The Allied Invasion of North Africa
News Clippings from Nov. 2 - 3, 1942
News Clippings from Nov. 2 - 3, 1942
[Photo Caption - A12654. General view of the convoy en route for Gibraltar
bathed in sunlight and stretching into the distance. RN Photographer Lt. F.A.
Hudson. From the Photo Collection of Imperial War Museum (IWM).
In late winter to spring and early summer 1942, newly volunteered Canadians in Combined Operations did much training aboard landing crafts in southern England and north-west Scotland in preparation for they-did-not-know-what.
Their first call to action was to take part in Operation Rutter, a raid on Dieppe, France. It was scheduled for July 7, 1942 but was cancelled near or on the day of the event.
Some related details re Rutter are provided here:
Operation Rutter was planned to take place between the 4 and 8 July. After weeks of training and preparation the troops embarked on their craft but the order to sail was not given as the period of time when the tides were most suitable coincided with a bout of very unsettled weather. On top of this, the Germans spotted the convoy gathered in the Solent and bombed them. While very little damage was done, it was possible that the enemy would now be alerted to the fact that some sort of amphibious operation was about to be undertaken. This, coupled with the weather getting even worse, forced the operation's cancellation. (Link to source - History of War)
Much has been written about the next operation involving Canadians in Combined Operations, i.e., Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe that took place on August 19, 1942, about five weeks later. Links to several stories and photographs can be found in the right hand margin under 'click on Headings' and 'Dieppe'.
Once Canadians and their landing craft returned from Dieppe and southern England ports they went back to work in such places as HMS Westcliff at Southend-on-Sea, east of London, and at HMS Quebec, near Inveraray, Scotland.
My father Doug Harrison (RCNVR, Combined Ops) writes the following about some of their training:
We did much running up on beaches (with Assault Landing Crafts ALCs and Landing Crafts Mechanized LCMs) so soldiers could disembark and re-embark, always watching the tide if it was flowing in or going out. You could be easily left high and dry, or broach too (i.e., turn sideways toward the tide), if you weren’t constantly alert. We took long trips at night in close single formation because all you could see was the florescent waters churned up by propellors of an ALC or LCM ahead.... (Navy memoirs)
At Inveraray: A12063. LCM (3), front view with ramp down. Lt. R.G.G. Coote, IWM
Their next call to action was to man landing crafts for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, scheduled in early November. Again, little to no information about the specific time/locations would be shared with sailors until the day of the operation. Plans, shared earlier with officers, involved landings in three main areas, each area subdivided into different and extensive sections, as partially illustrated below:
Photo Credit - Operation Torch, Wikipedia
In the following post and its companion pieces, I will present newspaper clippings from November 1942 as found in The Winnipeg Tribune (Link - digital collection, University of Manitoba), along with related items of interest from navy memoirs, Imperial War Museum (IWM) collections and more.
Canadians in Combined Operations were involved with British and American forces and, in my opinion, have unique and important stories to tell from their vantage point as operators and workmen aboard landing crafts that transported troops and all necessary materials of war to significant beaches at a significant time during World War II.
A few newspaper articles will mention good information about the Canadian sailors (RCNVR mainly) who also volunteered for Combined Operations and served during Operation TORCH, and such articles will be shared under the heading "articles re Combined Operations".
Most news clippings or articles, editorials, editorial cartoons, etc. provide general information for readers wishing to learn more about the World War II events on various fronts that have some bearing on Allied troops, including the Canadians in Combined Ops. Since specific details re the 100 - 200 Canadians in Combined Ops are rare, most news clips, etc., will be listed under the heading "context for Combined Ops".
From November 2, 1942:
The purpose of Operation Torch is well documented. It is stated briefly here:
The purpose of the landings at Oran, Casablanca, and Algiers was to secure bases on the coast of North Africa. After the bases were secured, there would be rapid exploitation to acquire complete control of French Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia and extend offensive operations against the rear of Axis forces to the east. The next object was the complete annihilation of the Axis forces opposing the British forces in the Western Desert. At El 'Alamein Montgomery had launched his attack against Rommel three days before the TORCH convoy sailed from England. (Online link)
We will hear more of Monty and the Desert Fox as materials are presented.
Drives related to Victory Bonds continues at a relentless pace:
The photograph below has a bit of a local connection for me. The buildings and grounds seen below still exist in St. Thomas, Ontario, about 15 - 20 kilometres south of London.
News Clippings from The Winnipeg Tribune, November 3, 1942:
Allied forces related to Operation Torch are already sailing toward Africa and will soon be landing to support the ongoing Allied push illustrated below:
Fresh supplies of nearly everything will soon be delivered to the right beach at the right time.
The battle for Stalingrad is still ongoing and merciless.
Landings related to TORCH, Casablanca, Algeria and Tunisia will take place far to the west of Egypt and Libya:
"Loose Lips Sink Ships." A British seaman pays with his life:
News about a POW from Dieppe -
More articles and related items (to provide some context of the times) to follow.
Please link to Context: Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operation JUBILEE (1).
Unattributed Photos GH
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