Operation TORCH, Invasion of North Africa, 1942
TORCH Sets the Stage for HUSKY, BAYTOWN and AVALANCHE
[Photo: A13046. HM Ships anchored at the Naval harbour of Mers-el-Kebir.
Photo - RN Photographer Lt. C.H. Parnall, Imperial War Museum. IWM.]
Introduction:
Undoubtedly, more photographs can be found within various archives and collections that pertain to Allied action during Operation TORCH, November, 1942. In the future I may find more at my favourite site for clear photographs and informative captions, the Imperial War Museum, London UK. And if I do so, I will add them to this set of nine posts.
Canadians in Combined Operations went back to various bases and camps in the United Kingdom after their work in North Africa was complete. There they participated in more training aboard landing crafts (LCAs and LCMs and more) in preparation for future, significant operations or planned invasions in the Mediterranean, i.e., at Sicily in July and Italy in September, 1943.
Many posts that feature news articles, photographs, videos and more about those operations in '43 can be found already at this website. Please use the "click on HEADINGS" in the right hand margin re Sicily and Italy to begin your search if desired.
More photos and accompanying captions about action in North Africa now follow:
A13047. HM Ships anchored at the Naval harbour of Mers-el-Kebir.
Photo Credit - RN Photographer Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM
A13688. SCENES IN ORAN HARBOUR AND MERS-EL-KEBIR, 22, 23 NOV. 1942.
Ships scuttled by the French before the landing parties arrived, lying on the bottom
of Oran Harbour. Photo - Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
A13689. BRITISH SAILORS AND FRENCH DOCKERS WORK TOGETHER
NEAR ORAN. 22, 23 NOV. 1942, ORAN AND MERS EL KEBIR.
British naval ratings and French dockyard workers work together
after the cease fire at Mers-el-Kebir, north west of Oran.
Photo Credit - Lt. C.H. Parnall, Imperial War Museum
Editor's Note: I am reminded, when I see the above and next three photos, that Canadians in Combined Operations were sprinkled among the Royal Navy crews aboard landing crafts, or they manned crafts as a group of three or four while under the command of a British officer. I feel confident in saying that there are Canadians in these rare group photos though we read "British sailors and French dockers work together...."
A13690. SIGN LANGUAGE HELPS BRITISH SAILORS AND FRENCH
DOCKERS TO GET TOGETHER IN NORTH AFRICA. 22, 23 NOV., ORAN
AND MERS-EL-KEBIR. In Mers-el-Kebir, north west of Oran, a seaman ekes
out his French with sign language. After landing at Mers-el-kebir, naval
ratings helped French dock workers in the landing of supplies etc.
Photo - Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
A13691. Heading as above. Caption - In Mers-el-Kebir, north west of Oran, a
seaman ekes out his French with sign language. After landing at Mers-el-kebir,
naval ratings helped French dock workers in the landing of supplies etc.
Photo - Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
A13692. SIGN LANGUAGE.... 22, 23 NOV. 1942
Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
Editor's Note: The following two photos illustrate my earlier note about a few Canadians "sprinkled among the Royal Navy crews aboard landing crafts." The first is a single frame taken from a video/news reel that deals with the landings in North Africa and men briefly going ashore. The sailor with white cap and fag on his lip (beside a woman, second from right) looks very much like C. Dale, from Canada.
Four boys in the middle row look very familiar!!
Mr. Dale appears third from left in the next photo, with a few other Canadians I know by name, including my father (peaking out behind Dale, fourth from left). Portsmouth or Southampton, likely.
And now, back to photos from the Imperial War Museum:
And now, back to photos from the Imperial War Museum:
A13693. Heading - THE "V C" SHIP. 22 AND 23 NOVEMBER 1942, ORAN AND
MERS-EL-KEBIR. HMS WALNEY, EX-AMERICAN COAST GUARD CUTTER
LYING ON ITS SIDE BY THE INNER BREAKWATER OF ORAN HARBOUR.
AFTER THE SHIP HAD REACHED ITS OBJECTIVE; TO BREAK THE BOOM
IN ORAN FOR THE NORTH AFRICAN LANDINGS, HER COMMANDING
OFFICER CAPTAIN PETERS RECEIVED A POSTHUMOUS V C FOR HIS
PART IN THE ACTION. THE LOSS OF LIFE WAS HEAVY BUT THE
OBJECTIVE WAS ACHIEVED. Photo - Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
A13694. HMS WALNEY, EX-AMERICAN COAST GUARD CUTTER
Photo - Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
A14013. Heading - HMS HARTLAND ON FIRE AND SINKING AFTER FOLLOWING
HMS WALNEY INTO ORAN HARBOUR IN THE FACE OF A HOT FIRE FROM
FRENCH WARSHIPS AND SHORE BATTERIES. Admiralty Official Collection, IWM.
A14014. HMS HARTLAND ON FIRE AND SINKING
Photo Credit - Admiralty Official Collection, IWM.
A14015. HMS HARTLAND ON FIRE AND SINKING
Photo Credit - Admiralty Official Collection, IWM.
A14313. Heading - THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
Caption - Naval ratings off duty enjoying a bathe on the North African coast at
Oran or Mers-El-Kebir. RN Official photographer Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
A14314. Heading - JACK TAR IN HIS ELEMENT. 25 AND 26 JAN. 1943,
ORAN AND MERS-EL-KEBIR. Naval ratings off duty enjoying a bathe
on the North African coast. Photo - Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.
CNA646. Heading - ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943. Caption - German Type VIIB submarine, U-83,
under attack in the Mediterranean, 80 miles North-east of Oran, Algeria, from a
Lockheed Hudson of No. 500 Squadron RAF based at Blida. Three 100-lb AS bombs
are seen exploding short of the target after the first attack run. The Hudson then
dropped three 150-lb depth charges on the U-83 from 75 feet and the submarine sank.
Photo Credit - No. 500 Squadron RAF, IWM.
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