The Dieppe Raid: Photographs by Lt. L. Pelman, RN (1)

About the Dieppe Raid, Many Strong Opinions Still Exist to

This Day, and Will Surely be Argued Well Into the Future 

A destroyer makes a smoke screen to cover the landing during

the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe. A11210

Photo Credit: Lt. L. Pelman, Royal Navy official photographer. 

Source: Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

Recently, after sharing two posts dedicated to Joe McKenna (a Canadian in Combined Operations killed during the Dieppe Raid), I went on to share three closely-related posts concerning photographs of Commandos and Canadians as they returned to Newhaven, England, after their part in the Dieppe landings on April 19, 1942.

It was while doing so that I came across a lengthy series of very clear, dramatic and instructive photographs taken by Lt. L. Pelman (Royal Navy official photographer) on the day of the raid, now archived at the Imperial War Museum (IWM). Finding the first Pelman photo led to a second, third and so on - to 36 total - some of which seemed familiar to me while others seemed new or fresh. (Readers who explore photographs of the raid on their own or by using the 'A -Z Directory' in the right hand margin (see under 'click on HEADINGS' and go to 'Dieppe' and 'Photographs') may feel the same). And because it feels fairly timely - the 84th anniversary of the raid was about 5 weeks ago, while I was working on related posts - I now share Pelman's series of photographs in two consecutive entries on this blog.

I have shared in earlier posts that my father said he missed Dieppe by one day but he had likely been involved in practice exercises on the southern coast of England, perhaps even upon the Isle of Wight, that were related to the August running of the Dieppe Raid, i.e., Operation Jubilee. However, he may have been involved in the cancelled raid on Dieppe that was launched on the end of the first week in July (Operation Rutter) or in slightly earlier practice exercises. He suggests in memoirs that he was in place to experience some activity related to Rutter but his dates are off:

"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 (mid-June, 1942 as Doug was on a ship bound for Southampton, from a Combined Ops training camp in Scotland) 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. (Operation Rutter, the first run at Dieppe was cancelled on July 7, 1942)

The next one on August 19, 1942 should have been aborted too. I wasn’t there because I was on leave but came back early (because, though I didn’t know where, I knew there was a raid coming) and was in position to see the Duke of Wellington carrying barges, my oppo and other buddies to Dieppe and certain death for the soldiers. 

Page 19, “DAD, WELL DONE” Naval Memoirs of G. D. Harrison

Other folks interested in the goals and outcome of the Dieppe Raid paint a more positive picture of what was learned during the raid and how it helped future raids or invasions lead to some success. Many would disagree, my father and I included. Oops, the quarrelling begins! More details about the raid in the second part of this two-part offering.

And now, please find below a small part of Lt. L. Pelman's collection of WWII photographs as found at IWM. They are numbered from A11211 - A11227 and appear under two headings, and the headings change back and forth from one to the other (for some unknown reason).

Please note: Readers interested in Pelman's photographs throughout the war (1,283 are listed) can visit the many pages (43) from his collection starting here.) 

Headings - The Royal Navy During the Second World War: The Dieppe Raid, August 1942 

A11211 - The crew of a destroyer's pom-pom gun bringing up fresh supplies

of two pounder ammunition during the Combined Operations daylight raid

on Dieppe. Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM) for all below

A11212 - A 20 mm Oerlikon Mark I gun on board a destroyer in action with

enemy aircraft during the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.

Both the crew are wearing anti-flash gear. (IWM)

A11213 - A scene on the bridge of a destroyer during the Combined Operations

daylight raid on Dieppe. One sailor is looking through a pair of binoculars

whilst another is about to send a signal with a hand held signalling lamp.

Heading - THE BRITISH NAVY'S PART IN THE COMBINED OPERATIONS DAYLIGHT RAID ON DIEPPE. 20 AUGUST 1942.

A11214 - The crew of a pom-pom gun looking out for the enemy aircraft.

A11215 - A stoker comes up from below for a breather during the lull.

A11216 - Sailors on board a destroyer enjoy a cigarette during the lull.

A11217 - A destroyer's wireless telegraphist* repairing an aerial shot away

during the action.

*the telegraphist could be my father's twin (said my wife while looking over my shoulder this week)!

Heading - The Royal Navy During the Second World War: The Dieppe Raid, August 1942

A11218 - Some of the Canadian troops resting on board a destroyer after

the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe. The strain of the

operation can be seen on their faces.

Heading - THE BRITISH NAVY'S PART IN THE COMBINED OPERATIONS DAYLIGHT RAID ON DIEPPE. 20 AUGUST 1942.

A11219 - Troops on board a destroyer after the action.

A11220 - A destroyer covering the landing operations steaming close

to the French coast.

Heading - The Royal Navy During the Second World War: The Dieppe Raid, August 1942

A11221 - Landing craft in the distance passing a destroyer on their way

inshore during the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.

A11222 - A general view of the French coast as seen from the bridge of one of

of the covering destroyers during the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.

One of the sailors in the foreground is operating a bridge mounted signalling lamp.

A11223 - A submarine chaser laying a smoke screen during the Combined

Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.

Heading - THE BRITISH NAVY'S PART IN THE COMBINED OPERATIONS DAYLIGHT RAID ON DIEPPE. 20 AUGUST 1942.

A11224 - Some of the landing craft returning after the operation.

Heading - The Royal Navy During the Second World War: The Dieppe Raid, August 1942

A11225 - Wounded soldiers being helped on board the destroyer HMS

ALBRIGHTON by the RNVR surgeon, Surgeon Lieutenant J. Gask during

the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.

A11226 - Shells bursting among the shore batteries during the naval bom-

bardment that was part of the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.

A11227 - Wounded men climbing on board a destroyer while the action

was taking place.

The second set of photographs by Lt. L. Pelman, RN to soon follow.

Please click here to view "News Clips Linked to the Dieppe Report"

Unattributed Photos GH

England's National Memorial Arboretum, May 2026 (2)

Welcome Again to the National Memorial Arboretum,

"150 Acres of Beautiful Woodland and Gardens"

The Arboretum is a few Km south of Burton-Upon-Trent and

even a shorter distance east of Alrewas, Staffordshire, UK

Photo 'borrowed' from the Arboretum's free Visitor Map

A book by a Canadian author that I would highly recommend.

And I do, in the accompanying video, link provided below

Introduction:

My sons and I, having visited the National Memorial Arboretum in late May, 2026, with cameras in hand, have a few more photographs to share with readers.

Enlarge the map on your computer screen for better viewing. GH

We covered a fair bit of ground in the first offering and will do so again below, with several digital photographs and a short video made up of other photographs taken by my son David and I. I will try not to repeat any more than a few of the photos but I do plan to repeat what I said in an earlier video, i.e., that if you are a son, daughter or relative of a Canadian in Combined Ops, i.e., a  former member of the RCNVR and Combined Operations who served during WWII, I strongly encourage you to make a trip to Staffordshire, England, and set aside at least an afternoon or two to walk about this lovely woodlands and gardens to view some of the (over) 400 memorials. 

I offer no guarantee that you'll jump up and down with excitement at the wide variety of designs and symbolism reflected in the many memorials (if you are near my age the "jumping up and down" has passed the best-before-date), but I do believe there would be few people - young or old, who would regret the experience.

For those who viewed the short video in the previous post I share the following details: I repeat one or two, maybe three still photographs in the next short video; yes, I do stop for greater lengths of time at 'Navy' (especially if related Combined Ops) memorials than at memorials for other forces; I bet I didn't see even half of the 400+ memorials on display, and not because we hurried; my boys and I are already discussing plans to return to the UK. "There is so much more to see and do."

Please click below to view a video related to the second half of our trek that day -

Video - England's National Arboretum, May 2026 (2)  

A complete version of Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson follows:

Poem as found at fineartamerica.com

An entry related to the Canadian 80th Flotilla of Landing Crafts (LCMs, in which my father was a member during the invasion of Sicily (i.e., Operation Husky, beginning July10, 1943) and Italy, at the toe of the boot (i.e., Operation Baytown, beginning September 3, 1943) will soon follow and will include the use of the photograph below:

Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum. Dated September 3, 1943

I believe the DUKWs are embarking from Mili Marina, Sicily

Please click here to view an entry, with video, about how we found the grave of Joe McKenna (RCNVR/Combined Operations), a 19-year old Canadian, killed during the Dieppe Raid, as mentioned in an earlier entry. 

One of my father's favourite WWII pubs. It is no longer standing!

One of my favourite pubs, still standing, June 2026, discovered during

my first trip to London in 2012. My sons liked it too! Photo GH

Photographs and a story or two will soon follow related to Operation HUSKY.

Please click here to view England's National Memorial Arboretum, May 2026 (1)

Unattributed Photos GH

England's National Memorial Arboretum, May 2026 (1)

Welcome to the National Memorial Arboretum,

(England's) Year-Round Place to Remember

The Submariner Memorial: "3500kg of bronze sculpted into a divided fin of a

submarine with the lone figure of a submariner standing between the two halves

looking to the surface." Photo Credit - Submarineremembrance.uk

Churchill quote: “Of all the branches of men in the forces there is none which

shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners.”

Photo Credit - same as top photo

Introduction:

I have been doing research and written work about my father's 'Navy Days' (Doug Harrison, RCNVR and Combined Operations, June 1941 - September '45) for about a dozen years. Over that period of time I have written newspaper columns about my dad's WWII service and developed and maintained a blog related to my father and his 950 - 1,000 mates, hoping to create a substantial archive that will inform readers about the contribution made by hard-working Canadian sailors during WWII. Along the way my two sons have grown to share a sincere interest as well in their grandfather's service. "Where did he go? What did he do?"

From May 28 - June 10, 2026 we three 'Harrison Boys' travelled to England for research and enjoyment purposes (my father's Navy memoirs, shared on this blog, provided a very helpful roadmap to training grounds and nearby pubs!) and one of many highlights was our visit to the 150-acre National Memorial Arboretum a few miles south of Burton-on-Trent (it has some connection to classic IPAs I'm told : ) and about a mile east of Alrewas in Staffordshire, England. 

After passing through the Memorial Arboretum's main building - helpful directions were needed to point us toward the Combined Operations Command memorial - and entering the grounds, the first memorial (of more than a few) that caught my eye and held my interest for some time was the Submariners Memorial (photos above), followed by many, many more. I will share some of our photos in this entry and the next.

My father saw many gliders during the landings of Allied troops on the 

east coast of Sicily (beginning July 10, 1943) "but not one of them was intact."

Please click below to view a video related to part of our trek that day - 

Video: England's National Memorial Arboretum, May 2026 (1)  

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

More details re 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon

More photographs and another YouTube video related to our trek around England's National Memorial Arboretum will soon follow.

Please click here to view Memorials Dedicated to Combined Operations (2)

Unattributed Photos GH

Memorials Dedicated to Combined Operations (2)

Combined Operations Command, "United We Conquer"  

At the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, U.K.

Near Alrewas, Staffordshire, England, in a very lovely, peaceful setting. GH

Introduction:

During the last few days of May and first ten days of June, 2026, I travelled to Great Britain for a historical (landmark, amazing) journey with my two adult sons, David and Paul. We planned a full itinerary that included several stops related to my father's WWII experiences - from June 1941 to September 1945 - not only as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve but also a volunteer for the Combined Operations organization. We visited War museums and military archives in London, former Combined Ops training grounds on Hayling Island, pubs mentioned in dad's memoirs and much more.

One distinct highlight was a lengthy, rewarding visit to the Combined Operations WWII remembrance memorial found at the National Memorial Arboretum a few miles south of Burton on Trent (and very close to Alrewas, Staffordshire).

Park the car, ask staff to point you in the right direction, and go for a hike.

There is so much to see and appreciate along the way

Wait! Don't go any farther. You're there!

My two sons and I followed the map (top of page) to the Combined Ops

memorial. Photo Credit - 'National Memorial Arboretum', Google Maps 

For newcomers, the message/information board (above) is filled with significant details provided by the creator of the 'Combined Operations Command' website - Geoff Slee, Edinburgh - the driving force behind the creation of the memorial to the thousands who (for the most part) volunteered for Combined Ops, including 950-1,000 Canadians (including my father) who joined sometime between 1941 - 45.

Canadians in Combined Ops took part in the invasions of North Africa

(Operation Torch), Sicily (Operation Husky), Italy (Operations Baytown

and Avalanche), and France (Operation Neptune). Canadians also took

part in raids at St. Nazaire and Dieppe, France.

My father prepared for the Dieppe Raid but did not take part in it's second running, i.e., Operation Jubilee*, August 19, 1942. He did participate in 'Torch' beginning November 8, 1942, followed by 'Husky' and 'Baytown' in Sicily and Italy (on the toe of the boot) during the following year (beginning July 10 in Sicily and September 3 in Italy).

To view a short video that features a few more photographs related to the much-appreciated and admired Combined Ops memorial, please click here - Gord's YouTube channel. 

1941: Two of the first Canadian sailors to volunteer for Combined Operations

Gordon "Doug" Harrison (left) and Buryl McIntyre from Norwich, ONT

In front of Wellington (aka Nelson) Barracks, HMCS Stadacona, Halifax

*the first running of the Dieppe Raid is known as Operation Rutter and was cancelled in its very early stages (July 7, 1942). This second link connects to more in depth information at Wikipedia.

When time allows, please link to Geoff Slee's Facebook page for current updates. And please visit Mr. Slee's informative website as listed below @ www.combinedops.com 

Geoff Slee (left) and Gord Harrison meet in Geoff's home near Edinburgh.

Photo by Margaret Slee. 2012

More photographs and details related to the National Memorial Arboretum and memorials dedicated to Allied Forces will soon follow.

Astute readers may have noted that I concluded the short video with  a very familiar line, i.e., "we will remember them," the last line of 'The Ode of Remembrance.'

The following is related to that well-known poem:

The Ode of Remembrance is perhaps the most famous of the remembrance day poems.

The ode is a section of a longer poem, ‘For the fallen’ by Laurence Binyon. It was first published in The Times in 1914 shortly after the outbreak of World War One, when the first signs of the devastation of modern warfare were becoming apparent.

The Ode of Remembrance is the third and fourth stanza of ‘For the fallen’. While the opening stanza of the poem specifies England’s dead, the later stanzas have been adopted across the world as a general poem of remembrance.

The Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.”

The famous lines are spoken at Remembrance Sunday services, at funerals for the armed forces and other memorial services, including often as part of the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. (As found at "Famous Remembrance Day Poems for Reflection" @ Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Questions or comments can be addressed to Editor of Gord H.  - gordh7700@gmail.com

Please click here to view Memorials Dedicated to Combined Operations (1) - found in Canada.

Unattributed Photos GH

Dieppe: Photographs Taken at Newhaven After the Raid (3)

Commando Units and Allied Troops Return From the

Dieppe Raid, Mixed Emotions Upon Their Faces

Look familiar? It is. At the end of the previous post I shared the first

two photos in official photographer Lt. Humphrey Spender's series

entitled "Arrival Back From Dieppe." Above is the first.

The reverse side of the first photograph in the series provides a few

significant details re location, date and official photographer. IWM

All photos in the series are from the Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Those who visit IWM (using above link) can also visit 'Associated

Themes', e.g., British Army in Britain 1939 - 1945, 38,378 records!

Introduction:

In this post I share one official photographer's complete series (H22618 - H22633 by Lt. H. Spender) related to British troops returning from the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. It is followed by a short series (8 pictures) entitled "Back From Dieppe." The first five photos in the series were taken by Sgt. Bill Wooldridge, and the last three were by Lt. Spender.

Not only does the photographer change but the location changes to Portsmouth before returning to, and concluding at, Newhaven. I do not believe that the moving about is a glitch.

Many official photographers (for the Royal Navy and other Allied forces) were in similar and widely different locations over the course of WWII and sent home thousands upon thousands of black and whites for eventual sorting and release. That Sgt. Wooldridge and Lt. Spender had similar assignments in two ports on the south coast of England at the same time is certainly not out of the ordinary. Now that I've become a little more familiar with methods re tracking down photos that have some direct link to the 1,000 (approx.) Canadians who volunteered for Combined Operations I have seen headings change re a long series of photos, locations in a series move from one place to another, and more. 

(What discourages me at times is that I cannot spot Canadians easily, because in many exercises and operations our trained sailors were sprinkled among RN crews on RN landing craft.)

Here we are in Newhaven as landing craft return from Dieppe. Soldiers and sailors show mixed emotions, that is clear, as they safely, worriedly, cheerfully disembark, with some wounded among them.  

Spender is spent! Photographer Wooldridge in Portsmouth now takes the lead:

Object description: Destroyer ORP Ślązak (Silesian) of the Polish Navy

arriving back at Portsmouth from Dieppe, 19 August 1942.

Credit to official photographer Sgt. Bill Wooldridge IWM

There is more than one spelling mistake on the reverse side of the photo : )

Much has been written about Dieppe. I share below a few details concerning the wounded:

Tremendous sacrifice

Although extremely valuable lessons were learned in the Raid on Dieppe, a steep price was paid. Of the 4,963 Canadians who embarked for the operation, only 2,210 returned to England, and many of these were wounded. There were 3,367 casualties, including 1,946 prisoners of war; 916 Canadians lost their lives.

Devastation on the beaches of Dieppe after the raid.

Photo: Library and Archives Canada C-014160

In addition to the 4,963 Canadian troops taking part in the raid, there were 1,075 British troops (52 fatalities), 50 of the 1st U.S. Ranger Battalion (one fatality) and 20 of the No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando.

Air and sea support was provided mainly by British forces. Their casualties were: Royal Navy—75 killed or died of wounds and 269 missing or prisoners, and Royal Air Force—62 fatalities.

From The Dieppe Raid  veterans.gc.ca

Bill Wooldridge's photos continue:

The series now concludes with three photographs by Lt. H. Spender:

Of course, not all that were returned to Newhaven or Portsmouth or other ports were joyous or thankful or wounded or worried about a mate. Some, killed in action, were prepared for burial and laid to rest just off Lewes Road (north west of Newhaven's harbour) in the town's cemetery - where they rest in peace to this day.

Please click here to view Dieppe: In Memory of Joseph McKenna, RCNVR (4B)

More photographs will soon follow related to the Combined Operations memorial that can be found at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas, in Staffordshire, Great Britain. Reportedly, 950 - 1,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (perhaps more from other branches of the Canadian Armed Forces but that is unknown to me at this time) volunteered for Combined Operations beginning in November - December, 1941. Among the first fifty to step forward or sign on was my father, Doug Harrison of Norwich, Ontario, and the rest of his mates in the Effingham Division, training at the time in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the Canadian Navy base HMCS Stadacona.

Once in the U.K. (Jan, 1942) they took part in their first training experiences (e.g., completing physical exercises with and like commandos at HMS Quebec, becoming familiar with various types of landing craft at RAF Dundonald/Auchengate) to prepare for operations that lay ahead, like Operation CHARIOT (raid at St. Nazaire), Operation RUTTER (cancelled raid at Dieppe), and Operation JUBILEE (raid at Dieppe, August 19, 1942; "it should have been cancelled as well," said my father).

Combined Ops memorial at National Memorial Arboretum.

May 30, 2026. G. Harrison

Please click here to view Dieppe: Photographs Taken at Newhaven After the Raid (2)

Questions or comments can be addressed to Editor, Gord H. - gordh7700@gmail.com

Unattributed Photos GH