1000 Men, 1000 Stories : May 2018

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Editor's Column: As Published in Norwich Gazette (10).

FAINT FOOTSTEPS, World War II.

[Photo: "I lost my first comrades at Dieppe. Others were wounded." D. Harrison]

Dieppe Raid Pt. 2: Norwich Boy Deals with Aftermath

My father trained for the Dieppe Raid for several months. He sailed to, and assembled at, the operation’s embarking point on two occasions. But he did not participate in it. He says he missed the action by one day. And I say, thank goodness for that.

Close comrades, however, were killed. His commanding officer and stoker were captured as POWs. So, though he missed the actual action, he did not entirely miss its aftermath. I feel he may have passed the next 61 years of his life dealing with - at times - deeply-felt losses and associated anger, unanswered questions and doubts about the raid’s validity, and more, related to the event.

In memoirs, penned in 1975, he says, “I wasn’t there, I was on leave (with about 35 other sailors). But I came back early because I knew there was a raid coming, though I didn’t know where, and was in position to see the troopship Duke of Wellington carrying barges, my oppo (i.e., my opposite, or closest regular workmate) and other buddies to Dieppe and certain death for the soldiers.”

He saw troops and mates leave, perhaps with a sense of dread, and was then on hand for the return of survivors.

The Brantford Expositor (1944) reports that my father “returned to duty just as the Dieppe casualty lists were coming in” and it was likely then he discovered, officially, that “seven of his Combined Operations colleagues failed to come back from that cross-Channel venture.”

And how did he handle the news that comrades had been wounded, taken prisoner or killed?

He says, “I was asked to go and clean up Assault Landing Crafts as they struggled back from Dieppe. I absolutely refused. I was so incensed I also refused to go to church there. I went to the door but never went inside.”

His sense of loss, anger and doubt were evident from that day forward.

Thirty years after the war ended he started writing memoirs, and when he mentioned Dieppe his first words were, “The next (raid) on August 19, 1942 should have been aborted too,” soon followed by, “it was a senseless waste of blood. The Germans were ready because we ran into a German convoy in the channel... I will remember it as a complete, useless waste of good Canadian blood and no one - even those who say we learned a valuable lesson there - will ever change my mind.”

Fifty-four years after Dieppe his feelings appear only slightly softened. He writes, “So much has been written and televised (e.g., captured films), with many reasons given for the raid. Possibly much was learned but I am convinced more was lost.”

In part he was referring to Lloyd “Let me at ‘em” Campbell (London; mentioned in an earlier column), Joe McKenna (PEI), Richard Cavanaugh (Ottawa), all manning landing crafts and lost to him on August 19.

Fortunately, my father’s commanding officer and stoker (POWs) returned to Canada after the war and he had important opportunities to visit them both.

Stoker R. Brown (left), D. Harrison, (Lt.) R. McRae (back), Gash Bailey.

Combined Ops veterans reunite at a Navy gathering, circa 1980.

Better still, in the mid-1990s he often visited certain other veterans, and together they reached out to fellow survivors in order to compile their stories about the RCNVR and Combined Operations - the WW2 training, raids and operations, gains and losses, chaos and carnage, even humorous times on leave.

Dozens of vets responded, and the books produced were then and are now very important works, in my opinion.

Those that were lost at Dieppe and other operations are remembered well. And the survivors, including my father, surely gained some rewarding, helpful (even therapeutic) insights from the many stories. For example, they were not alone in suffering deep loss, associated anger or survival guilt.

More columns to follow.

Please link to Editor's Column: As Published in Norwich Gazette (9).

Photos GH, as found in St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War Volume 1*

* There are two volumes of veterans' stories related to their WW2 experiences as members of RCNVR and Combined Operations. Several stories from the books are presented on this website. See 'short stories re Combined Ops' in 'click on Headinds' in right hand margin.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Editor's Research: Lloyd Campbell, London Ont. (3)

A Gold Mine and Deep Tragedy Revealed

Signed: G.F. Hadley, Major R.A.M.C., Senior British Medical Officer.

Date: re October 21, 1942. Document Source - collectionscanada.gc.ca

Introduction:

My father first wrote about Lloyd Campbell of London, Ontario in his Navy memoirs in 1975, thirty years after his discharge from RCNVR and Combined Operations. Dad recalled his voyage from Scotland to southern England aboard the Ennerdale (converted oil tanker) to prepare for embarkation to Dieppe (Operation Rutter, July 7, 1942). He remembered being bombed by German planes and hearing Lloyd yelling - after the gunners on the ship were knocked off their mounts by near misses - "Let me at him!"

According to Lloyd's medical report, displayed in an earlier post, his eyesight wasn't perfect 20/20, which may have affected the end result - i.e., he recorded no official hits of German aircraft. But perhaps his bravery or quick response and enthusiasm made the moment a memorable event for my father.

RFA Ennerdale in Greenock, Scotland, 1942. Source - Joe Spencer, RCNVR.

Used with permission of Gary Spencer.

The rest that follows, pertaining to a thick dossier of documents found online, is a rare, rare look into communications that took place between some of the many people associated with Lloyd (e.g., family, medical staff) before and after he died. Lloyd's final message home is included. The dossier is rich in historical and familial value but deep in personal loss at the same time, as is much information concerning World War II.

Documents, Communications Related to Lloyd Campbell V17138:

The following pages are provided in the order found in Lloyd's file with some explanation from the editor if required, e.g., for context or clarification.

1. Lloyd Campbell was shot while steering a landing craft onto the beach near Dieppe. He was captured the same day, i.e., Aug. 19, 1942. Notification that Lloyd was "reported missing on active service" was sent to his married sister Madeline Rollands (sic) eight days later. Madeline's last name was Rollins, and Lloyd's mother (Mary) lived at the same London Ontario address (lower left).

2. The Naval Message, addressed to Lloyd's sister and dated September 19, 1942, states that "Lloyd... Able Seaman RCNVR... V17138 is Prisoner of War... 42959 at Stalag 9 C Germany. Letter Follows."

3. A typed letter to Madeline Rollands, dated September 21st, did in fact follow. The words "I am pleased to confirm" seems to express some relief. We learn that the International Red Cross played a role connected to communications between significant parties (e.g., Allied and Axis forces). We see the term "combined operations" used in connection with the Dieppe raid, as well.

4. This letter, sent to Frank Wheeler, Nfld., is "in accordance with" a Naval Order, from R. Pennington (I think), acting as administrator of estates. Wheeler is allotted $10.00, for whatever reason. I consider this page a bit of a mystery.

5. While recovering from major surgery, Lloyd dictated the following message - likely his final words to his family. The 'intercepted letter' was perhaps retyped in Ottawa on October 24, three days after Lloyd's death. Therefore, Lloyd's family may have been buoyed in their expectations related to his recovery, not knowing he had already passed away.

6. Communications, via International Red Cross re the circumstances (time and date, and complications) related to Lloyd's death, typed in German, stamped at bottom with a German seal (and signed), and mentions British medical staff (e.g., Maj. Hadley), lower right. Dated October 29, 1942, perhaps by German handlers, and again 10 Nov. 1942, perhaps when received by the Red Cross.

7. Communications, via International Red Cross in English. We read when and where Lloyd was taken prisoner ("Dieppe. 19.8.42."), his cause of death ("acute dilatation of the stomach...") and place of burial. The handwritten document may be hard to fully decipher but a typed explanation related to the key points also follows below. Dated October 29, 1942, eight days after Lloyd's death perhaps when German handlers sent it to the Red Cross.

8. This document is stamped 19 Jan. 1943, perhaps when it was received by the Red Cross. It again provides time and date of Lloyd's death, mentions his place of birth ("Algoma County, Canada"), name of his father ("Thomas") and maiden name of his mother ("Cadham").

9. The German document was received by Canadian Records in Acton at 9AM, March 1, 1943. By this time, Lloyd's family was fully aware of his death, as will be noted in documents and letters to soon follow (Part 4).

10. Before Lloyd's mother and sister in London, Ontario learn of his death, a very full report of the circumstances surrounding his death is sent to the British Red Cross Society in London, England. As we read below, the British Red Cross will bear the responsibility of forwarding "as much as you think desirable to his mother..."

The report's content is simultaneously thorough, truthful, heart-rending and more.

More will soon follow related to Lloyd George Campbell (RCNVR, Combined Operations), formerly of London, Ontario.

Please link to Editor's Research: Lloyd Campbell, London Ont. (2)

Unattributed Photos GH

Friday, May 25, 2018

Editor's Research: Lloyd Campbell, London Ont. (2)

A Dead End or Gold Mine?

News clip from The Winnipeg Tribune, November 18, 1942 (Page 4)

Introduction:

Lloyd Campbell from London made a deep impression on my father while they sailed together from Scotland to S. England in July 1942 - to the disembarking site for the first running of the Dieppe raid.

Both on board Ennerdale, a converted oil tanker, and approaching the Isle of Wight, they were attacked by German bombers. English gunners were knocked off their gun mounts, says my father - "The gun crew on the foc’sle of the ship was knocked clear off the gun by the concussion" - and seeing the need for gunners, Lloyd said, "Let me at him" and filled the void.

Tragically, during the second running of the Dieppe raid (Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942), Campbell stayed behind the wheel of his landing craft while nearing the coast of France under heavy German defensive fire. As a result, Lloyd - who had turned 21 years of age just 18 days earlier - suffered very serious leg wounds, and was taken prisoner of war, along with his commander and injured stoker. Another of his mates, Richard Cavanaugh of Ottawa (RCNVR, Combined Operations), was killed on board.

As one doing research related to the Canadians who served in RCNVR and Combined Operations, I felt that the above news clip was an important discovery or 'good find.' We are informed about the exact date of Lloyd's death, related to his injuries. We also learn where he had been detained in Germany and that he had family back home in London. And both of those pieces of information may (or may not) open the door to collect more information about Mr. Campbell.

Shortly after learning the name and home city of Lloyd's sister I checked the London phonebook to see how many Rollands were listed. Answer: None. So, using the phone as a way to collect details feels like a very cold dead end. (However, Rollands does sound like Rollins and there are five listings for Rollins in the city. Slim possibilities may exist).

Because Madeline (Campbell) Rollands is a married name, she is/was likely older than Lloyd, which means she could be 100 years-of-age or older, with records (marriage certificate, death certificate, etc.) hard-to-find. BUT... not 100 per cent impossible to find.

And a few days ago, using a well-practiced technique, I found a gold mine. A remarkable one, in my opinion.

Lloyd G. Campbell's Attestation Form:

The RCNVR form is stamped with a date, July 1, 1940. We learn that Lloyd (#17138, age 18) was single, born Aug. 1, 1921 in Hilton B., Ontario. This refers to Hilton Beach, a hamlet on St. Joseph Island (Algoma district), south east of Sault Saint Marie. His mother's name is Mary Campbell, his sister's name is Madeline Rollands, with address listed as 992 Oxford Street, London. Lloyd stands 5ft. 7.25in. tall, has a fresh complexion and a scar on his L knee.

Lloyd enrolled to train as an Ordinary Seaman on July 8, 1940. At the time he may still have been employed as a knitter at Holeproof Hosiery in London.

Lloyd is enrolled in the London Division of the RCNVR. (At HMCS Prevost, perhaps). He agreed to serve for three consecutive years "and/or (for the) duration of hostilities" (others, like my father, signed up for "hostilities only" and were listed and known as HOs). The form is dated "ith day of July" which appears again as 8th of July and is approved by Commanding Officer John R. Hunter, I believe.

Lloyd Campbell's Certificate of Medical Examination

Lloyd was examined by Medical Officer William S. Johnston. He weighed 130 pounds, general development was 'good' and maximum chest girth was 34 inches. He did not have 20/20 vision but colour vision was O.K. We read that Lloyd was never vaccinated for small pox but he was listed as O.K. under several headings, from 'Lungs, Heart' and 'Abdomen, Hernia' to 'Testes... Teeth (0 Missing)... and Hemorrhoids'. "No dental or X ray necessary."

Lloyd was not rejected.

"Next!"

Lloyd's Certificate of Progress reveals his grades for Shooting, Swimming and Physical and Recreational Training. Though Lloyd bravely jumped at the opportunity to fire at German planes that were bombing the Ennerdale while on route to S. England in '42, his initial scores for Shooting were Poor.

The word 'Eyebright' is written at the top of the Certificate (dated December 6, 1940; signed off with an R. L. perhaps) and appears later on Lloyd's Active Service sheet (a few pages down). HMCS Eyebright likely signifies a RCN corvette class ship used in the Atlantic on escort duties for troop and supply convoys. More details would be helpful - did he sign up for escort duty or was he placed without much discussion?

Certificate of Progress

The sheet below reveals Lloyd's scores related to Gunnery and Seamanship courses he attended while at HMCS Stadacona (Navy base) in Halifax. It appears he failed the Gunnery course because of a score of 30 in the Explosives section, and failed Seamanship because we read "In hospital during course" though the words are crossed out. The signature and rank of the Divisional Officer might be F.R. Base, Lt., V.R. (Volunteer Reserve).

This next sheet from Lloyd's Navy records reveals information already presented but with a very significant twist! It comes to us by way of Halifax and lists Lloyd's Official Number as V 17138. Date and place of birth, etc. have already been noted but the spelling of his sister's name has been corrected, from Rollands to Rollins. As mentioned earlier, there are no Rollands in London's most recent phonebook but there are five Rollins listed, so, some connection might still be possible with Lloyd's surviving relatives.

We also see the date of May 28/40 typed under Date of Actual Volunteering, followed by July 8/40 as Date of Enrolment for Ord. Smn. (Ordinary Seaman, for balance of hostilities). Once Lloyd volunteered he likely completed some basic training, aka 'probationary strength'.

Lloyd Campbell's Service Certificate

Mr. Campbell's Active Service sheet provides very important details:

While he volunteered (May 28/40) and enrolled (July 8/40) to become, initially, an Ordinary Seaman in London, Lloyd soon found himself continuing training at Stadacona in Halifax, as of August 22, 1940. Three months later he was signed out of Stadacona and into Eyebright Dec. 1, 1940.

Lloyd is connected to Eyebright until Jan. 22, 1942. What were his duties, responsibilities? Where did Eyebright take him, if indeed he was on board a RCN corvette at that time?

Information re HMCS Eyebright, RCN corvette, can be found in several places, and Wikipedia serves as a very good start:

"HMCS Eyebright was a Flower-class corvette that served mainly with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War in the Battle of the Atlantic."

According to Wikipedia, Mr. Campbell, on loan to England's Royal Navy, would have been assigned to escort duty, e.g., accompanying convoy HX 104 (January 1941), in the company of "the RN escort group EG-4 based in Iceland in May 1941."

Lloyd's records indicate his rank of ordinary Seaman changed to A.B. (Able-Bodied Seaman), as of May 22, 1941, the same month the HMS Eyebright was loaned to Canada along with nine other RN corvettes. Officer in charge appears to be H. R. Davis.

(Please link to For Posterity's Sake to learn more about the ship, and view a list of its Canadian Commanding officers, including Lt. Herbert Coates Reynard Davis, RCNR, June 25, 1941 - Feb. 11, 1943).

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Editor's Research: Lloyd Campbell, London Ont. (1)

Dieppe Veteran and Prisoner of War.

What passing-bells for these who died as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

Dieppe, Dieppe by B. Greenhous

Introduction:

Lloyd George Campbell of London attended high school, perhaps in London's east end (e.g., Sir Adam Beck), and not too many months or years after graduation he volunteered for the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve, perhaps at HMCS Prevost, an inland navy base that currently stands at the Fork of the Thames River, near downtown London, less than a mile from my house.

My father also volunteered for RCNVR (in 1941, at HMCS Star in Hamilton) and the two men crossed paths after volunteering for Combined Operations (late 1941), perhaps while training upon landing crafts in southern England or north-western Scotland prior to the Dieppe raid. But they certainly knew each other to some degree after meeting aboard the Ennerdale, a converted oil tanker, on their way from Scotland to the Isle of Wight, in preparation for Operation Rutter, the first (and cancelled - July 7, 1942) running of the raid at Dieppe, France.

In Navy memoirs my father writes the following - in 1975 - about that voyage in June of '42:

I believe we went from Irvine to H.M.S. Quebec, then to H.M.S. Niobe and then aboard the oil tanker Ennerdale at Greenock in late April, 1942. Our barges were loaded on the ship too, by use of booms and winches. I do recall that before leaving Greenock one of the ship’s crew said to me, “I wish we weren’t going on this trip, matey.” When I asked why he said, “‘Cause we got a bloody basinful last time!” We got our basinful this time too.

During the trip down the west coast of England it seems we pulled into an Irish seaport one night; however, farther down the coast of England we headed south past Milford Haven, Wales, and all was serene.

We usually had a single or maybe two Spitfires for company. There were eight ships in the convoy; we were the largest, the rest were trawlers. Of course, the Spitfires only stayed until early dusk, then waggled their wings and headed home.

On June 22, 1942, my mother’s birthday, O/D Seaman Jack Rimmer of Montreal and I were reminiscing on deck. We must remember there was daylight saving time and war time, and to go by the sun setting one never knew what time it was. Jack and I were feeling just a little homesick - not like at first - and it was a terribly hard feeling to describe then.

Our Spitfire waggled his wings and kissed us goodnight though it was still quite light, and no sooner had he left when ‘action stations’ was blared out on the Klaxon horn.

Eight German JU 88s came from the east, took position in the sun and attacked us from the stern. It was perhaps between eight and nine o’clock because I had undressed and climbed into my hammock next to Stoker Fred Alston. When the Klaxon went everybody hit the deck and tried to dress, and being the largest ship, we knew we were in for it.

I got my socks on, put my sweater on backwards and got the suspenders on my pants caught on the oil valves. I was hurrying like hell and nearly strangled myself - scared to death. They needed extra gunners so Lloyd Campbell of London, Ontario (later to die of wounds suffered at Dieppe) said, “Let me at him.”

The bombs came - and close. They really bounced us around. The gun crew on the foc’sle of the ship was knocked clear off the gun by the concussion and fell but were only bruised.

The attack was short and sweet but it seemed an eternity. A near miss had buckled our plates and we lost all our drinking water. I ventured out on deck immediately and picked up bomb shrapnel as big as your fist. I noticed the deck was covered with mud from the sea bottom. I kept the shrapnel as a souvenir along with many other items I had but, alas, they were all lost in Egypt.

We arrived at Cowe (Isle of Wight) the next day with everyone happy to be alive and still shaking. It indeed had been a basinful. Incidentally, two German 88s were shot down. Norm Mitchinson of Niagara Falls was credited with two planes shot down during the course of the war; one at Dieppe and one at Sicily. Both were low flying bombers. His weapon was a strip Lewis 303. (Page 19-20, "DAD, WELL DONE")

Rutter was cancelled shortly before the scheduled time of disembarking and many would say that the next raid, known as Operation Jubilee, should have been cancelled as well.

About 6,000 troops took part, for the most part Canadians, along with members of the Royal Navy and several dozen Canadians manning the landing crafts. Able-Bodied Seaman (AB) Lloyd Campbell suffered severe wounds during the raid on August 19 and was ultimately captured by German forces.

His daunting experiences are mentioned in memoirs written by his commanding officer, Lt. Robert McRae of Toronto (captured as well). McRae writes vividly and at length about arriving off the French coast in a small R-boat at about 7:30 AM, August 19. He passed through a smoke screen to confront the foe. Machine gun fire greeted him.

Landing crafts (Higgins boats; plywood) laying down smoke screens off Dieppe.

Credit - Canada at War, and Imperial War Museum

Coming out on the other side (of the smoke screen)
with a full view now of the coast,
we found we were fatally headed toward the beach
under the steep cliffs.
to the right side of the town instead of the town front,
with the ominous heads of the enemy clearly visible
lined along the top of the cliffs. And now they began to pour
machine-gun fire down into the boats.

In our craft, Campbell,
who was at the wheel, received a line of bullets across his thighs
(later as a POW he lost his legs to amputation
and died before Christmas from gangrene).

Cavanagh, standing beside him, was shot in the chest,
and died an hour later thrashing in torment while his lungs filled up.
My third crewman, Brown, took something in the stomach
that damaged him for the rest of his life. But although wounded,
he took over Campbell's place at the wheel,
and for this action received a gallantry award
after the war. As it was my place to stand
behind the man at the wheel,
Campbell had stopped the machine-gun bullets
I might otherwise have received....

From pages 61 - 62, St. Nazaire to Singapore :The Canadian Amphibious War, (Volume 1).

Lt. McRae became a POW at Dieppe, 1942.

Photo credit - St. Nazaire to Singapore: Volume 1

My father missed Dieppe by one day along with about 35 other Canadians, and returned to duty as landing crafts returned to southern England (e.g., Newhaven, Portsmouth, Southampton) and was present when casualty lists were posted. He says:

I lost my first comrades at Dieppe. Others were wounded. O/S Kavanaugh (sic) - killed. O/S Jack McKenna - killed. A/B Lloyd Campbell, London, Ontario died of wounds after his legs were nearly cut off by machine gun fire. Imagine Higgins boats made of 3/4 inch plywood going in on a beach like that.

Lieutenant McRae, our commander, Stoker Brown, and others I can’t recall were taken prisoner. And lots of people don’t even know Canada’s navy was represented at Dieppe. (Page 21, "DAD, WELL DONE")

Stoker Brown (left) reunites with Doug Harrison (my father, front centre),

Lt. R. McRae (at back) and Art 'Gash' Bailey (right) after the war.

Photo credit - St. Nazaire to Singapore: Volume 1

When St. Nazaire to Singapore - The Canadian Amphibious War (two volumes of memoirs by Canadians in Combined Operations) was being assembled in the mid-1990s my father made a submission that related to those comrades he lost at Dieppe. The short list mentioned AB Lloyd Campbell, Cavanaugh, McKenna (as seen above), as well as S/Lt. Clifford Wallace, Canada's first casualty re Dieppe (shot during the crossing in the English Channel).

As found in St. Nazaire to Singapore: Volume 1*

*Please note - my father listed no date of death for Lloyd Campbell or location of burial other than Berlin. Few people would have had that specific information at the time.

Mr. Campbell's name can also be found in the book Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks (RCNVR, Combined Ops) among the partial list of the 950 - 1,000 Canadian men who volunteered for dangerous duties with Combined Operations during World War II.

Note that Campbell and Cavanagh are listed together again.

The name ("Lloyd G. Campbell") is found in 'KNOWING NO DEFEAT', a book published in London Ontario. The name is included in the LSCI Active Service Roll (a list of all former South Collegiate students who enlisted in WW II) beginning on page 131. It is the first place I have seen Mr. Campbell's middle initial, but I am not certain it is the same Lloyd Campbell referred to all along in this post. Campbell is a very common last name and 'Lloyd George' may have been a first and second name given to more than a few babies back in the 1920s because it was the well-known name of a Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Mother Land to so many Canadians during that time.

Though R. Cavanaugh and C. Wallace are listed as buried at Dieppe (and some information can be found about that burial service), and J. McKenna was buried at Newhaven (S. England; some information available in Al Kirby's account re Dieppe raid), I have only been able to find scant information concerning Campbell's death and burial, already mentioned above. I.e., "died of wounds", "Berlin", "lost his legs to amputation and died before Christmas from gangrene".

Recently, however, while scanning my computer screen and beginning to read a story of some interest in The Winnipeg Tribune entitled 'Reporter Gets Nine Wounds In Oran Raid' (related to the invasion of North Africa, November 1942, during which my father was very busy on landing crafts near Oran), my eyes were drawn toward a small news headline.... two columns over!

'Navy Casualty'.

My heart began to thump.

I thought, "Could this be about a Canadian in Combined Ops?"

"Lloyd George Campbell is Lloyd G. Campbell, London! I'm sure of it!"

My heart thumped for quite a while. What I have discovered, with some good fortune involved, is pertinent information about a Canadian veteran of Dieppe:

- Lloyd died as a POW on October 21, 1942.

- the location of Camp 9-C may be known, and burial records may exist.

As well, more research work can be done - possibly with good results - if I can locate and connect with Lloyd's surviving relatives here in my home city of London.

More will hopefully be supplied here about Mr. Campbell, with his picture if one exists.

The research continues....

Please link to Research: Commando Training - the New Wave in RCAF.

Unattributed Photos GH.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Editor's Column: As Published in Norwich Gazette (9).

FAINT FOOTSTEPS, World War II.

Dieppe Raid Pt. 1: Norwich Boy Cool Under Pressure

Norwich resident Buryl McIntyre drove a landing craft on August 19, 1942 during the Dieppe Raid and said the following to a news reporter once back in Canada in early 1944:

“It was a dark night in August when we crossed the Channel toward Dieppe. Just at dawn we could discern the coast of France. Out of the dark sky and into the light outlining the coast came a (British) plane diving on gun positions on shore, the guns in his wings and cannon in the nose twinkling much like a ‘Hallowe’en sparkler’. Then, just as he reached treetop height, so it seemed, he pulled out and let his bombs go. He zoomed up and set off for home, ‘a job well done’.” (The London Free Press, February 5, 1944)

Newspaper headlines from February 5, 1944

The phrases “a job well done” and “like a Hallowe’en sparkler” are positive and apt descriptions of the action of one plane Buryl witnessed that truly memorable morning above France’s coastal waters. He may not have seen, however, a sea fight between Canadian and German boats that took place 2 - 3 hours earlier.

And unfortunately, that event had devastating consequences.

One, Sub-Lieut. C.D. Wallace became Canada’s first casualty of the day (at about 0345 hours) when flotillas of landing craft on the extreme left flank of the assault made a fatal encounter with a well-armed German convoy in the English Channel.

Two, any hopes for a surprise landing - high on the list of priorities for the 6,100 Allied troops involved - were dashed.

Al Kirby of Woodstock, who manned another landing craft in the same waters (and who learned his destination was “Deepy” from a Canadian soldier on board) says the following: “Shortly before 0400, the sky ahead of us suddenly lit up with a myriad of tracers knifing into the heavens. We all realized that we were getting close to our target... (and) now it appeared that the enemy was awake and at action stations. (Page 52, Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks)

So, shortly after the “job well done” described by Buryl McIntyre, came the formidable, bristling German response that ultimately resulted in the death, wounding or capture of over 3,600 troops, the vast majority from Canada.

“I saw my lieutenant, the flotilla officer, ‘get it’ because he did not know the meaning of fear,” Buryl says. “I saw ship’s gunners being strafed and standing to their guns. I can remember a Bren gunner standing in plain view of wicked cross fire, pouring all he had into the Jerries to cover his mates’ landing.”

What passing-bells for these who died as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

Dieppe, Dieppe, B. Greenhous

"Perhaps the most famous of all Dieppe photographs; but captions rarely

mention that the body second from the bottom of the picture is that of a

U.S. Army Ranger, judging by his American-style gaiters."

As found in Dieppe, Dieppe by B. Greenhous

Photo Credit - ECP Armees

In spite of the hellfire coming from several directions, Buryl stayed at the controls of his barge, and when his lieutenant was shot (almost as soon as they touched the beach) Buryl took command. He landed the troops, then reversed direction in search of “the nearest destroyer to get help for his officer.”

Buryl skillfully maneuvered through a heavy stream of speeding boats, all hoping to escape fire from German planes. At one time a barge drew alongside to offer assistance and its tie rope wrapped itself around Buryl’s propellor. His engine stopped, but without hesitation “Buryl dropped into the water (and) swam around to the stern of the tossing barge.” He eventually unwound the rope and continued his search for help.

Finally McIntyre was able to safely deposit his stricken officer aboard a destroyer, and after standing by for nine hours, “a senior officer commanded him to take his barge home to an English port” 70 miles away.

The fate of the unnamed officer is unknown, but when Dieppe honours were released Buryl McIntyre was mentioned - “for coolness and courage in emergencies.”

Buryl McIntyre (left), Doug Harrison; two Norwich boys.

More to follow.

Please link to Editor's Column: As Published in Norwich Gazette (8)

Unattributed Photos GH

Friday, May 11, 2018

Photographs: North Africa, Nov. 1942 (9 Parts)

Operation Torch: Allies Invade Africa's Northern Shores.

[Photo: RFA Ennerdale off Greenock. LCMs hanging from davits.

From the collection of Joe Spencer, RCNVR, Combined Ops.]

Introduction:

When Allied forces invaded North Africa beginning in early November, 1942 they were spread out over three main landing areas, centred on Casablanca (west), Oran (center) and Algiers (east). Canadians in Combined Operations, as members of the 80th and 81st Flotillas of Landing Craft, and attached to the Center Task Force, transported troops to shore on D-Day (Nov. 8) N. Africa and the materials of war for about 2 weeks or more thereafter.

Map of Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast)

Photo Credit - Wikipedia (link for more information)

Doug Harrison (RCNVR, Combined Ops, 1941 - '45) writes in memoirs:

After Dieppe we regrouped and went back to H.M.S. Quebec for further training, this time on LCMs or Landing Craft Mobile or Mechanized. H.M.S. Quebec was in Scotland on Loch Fyne.

LCM on Loch Fyne near H.M.S. Quebec and Inveraray, Scotland.

Photo - Imperial War Museum.

(After "much training") we entrained for Liverpool. Prominent pub was The Crown in Wallasey. We left Greenock in October, 1942 with our LCMs aboard a ship called Derwentdale, sister ship to Ennerdale.

She was an oil tanker and the food was short and the mess decks where we ate were full of eighteen inch oil pipes. The 80th and 81st flotillas, as we are now called, were split between the Derwentdale and Ennerdale in convoy, and little did we know we were bound for North Africa. (Page 23, "Dad, Well Done")

"LCM 81-7 hoisted off E. Charmain in Sicily July 10 43. MacGregor's boat"

Photo from the collection of Joe Spencer. (Action similar to N. Africa)

Dozens of photographs related to the invasion of North Africa have been assembled in separate entries on this website and links to each are provided below:

1. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942.

2. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942.

U.S. troops coming ashore at Arzeu, North Africa. 8th November 1942

Photo - F.A. Hudson (RN photographer), Imperial War Museum

3. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942.

4. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942.

5. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942.

6. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942.

7. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942

8. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942

9. Operation TORCH, Invasion of N. Africa, Nov. 1942

To see a collection of photos related to the next major operation of World War II (Operation Husky) - with some focus on Canadians in Combined Ops - please link to Photographs: Invasion of Sicily. July 1943 (5 Parts).

Unattributed Photos GH

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Photographs: Invasion of Sicily. July 1943 (5 Parts).

Operation Husky - Canadian Forces Pull Their Weight

[Photo: Map of Sicily found in Combined Operations by C. Marks, London Ontario

Members of 80th & 81st Canadian Flotillas, manned Landing Crafts, Mechanized

(LCMs) in Operation Husky, near Avola (lower right of above map), July ‘43]

Introduction:

The Allies made gains in the Mediterranean Theatre during 1942 and 1943 with the invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch, November 1942) and invasions of Sicily and Italy (Operations Husky, then Baytown and Avalanche, July and September 1943 respectively).

Canadians in all parts of the armed forces took active part in these operations and are oft-mentioned in newspaper articles, remembered in memoirs and seen in many good-quality photographs (as displayed in five entries listed below).

The vast majority of the photographs are attributed to official Royal Navy photographers and found in extensive archives at the Imperial War Museum (IWM), United Kingdom.

Readers will find informative captions accompanying the photographs and details from veterans' memoirs that relate to the scenes revealed (75 years ago on this calendar year, 2018).

Please link to the following:

1. Operation HUSKY, Invasion of Sicily, July 1943.

2. Operation HUSKY, Invasion of Sicily, July 1943.

NA4186. Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9 - 10 July 1943: British

troops manhandle vehicles and equipment on the beaches as they are unloaded

from landing craft. Photo - Sergeant Frederick Wackett and IWM

Some of the Canadians in Combined Operations travelled to Sicily aboard SS Silver Walnut, and by journeying around Africa). Below are members of RCNVR (and Combined Operations) who were part of the 80th Flotilla of Canadian Landing Crafts: