"Practice Made Perfect For RCN in Sicily"

From 'Saturday Night' News, 1939

FO John Anthony Vasicek RCAF

Norwich Boys Share WWII Experiences

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 1

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 2

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 3

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 4

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 5

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 6

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 7

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 8

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 9

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 10

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 11

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 12

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 13

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 14

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 15

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 16

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 17

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 18

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 19

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 20

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 21

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 22

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 23

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 24

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 25

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 26

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 27

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 28

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 29

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 30

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 31

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 32

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Part 33

Invasion of Italy - The Montreal Star, Parts 1 - 33

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (Parts 1 - 21)

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (1)

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (2)

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (3)

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (4)

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (5)

Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home (6)











































































Lieut. Jake Koyl, "You Never SawAnything Like It"



On Leave



Origins of Combined Operations

Origins of Combined Operations (1)

Origins of Combined Operations (2)

Origins of Combined Operations (3)

Origins of Combined Operations (4)

Origins of Combined Operations (5)



Passages from WWII Books, Stories

Dieppe, The Landing, by Robert McRae (Lt., RCNVR)

Ernie Pyle, American War Reporter

The Liberation Trilogy, by R. Atkinson

Canadians Train With Commandos

Little More Than Sardine Cans, by Farley Mowat

If the Bullets Had Hit the Gas Cans (Sicily)

Six Years of War Volume 1 (re Dieppe)

Canadians and the Maple Leaf

Heaven and Hell

The 12 Hours Before D-Day Normandy

Comox Spit and Polish

Working Like Bees, on Beach Z, North Africa

The Great Invasion Fleet, by Farley Mowat

Airborne Glider Mishaps, Sicily

Eye Witnesses With Backs Bent

Lifelong Memories

'HERE IS YOUR WAR' by Ernie Pyle (Parts 1 - 3)

'HERE IS YOUR WAR' by Ernie Pyle (1)

'HERE IS YOUR WAR' by Ernie Pyle (2)

'HERE IS YOUR WAR' by Ernie Pyle (3)

Sholto Watt, War Correspondent for The Montreal Star (1)

Sholto Watt, War Correspondent for The Montreal Star (2)

"Ticket to Hell via Dieppe" by A. Robert Prouse (1)

"Ticket to Hell via Dieppe" by A. Robert Prouse (2)

"ECLIPSE" by Alan Moorehead (1)

"ECLIPSE" by Alan Moorehead (2)

"ECLIPSE" by Alan Moorehead (3)

"ECLIPSE" by Alan Moorehead (4)

"ECLIPSE" by Alan Moorehead (Parts 1 - 4)

They Left the Back Door Open (1)

They Left the Back Door Open (2)

They Left the Back Door Open (3)

They Left the Back Door Open (Parts 1 - 3)

Operation Baytown - Invasion of Italy, 1943 (1)

Canadian Sailors in Convoys

"The Second World War" by Antony Beevor

Writers on World War II, An Anthology (Part 1)

Writers on World War II, An Anthology (Part 2)

Ernie Pyle's War - America's Eyewitness (Part 1)

Ernie Pyle's War - America's Eyewitness (Part 2)

Combined Operations: The Official Story of the Commandos

Combined Operations: The Official Story of the Commandos (2)

'DIEPPE: August 19' (1) by Eric Maguire 

'DIEPPE: August 19' (2) by Eric Maguire



Photographs








Coming Back from Dieppe and Sicily (Joe Spencer's Collection)















































Invasion of Sicily, July 1943 (1)









Presentation re Combined Operations

All Background Notes, Resources - Dad's Navy Days (Parts 1 - 11)

Dad's Navy Days (Part 1)

Dad's Navy Days (Part 2)

Dad's Navy Days (Part 3 (1))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 3 (2))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 3 (3))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 4 (1))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 4 (2))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 3 (3))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 4 (4))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 5 (1))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 5 (2))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 5 (3))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 5 (4))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 6 (1))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 6 (2))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 7)

Dad's Navy Days (Part 8 (1))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 8 (2))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 9)

Dad's Navy Days (Part 10 (1))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 10 (2))

Dad's Navy Days (Part 11)

Dad's Navy Days, Part 2 (1)

Dad's Navy Days, Part 2 (2)

Dad's Navy Days, Part 2 (3)

HMCS Prevost, London ONT, 2024 (1)

HMCS Prevost, London ONT, 2024 (2)



Quotes re Combined Operation

Trite but Sound, The Watery Maze

Norwich Sailor Sees Action



RCNVR Records



Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day 2015

Remembrance Day 2106

Remembrance Day 2020

Remembrance Day 2022 (1)

Remembrance Day 2022 (2)



Short Stories re Combined Operations


































































Videos re Combined Operations


























The Invasion of Sicily

Operation HUSKY - Invasion of Sicily

Canadian Army Newsreel - Sicily

Fox Movietone Newsreels - North Africa, 1942

Fox Movietone Newsreels - Sicily, 1943

British Pathe Newsreels - North Africa, 1942

British Pathe Newsreels - Sicily, 1943

At Imperial War Museum (IWM) - Sicily 1943 (1)

At Imperial War Museum (IWM) - Sicily 1943 (2)

Rare Footage of the Dieppe Raid

Nelson Langevin Remembers RCNVR, Combined Operations

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 1)

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 2)

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 3)

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 4)

Prep Work for Faint Footsteps, WWII, Pt. 5

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 5)

Prep Work for Faint Footsteps, WWII (Part 6)

Faint Footsteps, World War II, Part 6

Faint Footsteps, World War II, Part 7

Video: Dad's Navy Duffel Bag (No Music)

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 8)

Faint Footsteps, World War II (Part 9)

Operation Torch, the Invasion of North Africa, 1942

Combined Operations, Odds 'n' Sods

Operations Baytown and Avalanche, Sept. 1943 (Part 1)

Operations Baytown and Avalanche, Sept. 1943 (Part 2)

Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 1)

Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 2)



War Correspondents

Alan Moorehead


Canadian Writers - Sicily 1943 (3b)

Canadian Writers - Sicily 1943 (3c)

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