Photographs: Combined Operations Training, November 1942 (1)

At the No. 1 Combined Operations Training Camp, The Royal

Kents and More Canadian Sailors are Put Through Their Paces

The 1st Royal Kents "are given a wet landing," as they wade

ashore at HMS Quebec, the No. 1 Combined Operations Training

Camp just south of Inveraray, Scotland. November, 1942.

Photo Credit - Walter Thomas Lockeyear, H25389 IWM

Introduction:

While collecting and sharing photographs re "Training for Combined Operations" by particular official war photographers Lts. Lockeyear and Tanner, I came across a way to collect and share a wider range of photos by both men, first off by searching for them under a slightly different heading, i.e., "Combined Operations Training." Yes, it was that easy to get more than a dozen of photos, most of which I'd never seen before. 

(Just as easy was getting more of the headings the mens' work was organized under, e.g., "Combined Operations Exercise." More and more pics soon to follow out of the 5,000 (approx.) organized under their names at Imperial War Museum).

The production date of November 17, 1942 is written or stamped on the back of several of the photos. It is known that several Canadians in Combined Ops - including my father Doug Harrison and his close friend Buryl McIntyre from Norwich, Ontario, Canada, were participating in the invasion of North Africa (i.e., Operation Torch) on that date. However, a few hundred other members of RCNVR had volunteered for Combined Operations after the first two drafts of Canadian sailors (about 100 in all; Doug and Buryl were a part of the first draft of about 50 men) had been shipped from Halifax to the U.K. in January, 1942.

So, it is likely Canadian members of the later drafts participated in training in November, 1942 at some of the Comb. Ops. locations scattered throughout the U.K., including at Inveraray (as seen below in the 1st photograph), home to the No. 1 Combined Operations Training camp.

Please click here to learn more about the training experienced by early Canadian volunteers to Combined Operations, e.g., at Inveraray and elsewhere. 

Shared below are photographs from Lt. Lockeyear's collection:

IWM (H 25383) (1/2) Original wartime caption: The Royal Fusiliers embarking

into American assault craft used for training purposes. Photo Credit:

Lockeyear, Walter Thomas  Production date 1942-11-17

IWM - Imperial War Museum, England

Please click here to learn more about WWII photographers - War Office official photographers 

Click here for more about the WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION

More information about the training purposes at the No. 1 Combined Operations Training Camp (about 2 miles south of Inveraray, Scotland) was included on the back of the above photo by W. Lockeyear:

IWM (H 25383) (2/2) Original wartime caption: The Royal Fusiliers

embarking into American assault craft used for training purposes.

IWM (H 25384) Royal Fusiliers leaping from their craft on to

the beach during a landing. Production date 1942-11-17

IWM (H 25385) Royal Fusiliers attacking "enemy" positions after landing.

IWM (H 25386) Black Watch landing after "touching down.”

6th Ben. Black Watch

IWM (H 25387) General view of the 1st Royal West Kents, landing.

1st Royal West Kents

Two photographs of my own, taken a dozen or so years ago during my first trip to Scotland (for research purposes in part), show somewhat the same perspective as the above pic:

Lt. Lockeyear's photos continue:

IWM (H 25388) After landing, the 1st Royal West Kents

scale a sea wall to attack "enemy" coast positions.

Please click here to learn more about the early experiences of Canadians in Combined Operations while at HMS Quebec (No. 1 Comb. Ops. training camp) in 1942.

IWM (H 25389) (1/3) (under the heading “The British Army in

the United Kingdom 1939 - 45” ) Caption - Men of the 1st Battalion,

Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment wade ashore from landing craft

during combined operations training in Scotland, 17 November 1942.

IWM (H 25389) (3/3) (also under the heading “The British Army

in the United Kingdom 1939 - 45” ) Similar caption as photo above

this one but with more details provided.

Another WWII photographer, another "wet landing" in almost the same location:

Photo credit - Official war photographer Major W. G. Horton at Inveraray

H 11185 Imperial War Museum

IWM (H 25390) The 6th Black Watch encounter beach wire defences.

Another photo by a rank amateur, but from a similar POV:

H.M.S Quebec, now a caravan or trailer park. GH 2014

More of the 'Lockeyear collection' soon to follow.

Please click here to view more very relevant 'Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (4)'

 
Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (4)

Exercise Yukon: An Exercise in July in Preparation

for the Dieppe Raid in August 1942  

IWM (H 21727) Canadian troops embarking in landing craft for the exercise.

All photographs, from H21727 to H21737, are from Imperial War Museum

Introduction:

After a little searching around Googleland and a few items I had on hand (including a paragraph or two from AI), I discovered information about exercises and rehearsals for combined operations that were scheduled for June and July, i.e. related to Operation Rutter (which was cancelled before it went into full swing in early July), as well as Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe, August 19, 1942.

AI revealed the following:

Major Rehearsals for the Dieppe Raid [1]

Most large-scale maneuvers in July were direct rehearsals for Operation Rutter, the original plan for the raid on Dieppe (later executed in August as Operation Jubilee). [1]

Operation Rutter Rehearsals: Throughout early July, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division and various British Commando units were stationed on the Isle of Wight. They conducted intensive amphibious landing drills and live-fire exercises in the English Channel.

Exercise Yukon (late June - early July): A series of rehearsals specifically for Canadian units (including the South Saskatchewan Regiment and the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) held at Isle of Wight to practice scaling cliffs and clearing coastal defenses.

My father and Lloyd Evans, one of his mates in RCNVR and Combined Operations, both say a few words in memoirs about incidents that took place in southern England, and near the Isle of Wight, that fit into the time period mentioned above, i.e., "late June - early July." Wouldn't it be nice if either or both of them pop up in one of the following photos that depict activities in July.

About that time my father writes:

CHAPTER FOUR. 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 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 (unfortunately, my father does not include a departure date from Greenock) 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.

The next evening, June 23, 1942* there was terrific activity. Motor launches by the dozen headed out to see what was going on, and it turned out to be the aborted attempt on Dieppe.

The next one on August 19, 1942 should have been aborted too. (Excerpt from "Dad, Well Done", pages 19 - 20)

*June 23, 1942 does not jive with the date of the "aborted attempt on Dieppe," i.e. Operation Rutter. Perhaps my father was witness to "terrific activity" related to the major rehearsals or exercises, e.g., Yukon.

Questions or comments can be addressed to GH via email - gordh7700@gmail.com

All but three of the next 13 photographs were found at IWM under the heading "Training For Combined Operations," as did the 3 dozen photographs in the earlier entries in this series, Parts 1 - 3. The other three fell under another heading, with details about it soon to follow:

IWM (H 21728) (1/2) Equipment being loaded for the exercise. 

("Training For Combined Operations")

IWM (H 21728) (2/2) Equipment being loaded for the exercise.

The very clear photo below, definitely a part of the series "Training For Combined Operations" was found under a different heading: 

DOMINION AND COLONIAL FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45

IWM (H 21729) (1/3) Canadian Universal carrier and troops embarking at

a British port in preparation for a combined operations exercise, July 1942. 

Same photo as above but a poorer quality:

IWM (H 21729) (2/3) Canadian Universal carrier and troops embarking at

a British port in preparation for a combined operations exercise, July 1942. 

IWM (H 21729) (3/3) Clearly part of the series "Training For

Combined Operations" and found under the different heading

IWM (H 21730) General J.H. Roberts briefing troops aboard ship

during the exercise.

I share below a news article (post-Dieppe Raid, i.e., August 29, 1942 as found in The Winnipeg Tribune) concerning General J.H. Roberts:

Major General Ham Roberts - more details, click here

Photo Credit - Canada in the Second World War

Please click here to read a full entry from The Winnipeg Tribune as found on "1,000 Men, 1,000 Stories" concerning many details re the Dieppe Raid, published on August 29, 1942.

Photographs found at IWM under the heading "Training For Combined Operations" now continue:

IWM (H 21731) General J.H. Roberts briefing troops aboard ship

during the exercise. (TCO)

IWM (H 21732) General J.H. Roberts briefing troops aboard ship

during the exercise. (TCO)

IWM (H 21733) General J.H. Roberts briefing troops aboard ship

during the exercise. (TCO)

IWM (H 21734) An impromptu concert aboard ship

during the exercise. (TCO)

IWM (H 21735) Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten discussing

the scheme with troops taking part. (TCO)

IWM (H 21736) Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten discussing the

scheme with troops taking part. (TCO) “And Navy boys too!!” (GH)

IWM (H 21737) Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten discussing

the scheme with troops taking part. (TCO)

More photographs related to Canadians in Combined Operations and training will follow.

Please click here to view Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (3)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (3)

Training for Operation Rutter Scheduled for July 7, 1942??

Or Operation Jubilee (Dieppe) Planned for August 19, 1942?

IWM (H 21715)(1/2) Original wartime caption: Canadian troops taking

part in the exercise await their turn to embark.

(H 21715)(2/2). Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

While looking through a series of two dozen photographs entitled "Training For Combined Operations" (see parts 1 and 2 of this series), I noticed one particular photo (i.e., H 21363) was filed under a different heading - DOMINION AND EMPIRE FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45. Same date as all the others in the series, same photographers. (Then, when I used/placed DOMINION AND EMPIRE FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 on the search line I did find H 21363, but under a slightly different heading! I.e., DOMINION AND COLONIAL FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45. 

Confused? You're not alone : ) However, by searching under the new heading I found another series of 23 photographs (H 21715 - H 21737), and on the back of each was the original caption for the photos - "Training For Combined Operations". 

Confused?? No matter. The photographs are very informative except for two things. No exact date. No exact location given with the captions. So, 'Help Wanted.' If you can supply further details please let me know - gordh7700@gmail.com

I have not yet found if the exercise in July, 1942 has an official name but I am starting to think it took place somewhere on England's south shore between Southampton and Newhaven. I will be visiting that part of England's coastline very shortly and hope to come back home with more information about Canadians in Combined Operations and their significant role in Allied exercises and operations.

Please click here to read more about "The RCN and Overseas Operations 1939 - 1945" which includes details re a Canadian sailor's involvement in the Dieppe Raid.

Eleven more photographs in the "Training For Combined Operations" series follow with original caption from the Imperial War Museum:

IWM (H 21716) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21717) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21718) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21719) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21720) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21721) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21722) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21723) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21724) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21725) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

IWM (H 21726) Canadian troops taking part in the exercise

await their turn to embark.

More photographs related to the above series will soon follow.

Please click here to learn more about the Dieppe Raid, i.e., Al Kirby's 25-page 'eye-witness' report.

Al Kirby aboard an LCM of the 80th Flotilla, prior to Operation HUSKY

beginning July 10, 1943. Property of Al's son, David Kirby

Please click here to view Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (Part 2)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (2)

Canadian Troops and Sailors Train for a Significant Exercise

Likely for the Dieppe Raid, Held in August, 1942

IWM (H 21363)* - Canadian troops in an assault landing craft (LCA)

during a combined operations exercise, July 1942.

*IWM (H 21363) - Numerically (and thematically), the above photo is definitely part of the set of photographs entitled TRAINING FOR COMBINED OPERATIONS, and also attributed to the same two "official photographers", i.e., Lts. Arthur James Tanner and Walter Thomas Lockeyear. But it alone in the set shared below comes under a different heading, i.e., DOMINION AND EMPIRE FORCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45. 

Q: Could this mean if I search for other photographs under the "different heading" I'll find another batch re Canadian soldiers and sailors taken at the same time (July, 1942) by Tanner and Lockeyear? 

A: Yes! Stay tuned to Part 3 in this series of posts. : )

Q: Could this series of posts lead to other related sets of photographs from Imperial War Museum (IWM)?

A: Could do!**

Introduction:

This is the second-part of what has turned out to be a three-part-series of photographs (taken in July 1942) found at the Imperial War Museum related to Canadian soldiers (and sailors, some of which may not only be members of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) but also volunteer members of Combined Operations) in preparation (likely) for the upcoming Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee*, scheduled for August 19, 1942.

*Operation Rutter, a raid on the French port of Dieppe scheduled for July 7, 1942 (approx.) was cancelled - "due to bad weather," and/or perhaps after German aircraft spotted and bombed the preparation area and assembled landing crafts - on the south coast of England just prior to the launching of the Canadian and British forces. Would these photos be related to that operation? I would say there is a very slim chance, not very likely due to Rutter's early July date. 

The final exercise prior to assault landing at Dieppe.

Photo: Library and Archives Canada (LAC) 4341223

More details about Operation Rutter can be found here. More details re Rutter - click here.

Below you will find more photographs from IWM re training for Combined Operations, as well as a lead (!) to other related photographs (and maybe more after that!!):

IWM (H 21361) - Canadian troops embarking in landing craft for the exercise.

IWM (H 21362) - These Canadians are wearing "Mae Wests"

life belts as they embark in landing craft for the exercise.

IWM (H 21364) - Canadians in landing craft about to set off on the exercise.

IWM (H 21365) - Troops listening to an impromptu concert

aboard ship during a break in the exercise .

IWM (H 21366) - Troops listening to an impromptu concert

aboard ship during a break in the exercise .

IWM (H 21367) - Troops listening to an impromptu concert

aboard ship during a break in the exercise .

IWM (H 21368) - Troops listening to an impromptu concert

aboard ship during a break in the exercise .

IWM (H 21369) - Troops listening to an impromptu concert

aboard ship during a break in the exercise .

IWM (H 21370) - Two of the officers with the new Sten Gun during the exercise.

(Note the 'CANADA' shoulder patch here and below)

IWM (H 21371) - Lieut. Colonel G. Hedey Basher (centre) at the exercise.

IWM (H 21372) - Lieut. Colonel G. Hedey Basher (right) with one of his officers.

IWM (H 21373) - Lt. Col. "Cece" Merritt talking to two

of his officers during an exercise (screen shot GH)

More information about Lt. Col. "Cece" Merritt follows:

Charles Cecil (“Cece” or “Cecil”) Ingersoll Merritt was born on November 10, 1908, in Vancouver.

He graduated from Royal Military College of Canada in 1929. He later worked as a lawyer in Vancouver.

On July 1, 1937, in Belleville, Ontario, he married Grace Graham Bone. She was born on November 3, 1913, in Ontario. Her father was Jamieson Bone. Her mother was Florence Graham.

During the Second World War, Cece served as a lieutenant colonel with the Canadian military. While commanding his battalion during the Dieppe raid on August 19, 1942, he was captured by enemy forces. He won a Victoria Cross for “matchless gallantry and inspiring leadership.”

After the war, he served one term as a Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver-Burrard. In 1949 he returned to the practice of law.

Grace died on August 5, 1990, in Vancouver. She was buried in Ocean View Cemetery in Burnaby, British Columbia

Cece died on July 12, 2000, in Vancouver. He was buried in Ocean View Cemetery in Burnaby.

Source - Vancouver West End history

** re "Could do!" I will soon follow links provided by IWM to see the photograph collections of (British) War Office official photographers Lts. Arthur James Tanner (1053 units to peruse) and Walter Thomas Lockeyear (3853 units to peruse).

If there are other sets of photos that have some connection to Canadians in Combined Operations I will share them in another entry. Interested or curious readers can check out the collections by using the links attached to the names of the photographers directly above.

FYI A set of photos (i.e., e.g., H21340 - H21349) re Sten gun practice precede this set re Training For Combined Operations, July 1942. Though I did not see any Canadian sailors/members of Combined Ops in that set I did recall being in possession of the following, i.e., photos of gun-wielding Canadians in Combined Ops, from the collection of LS Joe Spencer (RCNVR/Combined Ops):

ALC 269 returning to Southampton from Newhaven, with Charley

Sheeler and Joe Spencer after the Dieppe Raid, Aug. 20, 1942

Charley Sellick (left) and Jim Ivison, July or August, 1943,

in Sicily re Operation HUSKY

Jack Trevor, Sicily. Pistols were likely purchased at an AMGOT

store after the fall of Italy in September, 1943

About sailors in possession of pistols after the surrender of Italy my father wrote the following:

We had some days off and we travelled, did some sight seeing, e.g., visiting German graves. We met Sicilian prisoners walking home disconsolately, stopped them, and took sidearms from any officer. We saw oxen still being used as draft animals when we were there.

Sometimes we went to Italy and to Allied Military Government of Occupied Territory depot (AMGOT). (They later changed that name because in Italian it meant shi-!) While a couple of ratings kept the man in charge of all the revolvers busy, we picked out a lot of dandies. If he caught us we were ready. We had chits* made out, i.e., “Please supply this rating with sidearms,” signed Captain P. T. Gear or Captain B. M. Lever, after the Breech Mechanism Lever on a large gun. "Dad, Well Done" Page 36

*The 'chits' were forgeries, with officers' names applied by a stamp carved out of a dried potato

Questions or comments re this entry can be addressed to GH at gordh7700@gmail.com

Please click here to view previous post - Photographs: Training For Combined Operations, July 1942 (1)

Unattributed Photos GH