Photographs: Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (Parts 1 - 10)

The Aim of the Two Operations was the Same - Raid Dieppe 

The First Was Cancelled. Should the Second Have Been as Well?

Photo Credit: Associated Press Wirephoto, as found in The Winnipeg Tribune

(page 7), August 25, 1942. Another Brookwood photo is found in Part 10

Introduction:

Conversations about the Dieppe Raid - to this day - are often started innocently enough but do not end well. Conflicts and controversies are sometimes the order of the day. Deep personal differences between people may be the result of lack of information or the possession of it from various, educated quarters.

The scores of photographs I share contain rare, significant details from the Imperial War Museum, various newspapers, books and online sites. They are accompanied by a healthy amount of written material, some only found here on this site, e.g., the memoirs of Al Kirby (RCNVR, Combined Operations) of Woodstock, Ontario. I have attempted to share links to other reliable sources as well.

Questions and comments are welcome at gordh7700@gmail.com

This series is by no means the final word re the Dieppe Raid. I estimate it has not been written yet though many informative texts have been written about it over the years. Some are listed in the 'books about Combined Operations' section of this site (see 'click on HEADINGS' in the right hand margin).

The White Ensign. From the Editor's small collection of WW2 memorabilia.

Originally collected by Doug Harrison, RCNVR, Combined Ops (1941 - 45).

Please link to the following ten posts as shared on 1,000 Men, 1,000 Stories by G. Harrison:

1. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (1)

2. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (2)

Photo: ART3142 The Home Guard in a Tank Landing Craft (LCT) exercise, Oban.

A view of the backs of two British officers standing at the bridge of a landing craft

with the coastline visible ahead. A large number of Home Guards are on the deck

below. Artist Credit - Bone, Stephen, at Imperial War Museum

3. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (3)

4. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (4)

The article above, from the July 13, 1942 issue of The Winnipeg Tribune*,

is a rare one. It is written by the well-known Canadian war correspondent

Ross Munro, and refers to "invasion manoeuvres" prior to the Dieppe

Raid as part of "advanced combined operations training."

*For more details, please link to Articles: Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (2).

5. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (5)

6. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (6)

C5886. ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER COMMAND, 1942-1945. Vertical aerial

photograph taken during a daylight raid on shipping in Dieppe, France, by 12 Lock-

heed Venturas of No. 487 Squadron RNZAF. One group of bombs is straddling the

Quai du Hable and the entrance channel to the docks, while another group explodes

on the cliff top above the Avant Port. Photo - No. 487 Squadron RAF.

Air Ministry Official Collection WWII

7. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (7)

8. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (8)

H22637. A wounded Canadian soldier being disembarked from the Polish

Navy destroyer ORP Ślązak (Silesian) at Portsmouth on return from Dieppe,

19 August 1942. Wooldridge A W P (Sgt). War Office official photographer,

WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION

9. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (9)

10. Dieppe Raid 1942 - Operations RUTTER/JUBILEE (10)

Please link to other significant photographs at Photographs: The Lloyd Evans' Collection (Parts 1 - 4)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: A Canadian Sailor's Solid Record

Norm Mitchinson's WWII Navy Record Would be Hard to Erase!

Part of the Effingham Division at HMCS Stadacona,  Halifax 1941

Norm Mitchinson appears in the front row, second from the left

Introduction:

Norm Mitchinson, RCNVR 1941 - 1945, was a member of the first division of Canadian sailors to volunteer for Combined Operations, a British organization that planned several raids and invasions during World War II. 

Like many other young men in the Effingham Division who joined Combined Ops during the last days of their training in Halifax, 1941, he was soon placed aboard a ship to the United Kingdom where - very shortly after landing - he would be introduced to several training camps dedicated to instructing young recruits in the handling of various landing crafts, e.g., landing craft assault (ALCs) and landing craft mechanised (LCMs). 

During their first two years of overseas service the Canadian men would be involved in the Dieppe Raid (August 19, 1942) followed shortly thereafter by invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy (i.e., Operation Torch, beginning Nov. 8, 1942; Operation Husky, beginning July 10, 1943; Operation Baytown, beginning Sept. 3, 1943, respectively). The destinations related to their next two-year stint (approx.), until discharge at the end of the war, would widely vary.

Leading Seaman (L/S) Norman Mitchinson's father puts finishing touches

to many concrete facts, the record of a well-travelled Navy campaign.

Photo Credit: Jack Mitchinson (Norm's nephew), with permission

Several photographs and short videos have been assembled here that include or relate to Norm Mitchinson and the Effingham Division. While searching for these items, a caption for a particular photo (seen at top of page) sported a shared provenance, with Norm's name linked to WWII Navy officer Bill Sinclair and a lengthy but very informative story. Details to follow.

 
The following photos relate closely to Norm's "well-travelled Navy campaign."

Most of the Effingham Division is here (minus four sailors). 'X Doug' is my

father, and Norm M. is third row from front, centre. HMCS Stadacona 1941

Another version of the top photo. Collection of Doug Harrison

Photo from the collection of Lloyd Evans, RCNVR, Combined Ops 1941 - 45

The caption is attached to the same photo (poor quality) in a book of

Navy veterans' stories, i.e., St. Nazaire to Singapore: Volume 1

Norm's Navy records would look about the same as above (my father's) until

December 1943. Then they would greatly vary until discharge in 1945

Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks (RCNVR/Comb.Ops)

elaborates on the roles of Canadians in Combined Operations, WWII

The book was reprinted just a few years ago and is available for purchase.

For more details please email Editor at gordh7700@gmail.com

N. Mitchinson's concrete list of raids and invasions as part of Combined Ops

is included on a memorial on the site of HMS Quebec,  Inveraray, Scotland.

HMS Quebec was the No. 1 Combined Operations Training Camp

Video (17sec.) of HMS Quebec site on Loch Fyne, near Inveraray

Video (6sec.) of memorial at HMS Quebec near Inveraray, Scotland

Memorial to members of Combined Operations 150m from Loch Fyne

Opposite side of memorial with Comb. Ops 'Battle Honours' plaque

Memorial is close to WWII drill hall. Scotland Photos by GH, 2014

Seen earlier in this entry but now sports a caption that includes

a provenance* shared by Norm Mitchinson and Bill Sinclair

*The caption includes more than a provenance. It includes insertions by my father and I. E.g., Dad wrote Dewey under the sailor listed as Sam Ingram(?). I believe my father is correct as Dewey's name appears in a list by Joe Spencer included with the large group photo and mentioned in the previous post on this site. I circled "picked up later" because my father did not appear in this small group photo. And as years went by I added names I encountered to replace a few of the mysteries, i.e., (?).

The above photo was included in a lengthy story by Bill Sinclair (10 pages, incl. the photo) entitled "Getting to be a Canadian Naval Officer, 1941." I scanned the story quickly to see if Mitchinson's name was mentioned, to see if the two were school mates, friends, etc., but no instance like that was revealed. Perhaps they both submitted the same photo to the editors of the book it was in (St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War 1941 - 1945, Volume 1).

That being said, Sinclair's story - from the viewpoint of an officer - mentions several people, places and things that Mr. Mitchinson would surely have been familiar with from a Leading Seaman's point-of-view. 

Here is one section from the story that would have been very familiar to both officers and seamen:

The Volendam: Photo credit - uboat.net

 Volendam 

The Volendam was a vessel of 15,500 tons. She had been built in 1923 and belonged to the Holland-America Line. In peace time she was involved in the passenger service between the Netherlands and New York. She was used as a troopship. I recall a plaque on a bulkhead recognising the skill and devotion of her ship's company in some action earlier in the war when she was carrying hundreds of children from Scotland to North America. 

We boarded the Volendam near the end of January 1942, once again for passage to Britain. We sailed with another troopship, the Largs Bay, built in 1922 and of 14,200 tons. She was approximately of the same size and speed as the Volendam. A sister ship of the Largs Bay, namely Jervis Bay had been converted to an armed merchant cruiser early in the war. She was sunk by the German pocket-battleship Admiral Scheer while defending a convoy against impossible odds.

Our convoy of two ships was escorted by two destroyers. We sailed southeast of Halifax. The Volendam had been fitted with a World War 1 six inch gun built in Japan. The gun was placed at the stem of the ship. The Volendam did not have a gun crew of her own. During the voyage this duty was assigned to naval personnel, at least some, if not all of whom were from our landing craft flotillas. The gun's crew consisted of some six men. The senior rating was a Leading Seaman. 

During the second night of our voyage in the Volendam, I was in my cabin when there was a loud explosion, followed by the ringing of the ship's alarm bells. I immediately put on my Mae West inflatable life belt.

As I later learned from members of the gun's crew involved, what had happened was this: It was a moonlit night and visibility over the water astern of the ship was quite good. Suddenly one of the gun's crew-saw the conning tower of a U-Boat breaking the water not far from the ship. The officer in charge of the gun on watch was Sub-Lieutenant Doug Chisholm of Winnipeg. He had just completed his initial training in the navy. To all intents and purposes this was his first day at sea.

The orders were that the gun could not be fired without first obtaining permission from the bridge. There was a phone from the gun position to the bridge. The second officer was on watch. When Doug phoned the bridge for permission to open fire this officer could not understand him. I suspect that this breakdown was contributed to by Doug's excitable volubility. As I heard the story, Doug finally rushed towards the bridge and was met somewhere between by the second officer.

Permission was given and the gun was fired. By this time, however, the submarine was to all intents and purposes submerged. A few minutes later one of the two escorting destroyers which I believe to have been HMS Belmont was sunk with all hands. Doug was henceforth known to his companions as "Gunner". 

(One of our coxswains, L/Sea Danny Darnbrough was aboard and was wounded on one leg and hand in the course of the shelling that destroyed the ship. The convoy's loss was five out of thirty-seven which scattered during the fight. Jervis Bay had no hope as they were firing 6" guns against German 11" armament Her captain was given a posthumous Victoria Cross, the highest and only gallantry medal awarded to dead heroes.)

St. Nazaire to Singapore, page 28

Please click here to find the full story, starting on Page 20 of St. Nazaire to Singapore, Vol. 1 

Norm Mitchinson and my father Doug Harrison surely would remember their first crossing of the Atlantic for many years. In the 1970s my father penned his naval memoirs and included the following paragraphs about his trip to the UK aboard The Volendam:

Time passed quickly at Stadacona in Halifax and by this time nearly everyone had paired off in threes, buddies, or in naval language, ‘oppo.’

One day we heard a mess deck buzz or rumour that the navy was looking for volunteers for special duties overseas, with nine days leave thrown in. Many from the Effingham Division, including myself, once again volunteered. (Will I ever quit volunteering?) The buzz turned out to be true and we came home on leave, which involved three days coming home on a train, three days at home and three days on the train going back.

After returning from leave we were put aboard a large passenger liner, Queen of Bermuda, which went aground going astern as we left harbour and couldn’t be moved. We bailed water all night with pails - on a huge ship like that - like emptying a pail of sand one grain at a time. However, we were transferred to a Dutch ship called the Volendam, with a large number of Air Force men. This was to be an eventful trip.

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 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.

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).

“DAD, WELL DONE” Naval Memoirs of G.D. Harrison, pages 7 - 9

Though Norm Mitchinson is not mentioned in the two stories above, by interesting coincidence during one of the next lengthy journeys aboard troop liners - this time from Scotland to southern England just prior to the Dieppe raid - my father recounts an incident in which Norm took centre stage:

A TASTE OF DIEPPE, 1942

It is very difficult to put a finger on where I was and when I was there because I have only my service sheet and memory to go by and neither seem to be up-to-date. However, 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 (Scotland) 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.

Jack Rimmer aboard HMS Keren on the way to Sicily, 1943

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.

"Dad, Well Done" pages 19 - 20

And so, there's concrete evidence that L/S Norm Mitchinson had a lengthy, well-travelled naval campaign and certainly knew what he was doing when called upon for assistance! 

Please link to photographs related to the Effingham Division.

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: The Effingham Division, HMCS Stadacona 1941

The First Canadian Division to Join Combined Operations

The Division, "almost to the man," Volunteered in Dec. 1941

'X marks the spot' where my father Doug Harrison is sitting 

Introduction:

I have had the above photograph in my possession for many years and it appears often on this site. However, the accompanying list of names, including each sailor but one - and printed neatly by my father - was lost in my travels. My fault. 

Years ago I was given a typed list of that accompanied the photograph below - from the collection of sailor Joe Spencer - but it was not neatly divided into the six rows and there was some confusion on my part re who ended up where in which row. After lengthy review I now feel confident I have the list of names organized in the correct fashion and only 1 or 2 mysteries remain.

Effingham Division, Halifax, 1941

The spelling of the names may not be 100% accurate. Updates/corrections will take place as correct spellings are found. Also, not all of the members of the division are present (e.g., some may have been doing certain duties), though it is the largest of the two group photographs that I have found. A smaller group photo follows. GH

L - R Front Row

Woodley, Leavere (sp.?), Doug Harrison, F. Davies, C. B. Sheeler, J. Muirhead, S. ('Admiral') Dewey

L - R Second Row from front

V. R. Ward, Richard Cavanaugh, Gowan, P. O. Bigelow, Muscles Martin, P. O. Stevenson, Don Westbrook, R. Brown, Al Reneaird (sp.?)

L - R Third Row

E. Hampson, Art ‘Gash’ Bailey, Cabana, J. Martin, Lyle Miller, Norm Mitchinson, J. Jennings, Jack (Jake) Jacobs, W. Moore, Verne Smart, R. Carrol

L - R Fourth Row

Chuck Rose, J. E. Miller, Al Adlington, J. Templeton, M. Redpath, Allen Kern, Don Linder

L - R Fifth Row

H. Brill, N. Hodge, Jim W. Cole, J. Stewart, L. J. Miller, G. Fuller, John Watson, W. Belontz

L - R Sixth or Back Row (8 sailors, 9 names!)

Art Warrick, D. Kerr, J. Costello, F. Howard, W. Lewis, R. (Barry?) Yokum (sp.?), Joe Watson*, D. McPherson

I know that Joe Watson is second from the right. The extra name is Alen Finley.

The smaller group photograph of members of the Effingham Division below was taken in front of the sailors' Wellington Barracks (aka Nelson Barracks). The building no longer exists at HMCS Stadacona, though a somewhat similar building (the Officers' Mess) still stands in its original location. The photo is also from the collection of Joe Spencer and he supplied a list of names that helped confirm certain identities, but one or two mysteries still remain.

As well, I know that four sailors are missing, for reasons as yet unknown:

Al Kirby, Woodstock (he appears in a separate photo below with my father); Joe Spencer, Toronto (he supplied the photos and appears below); Art Bradfield, Simcoe (he appears below); Buryl McIntyre, Norwich (he appears in a separate photo below with my father).

L - R Front Row

Scotty Wales (Whalen?) (pipe in his mouth), Norm Mitchinson, Niagara Falls, Jim E. Miller, Don Westbrook, Hamilton, S. Dewey (aka Admiral), J. Jennings, Sam Ingram (? Editor: I question the name Ingram; it may be Thibodeau)   

L - R Middle row

Levere (sp.?), Art Warrick, Hamilton, Charlie B. Sheeler, Verne Smart, J. Stewart, J. Muirhead, V. (Ray?) Ward, Niagara Falls, Jim Cole, Al Reneaird* (Renaird?)

*Al Reneaird was listed as Al Kirby but I know it was not Al Kirby, Woodstock, a man who was also missing from the first photo.

L - R Back Row

Joe Spencer, Charles ‘Chuck’ Rose, Chippawa, Art Bradfield, Simcoe, Joe Watson, Simcoe, Barry (R.?) Yokum (sp.?), J. Martin, Unknown (Alen or Allan Finley, from first photo?), L. J. Miller

I include this next photograph because it also reveals Wellington Barracks in the background. As well, Buryl McIntyre, Norwich (RCNVR and Combined Operations) was absent from both group photos.

Doug Harrison (left) and Buryl McIntyre both from Norwich, Ont.

Al Kirby was another sailor absent for both photographs and there may be more. I will add such details or updated/additional photographs to this post as they become available.

Al Kirby appears in the photo below (on the right) with my father Doug Harrison. I believe they are on guard duty in the United Kingdom, e.g., HMS Northney, Hayling Island, 1942.

My next challenge will be to identify the second division of Canadian sailors which volunteered for Combined Operations in December, 1941. This division (below) accompanied the Effingham Division on the Dutch liner Volendam overseas in January, 1942. They landed in Greenock, Scotland, boarded at HMCS Niobe (transit depot) for a few days and were then sent en masse to their first training re Combined Operations at HMS Northney on Hayling Island, off the southern coast of England. 

The photograph here is from the collection of Lloyd Evans (back row, fifth from the left) and I can only confidently identify 3 other sailors. Help Wanted!*

Email Editor at gordh7700@gmail.com if you possess a list of

names for the sailors above at HMCS Stadacona, Dec. 1941

To view more photographs related to Canadians in Combined Operations please link to The Lloyd Evans' Collection (Parts 1 - 4)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: The Lloyd Evans' Collection (Parts 1 - 4)

A Rare and Informative Series of RCNVR Photos

The HELP WANTED Sign is Out Again : )

Lloyd Evans and his division, at HMCS Stadacona, Halifax, 1941

Help Wanted - unfortunately, no names were provided

Introduction:

Lloyd Evans, a World War II veteran (RCNVR, Combined Operations) possessed a rare and very helpful, informative collection of photographs related to his experiences as a Canadian sailor.

He appears in the above photo (i.e., top row, fifth from left), likely taken in December, 1941. With confidence I can name a few others because Lloyd's division trained aboard various types of landing crafts at the same time and at the same land establishments (e.g., HMS Quebec, near Inveraray, Scotland) as my father's division (Effingham)... and a few photos with lists of names attached do exist.

Readers with photographs of sailors (especially in RCNVR and Combined Ops) with names attached, please feel free to contact me at gordh7700@gmail.com

Lloyd Evans aboard a troopship circling Africa, prior to Operation Husky,

summer of 1943. Please link to Lloyd's memoirs re that journey

Over the course of the last month or so I have created four entries re scores of Mr. Evans' photographs and readers can conveniently link to the four posts below:

1. From Collection of Lloyd Evans Part 1

2. From Collection of Lloyd Evans Part 2

Photo from the collection of Lloyd Evans. Used with permission

3. From Collection of Lloyd Evans Part 3

4. From Collection of Lloyd Evans Part 4

To view more photographs re Canadians in Combined Operations, please link to Aging Navy Vets Reconnect at Reunions

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: From Collection of Lloyd Evans (4)

Help Wanted. Mysteries Abound re Lloyd's Travels

Lloyd began his journey as a Canadian sailor at a very young age.

In Ottawa? If you recognize the building, let me know*

Introduction:

The many photographs in Lloyd's file are mainly his own. He told me he was not allowed to pack a camera but he obviously did not listen to whoever told him that. And we win as a result, and get a pretty good look at some of the people, places and things Lloyd encountered from 1941 - 45. Some of the photos were taken by others and because he left no captions or details re people's names, names of locations, etc., some mysteries will remain for a long time. 

If readers can identify certain details, please let me know. I will update the four entries I've put together as quickly as possible. I check my email and comment section regularly.

E.g., Readers can contact me re the location of the top photo, or provide details about any other photo, at gordh7700@gmail.com

I know Lloyd and other Canadian sailors visited nearby towns and cities while on leave in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Sicily and Italy. I am guessing that the park below is in Glasgow or Edinburgh:

I am still guessing... Glasgow or Edinburgh:

My photo below was taken during a walk about in Edinburgh. The church in the deep background above may be of similar style.

This photo was taken from a vantage point offered by Edinburgh Castle, 1942 or 1943. I took similar photos - but in colour - from the same vantage point in 2014:

Edinburg Castle by GH:

I believe this encompasses the same area (Leith?) revealed in Lloyd's previous photo:

Richard Cavanaugh (below left) was in the Effingham Division (w my father), was killed during the Dieppe raid and appears in a few of Lloyd's photographs. Richard and Lloyd may have chummed around because they were both from Ottawa (the young lady and other sailor - unknown): 

R. Cavanaugh is mentioned among sailors killed at Dieppe in a book

called St. Nazaire to Singapore: Canadian Amphibious War, Vol. 1

Please link to page 121 - St. Nazaire to Singapore...

Lloyd Evans, the Musical Maestro?

At the Locarno Club on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow?

If you take pictures you may get some attitude!

Lloyd and Able Bodied (A.B.) Seaman Ashley MacDonald became good friends but, as posted earlier in Part 2, Ashley did not return home after the war:

After Lloyd's two years of oversea's service were completed he returned to Canada and was given (or volunteered for) other duties. Did they take him to a seaside port in Canada like the one below? No details re time or location of photo provided. Help wanted:

I provide here an excerpt from Lloyd's memoirs related to his service in Canada in 1944 - 45:

Return to Canada

We sailed the following morning as one of the escorts for a large convey to St. Johns, Newfoundland. The journey itself was uneventful insofar as enemy action was concerned. However, one night when I was on lookout duty on the bridge, I spotted a merchant ship through a clearing in the fog. It was on a collision course with our ship! I called out urgently to the bridge Officer and we went full speed ahead. It was just a freak of the fog that I was able to see the ship when the stern lookouts could not and even more remarkable, since my duties did not include looking to the stern. I'll never know if I changed the lives of hundreds of people that night but I wouldn't like to replay the action to find out!

On another occasion, I stood lookout in the Crows Nest. This put me a lot closer to my maker, in more senses than one, than all the bombing raids I'd witnessed. I had not fully regained my strength since my time in hospital and was still very weak in the legs. I found the climb up the mast almost impossible to negotiate with all the heavy bulky clothes essential for the North Atlantic winter. My legs seemed to be paralysed and the whipping motion of the mast made it impossible for me to move up or down. For a moment, I considered whether to fall off when I was over the steel deck or over the water. Either way, there was only one possible outcome. Self preservation must have kicked in, because I finally made it to the top of the mast and into the relative safety of the Crows Nest. The view from up there was unbelievable. When the ship was at the top of a wave, I could see almost all the ninety or so ships in the convoy and the next minute I couldn’t see any. On another day, there was a submarine alert at the rear of the convoy and we were dispatched back at full speed but couldn’t find anything and we rejoined the convoy at our usual station.

A planned transfer at sea to a corvette that was proceeding to Halifax was abandoned, so we found ourselves at HMCS Avalon in St. Johns, where we stayed for a week. During this time, I was able to try the famous or infamous "Newfie screech" before catching HMT Lady Rodney for the overnight run to Halifax. I went on leave for a month at home in Ottawa and Detroit and then reported to HMCS Scotian, where I learned that our flotilla had already left for overseas duties. The authorities refused to allow us to rejoin them, even though it was our wish to do so. Our two convoys had probably crossed paths as we journeyed to Canada. It was January 1944.

I heard they were looking for people to work in the Harbour Craft Office. I applied and was accepted as crew on one of the many harbour craft. One day I was informed that our craft was going to Shelbourne for the summer. The prospect of working for the particular officer in charge didn't appeal to me, so I applied for a Coxswain's course at the Leadership School in the dockyard and was accepted. At the end of the course I was given the craft stationed at McNab's Island at the entrance to Halifax harbour. My job was to ferry supplies and personnel between McNab's Island and the dockyard. It was 24 hours on and 24 hours off as there were 2 crews.

My Naval Chronicle, page 41

Please link to Combined Operations Command by Scotsman Geoff Slee for a look at the full memoir by Lloyd Evans.

Back in Canada or before he left to the United Kingdom?

Perhaps this photo will generate some interest. Help wanted re location:

The Group of Seven; Canadians in RCNVR/Combined Ops at ease in an English or Mediterranean port (Gibraltar?) with landing crafts hanging from davits. Most names supplied by Editor:

L - R (back): Unknown; C. Powers; Lloyd Evans from Ottawa; Don Westbrook

from Hamilton. L - R (front): Don Linder, Kitchener; Unknown; Doug Harrison

from Norwich, Ontario aka Editor's Dad. 1942 - 43

Is the landing craft in the water or strapped to a deck on an ocean-going liner or troop ship? Are they training in S. England or on their way around Africa prior to Operation Husky in Sicily, July 1943? Help Wanted:

L - R: Chuck Rose, Chippawa; Admiral Dewey?; Lloyd Evans of Ottawa

Lloyd with his parents in Ottawa:

Young Lloyd out front of a significant building. Ottawa?*

*Editor hung out the "Help Wanted" plea at top of page and two readers responded. John V. stated the building behind Lloyd in the first photo of this entry and directly above is Victoria Memorial Museum Building in Ottawa, going back to1911. He provided a link to "a good comparison photo." John wrote, "The architectural details are identical, in my opinion." And I agree.

Jim D. of Ottawa also wrote. He says, "That is the current-day Canadian Museum of Nature," and provided "a good reference picture from a similar angle."

I thank both men for helping out where help was needed.

Lloyd Evans in front of his home in Ottawa. December, 1941,

before shipping out; or December, 1943, after returning home

I tip my hat to Lloyd's son Stephen for allowing me to have and use his father's many excellent photographs. May Lloyd and others like him in RCNVR and Combined Ops be long remembered.

If readers have WWII photographs of a relative's travels in training or during the war years (especially if they relate to RCNVR and Combined Operations), please don't hesitate to send a copy to me for my instruction. I may be able to include it in a future entry on this site. gordh7700@gmail.com

Please click here to view Photographs: From the Collection of Lloyd Evans (3)

Unattributed Photos GH