Context: First Convoy for Canadians in Combined Ops

Lessons Learned on "Our Convoy"

Chuck Rose of Chippawa, Ontario lands safely, February, 1942

Greenock, Scotland. Photo Credit - Joe Spencer (w permission)

In January, 1942 the first Canadians to volunteer for Combined Operations (including Chuck Rose, above) left Canada aboard the Dutch liner Volendam - in a blizzard of blinding snow, not to resounding cheers - to eventually arrive at barracks called HMCS Niobe in Scotland.

Al Kirby (RCNVR and Combined Ops) writes:

"It was late in January that we re-embarked (aboard Volendam) to arrive in Scotland and learn that we were destined to join Combined Operations, driving landing craft." (Early Days in Combined Ops)

It appears that although lessons aboard landing craft would begin shortly after their arrival, the first drafts of Canadians learned valuable lessons even while being transported across the Atlantic Ocean as well.

The Atlantic Crossing and Safe Landing in Scotland

My father describes the crossing as "an eventful trip", and writes the following:

The convoy consisted of a destroyer H.M.S. Firedrake, armed merchant ship Jervis Bay (sister ship of the famed Burgess Bay who held off a large German man o’ war until the remainder of its convoy could escape, costing her her life and all aboard) and an American four-stacker loaned by the USA to England.

The Dutch captain (i.e., of the Volendam) lined us all up and assured us we would arrive safely because the Volendam had already taken three torpedoes and lived to sail. This was very heartening news for those of us who had never been to sea except for a few hours in Halifax upon a mine-sweeper. Our first meal was sausage with lots of grease. Naturally, many were sick as it was very rough. 

Volendam, a Dutch liner, crossed the Atlantic many times

Late at night I was on watch at our stern and saw a red plume of an explosion on our starboard quarter. In the morning the four-stacker was not to be seen. The next evening I heard cries for help, presumably from a life-raft or life-boat. Although I informed the officer of the watch, we were unable to stop and place ourselves in jeopardy as we only had the Firedrake with ASDIC (sonar) to get us through safely.

After some days we spotted a light on our port stern quarter one night. It was the light of the conning tower of a German submarine. How she failed to detect us, or the Firedrake detect it, I will never know. I was gun layer and nearly fell off the gun (4.7 gauge). I informed the Bridge and the Captain said, “Don’t shoot. Don’t shoot. It could be one of ours.” But as it quickly submerged we did fire one round to buck up our courage.

Some days later we spotted a friendly flying Sunderland and shortly after sailed up the Firth of Clyde to disembark at the Canadian barracks called Niobe. Before we disembarked, however, we took up a good-sized collection for the crew of the Firedrake for bringing us through. It was soon confirmed that the American four-stacker had taken a fish (torpedo). (from "DAD, WELL DONE", pages 8 - 9)

So, before even setting foot in a classroom or on a beach to practice handling a landing craft, the Canadian sailors learned much concerning the dangers of going to sea during wartime, for example, not everyone would survive, and cries for help would not immediately be answered.

Poster as found at Saltcoats Heritage Centre*, Scotland. Photo GH

While in Scotland in 2014, I found a poem dedicated to convoys - rare indeed, I say - in the September 11, 1942 issue of The Irvine and Fullarton Times (on microfiche at The Saltcoats Heritage Centre, north of Irvine). Information about the author and the poem follows:

From The Irvine and Fullarton Times, Sept. 11, 1942

 "Our Convoys" by R.A. McLellan

     A convoy has arrived in port

     Is news that we are told:

     Deep-laden ships of every sort,

     Well stowed in every hold.

     They do not tell us when they leave

     But keep that information

     In case the Axis may receive

     Their port of destination.

          Yet I can see them in my mind

          Go sailing out to sea,

          Not one of them must lag behind

          In case of what might be.

          Throughout the day they have the light,

          When you might think them safer,

          But lurking U-Boats out of sight

          May find that in their favour.

     On board each ship all eyes are set

     And searching far and near

     To catch the slightest sign of threat

     From enemies that appear.

     The escort, always on alert,

     Though moving fore and aft,

     May not be able to avert

     The death blow to some craft.

          The strain imposed on everyone

          Is almost past all bearing,

          And yet these ships keep to their run

          By men of skill and daring.

          Think on these lifeboats cast adrift

          For days and weeks on end,

          How these poor fellows could makeshift

          We scarce can comprehend.

      They fortify our lands with food

     And armaments for war;

     Now all these things are to our good

     In what we are fighting for.

     So raise your hats to all these men

     The Mercantile marine,

     And to the navy once again

     For all that they have been.

Lloyd Evans, another early member of RCNVR and Combined Operations adds this to the story re the trip across the Atlantic:

That evening, while on lookout duty on the bridge, I was surprised to see one of the destroyers, HMS Belmont, go full speed ahead followed shortly by two huge explosions. She had been hit by two torpedoes..... For obvious reasons we didn’t slow down to look for survivors but, since we were only a short distance from Halifax, a rescue ship came out to look for them....

The rest of the trip was reasonably quiet with the remaining destroyer (HMS Firedrake) doing double duty. In effect she proceeded at high speed most of the time to cover all the distance normally undertaken by two ships. In appreciation of their great efforts we passed the hat around for the benefit of the crew. About ten days later we sailed up the River Clyde to Gourock in Scotland. The final stage of our journey was by bus to the Canadian Base HMCS Niobe a few miles away in Greenock. (Memoirs, Lloyd Evans).

About HMCS Niobe one can find the following at The Memory Project:

During the Second World War, HMCS Niobe was a shore establishment near Greenock, Scotland that served as the Royal Canadian Navy’s overseas headquarters and a transit point for personnel for their overseas appointments. (Robert Sutherland)

According to my reading material, the men disembarked safely at HMCS Niobe**, likely filled with anticipation about what would happen next, but they had little time to even look around before they were given orders to board a train destined to take them from the southern shores of the River Clyde to the southern coast of England.

“All aboard!” became a familiar phrase to Canadians over the next two years.

*Saltcoats Heritage Centre - see photos below;

 Saltcoats is a 20 - 30 minute bus ride from High St., Irvine

 Found in a text at Saltcoats Heritage Centre -

A note re an RN establishment that refers to CO Bases (Combined Ops),

Some were home to Canadians during landing craft training

Reminders of war time measures, March 27, 1942

**HMCS Niobe ca. 1898 - 1915, Royal Canadian Navy. HMS Niobe was a ship of the Diadem-class of protected cruiser in the Royal Navy. She served in the Boer War and was then given to Canada as the first ship of the then newly created Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Niobe. After patrol duties at the beginning of the First World War, she became a depot ship in Halifax. Damaged in the 1917 Halifax Explosion, she was scrapped in the 1920s. Two of HMCS Niobe's 6-inch guns are preserved in the City of Saint John, New Brunswick. 

Photo Credit - RCN Photo, as found at Silver Hawk author

Please link to Context: The Link to Commandos