News Report Briefs Canadians on Dieppe Raid
Official Report re Dieppe, as it appeared in The Globe and Mail
Toronto, Saturday, September 19, 1942
August 19 of this year (2017) will mark the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. A good deal of material about that significant raid has already been shared on this website - and in many many books and reports - and I am certain a good deal more will be shared this year and in the future, here and by several other sources.
A few weeks after the long-remembered raid took place, lengthy reports appeared in newspapers, at home and abroad.
An article published in the September 18, 1942 issue of The Hamilton Spectator, as well as Toronto's The Globe and Mail the following day, continues:
Radio Appeal Made to French People
As the operation began, the French population were appraised by radio that it was definitely not an invasion but a raid, and were advised to remain quiet.
The course of the operation:
The successful crossing of the channel by the force of naval vessels employed in the operation, which were preceded by mine-sweepers clearing the way, was a remarkable achievement and was accomplished almost wholly without the knowledge of the enemy.
The military and naval force commanders, Gen, Roberts and Capt. Hughes-Hallett, insisted on being aboard the first vessel to venture into these dangerous waters. Subsequently this same vessel, with the two force commanders aboard was the last to leave French waters.
The almost complete achievement of surprise during the channel crossing was marred by one mishap. At 3:30 in the morning the landing craft carrying No. 3 commando encountered five or six enemy armed vessels which were acting as escort to a tanker. The presence of this tanker is itself important evidence that the enemy was not expecting an operation on our part.
Armed Trawler Sunk and Probably Second
A minor naval engagement resulted and orders were given to the landing craft to scatter to avoid the fire of the enemy armed trawlers. Escorting Royal Navy gunboats succeeded in sinking one armed trawler and reports indicate that a second was probably destroyed.
The remaining enemy craft retreated rapidly up the coast and were not seen again during the operation.
Unit Carries Objective and Captures Prisoners
This unfortunate incident may have afforded the German troops holding the defences which were the objective on the left flank warning of the approach of our force. Whether this was the case or not, the encounter had the effect of preventing the larger part of No. 3 commando from landing in the Berneval area, which was its objective.
Map found in The Globe and Mail, Saturday, Sept. 19, 1942
A small detachment of this unit did, however, succeed in reaching the objective, and the officer in command employed his handful of men to such good advantage in mortar fire and sniping as to interfere with the fire of the battery.
At Varengeville on the opposite flank, the operation proceeded according to plan. Here No. 4 commando landed successfully, carried the enemy battery which was their objective, captured prisoners, destroyed the guns and their ammunition dumps and subsequently withdrew on schedule. A small group of United States Rangers accompanied this special service brigade unit.
The encounter with the tanker and her escort had an adverse effect upon the attack against the beach at Puits, delivered by the Royal Regiment of Canada, commanded by Lt.-Col. D.E. Catto (of Toronto). This unit had been scheduled to land at 4:50 a.m.; but, turning from this course to avoid the naval engagement, the craft carrying this unit landed about 20 minutes late.
As a result, instead of reaching shore in the twilight hour, considered most suitable for such an operation, they "touched down" in broad daylight. The enemy garrison at this point were manning formidable prepared defences, were well provided with machine guns and mortars, and were on the alert.
In consequence the Royal Regiment came under fire before landing and under very intense fire at the moment of touching the beach. Although the troops rushed to the attack through a deadly crossfire with the utmost gallantry, the regiment suffered extremely heavy casualties and only a temporary lodgement was obtained. The consequence was that the headland immediately east of Dieppe was not cleared, and this affected the success of the landings on the main beaches.
At Pourville, on the other flank, a much greater degree of surprise was obtained. Here the South Saskatchewan Regiment, commanded by Lt.-Col. C.C.I. Merritt (of Belleville, Ont.), landed with comparatively little initial opposition and captured their first objectives, taking a number of prisoners and clearing enemy positions.
Commanding Officer Killed Early in Fight
Subsequently, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, commanded by Lt.-Col. A.C. Gostling of Winnipeg), who was killed immediately he stepped ashore, passed through the bridgehead established by the South Saskatchewan regiment. and, under the command of Major A.T. Law, penetrated about two miles inland on the west side of the River Scie.
During this advance they inflicted considerable losses on the enemy.
Caption: Smoke is shown enveloping Dieppe as the Canadians move in
to the attack. Photo Credit - The Globe and Mail, Sept. 19, 1942
R. H. L. I. Delivers Blow on Main Dieppe Front
On the beaches fronting Dieppe itself the attack was delivered on the right by the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, commanded by Lieut.-Col. R.R. Labatt (of Hamilton), and on the left by the Essex Scottish, commanded by Lieut.-Col. F.K. Jasperson (of Windsor, Ont.). These units were closely followed by the first wave of Churchill tanks of the 14th Canadian Army Tank Battalion (Calgary regiment), commanded by Lieut.-Col. J.G. Andrews (of Barrie, Ont.).
Although the Dieppe defences had been heavily engaged before the assault by naval bombardment and waves of Hurricane bombers, the troops came under heavy fire from concealed posts in the two headlands to the west and east of the beaches, and also from artillery sited under cover of the first line of buildings.
The first wave of tanks was landed successfully, and most valuable knowledge was gained as a result; but they came under direct fire as soon as they came off the landing craft, and while some immediately got on to the boulevard in front of the town and penetrated further, others did not get off the beach.
The engineers, charged with the particularly perilous and difficult task of carrying on assault demolitions in the face of heavy fire, did their work most gallantly. They were, however, unable fully to breach the sea-wall, and some of the tanks were unable to cross it.
Hamiltonians Succeed in Capturing Casino
Although a number of these were soon immobilized by damage, their crews continued to fire their guns with the most intrepid courage, engaging the batteries which were firing on the beaches and on the craft offshore.
About one hour after the first landing at this point, information received indicated that the beach was sufficiently cleared to permit the landing of the floating reserve. In consequence the Fusiliers Mont-Royal, commanded by Lieut. Col. D. Menard (of Montreal), were ordered to land and to establish themselves on the beach and on the edge of the town of Dieppe.
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, attacking with great dash, had succeeded in capturing the casino, which was a prominent feature on the front of the town and was most heavily fortified. Strong road blocks across the heads of the streets leading into the town, and the heavy fire brought to bear from the houses facing the esplanade and beach, were obstacles to further progress. Nevertheless, small parties of various units fought their way into the town and penetrated for some distance at a number of points.
On the eastern section of the beach in front of the town the advance of the Essex Scottish was hindered by the enemy's heavy wire obstacles which were covered by extremely heavy fire. The men of this unit, advancing with great courage to close with the enemy, were exposed to heavy fire from enemy mortars and suffered very numerous casualties.
Withdrawal Dangerous Under Terrific Fire....
More to follow.
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