Context for Combined Ops, "Training in Commando Work"

Early Days for Canadians in Combined Operations, 1942

As found in The Halifax Herald, January 10, 1942

In early 1942, the first draft of RCNVR seamen who had also volunteered for special duties overseas with Combined Operations lined up to board the Dutch liner Volendam. They did so behind the Nova Scotian Hotel (now the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel) in Halifax. One young Canadian sailor recalled in his memoirs that "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."

The 90 seamen (approx.) were bound for Greenock, Scotland and more rigorous training, this time upon landing crafts, occasionally with Commandos. Their curiosity and knowledge related to what was to come could easily have been influenced by items found in the January 10 issue of The Halifax Herald.

For example:

Train Nova Scotians As Commandos

Somewhere in Scotland

Jan. 9 - CP - A group of 41 young Canadian officers have completed a month's training in Commando work which has left them hardened and prepared for any tough assignment. 

At a special training centre in the Highlands, these officers, from every Canadian infantry regiment overseas, learned in a four-week course the basic principles drilled into Commando troops, the vanguard of Britain's invasion army.

The Canucks learned to make assault landing from naval craft, to storm cliffs and beaches, to fight at close quarters with grenades, small arms and cold steel and to live off the land in rugged country.

Commandos use fighting knives during close-quarter combat practice in Scotland

Photo credit - Commando Training

They went through mimic attacks under fire of grenades, small arms and machine-guns and on hardening manoeuvres ate jerked meat, squirrel, birds and herbs as they practised woodcraft along Highland glens that in centuries past were the haunts of Scottish clansmen. Probably the outstanding Commando student was Lieut. Eric Forgrave of St. Johns, Que. Other officers included Lieuts. Frank Hiltz and F. W. Oxley of Halifax and H. M. MacLeod of Sydney, Nova Scotia.

And the Mighty Oak

Other news took very positive forms. Perhaps too positive?

A report from the same issue says, the Moscow radio jubilantly proclaimed: "The enemy (German troops) continues to retreat in many sectors of the front, losing a great number of men, tanks, trucks and guns. The initiative has been torn out of the enemy's hands. The German machine is broken!"

Further on in the same report one reads: The German campaign has been poorly planned from the beginning (Gen. Wladyslaw Sikorski, Polish premier) declared, "and now Germany is having to pay for it. The carelessness of Hitler has been so great," he went on, "that I would not be surprised if he had failed to prepare any defence lines in his rear."

An earlier editorial cartoon (by only a few days) revealed a mighty oak with muscular branches closing in on the three Axis leaders.

And still the war went on, demanding the energies of Allied forces on many fronts for more than two and a half more years.

Please link to Short Story re "Early Days in Combined Ops" Part 2 - From the Queen of Bermuda to the Volendam

Please link to more Context for Combined Ops, "Uncle Sam's Merchant Fleet"