Which Way Is The Wind Really Blowing?"
January 1, 1942. Happy New Year? The wind blows in many directions
Wins and Losses Recorded by Allies and Axis
According to Doug Harrison's RCNVR records (below), he, along with about 90 other Canadians who volunteered for Combined Operations while at HMS Stadacona in Halifax in late 1941, did not go overseas for 'hazardous duties' (or HO, 'hostilities only', starting with training under authority of HMS Quebec, Inveraray, Scotland) until late January. Why the 1 - 2 month delay? Simple enough really. Their first transport ship, Queen of Bermuda, ran aground at Chebucto Head in mid-December, during a blizzard, so say weather reports from the day and one of Combined Ops newest recruits on board that fateful day. New transport (eventually, the Volendam) took some time to arrange.
Transfer from Stadacona to HMS Quebec - Jan. 26, 1942
News out of Halifax and most Canadian newspapers would be peppered with war stories, forming much of the context for young mens' minds faced with 'hazardous duties'.The following pieces of news were published on New Years Day, 1942:
Reds Blast Germans from Kaluga: Retake City, Rout Sixteen Nazi Divisions
Special Brigade of Hitler's Elite Guards, Flown to Front From Poland, Put to Flight by Russians
Moscow, Jan. 1. --(AP)--The Red Army announced today the recapture of the important city of Kaluga, final defeat of Col.-Gen. Heinz Guderian's tank army, and routing of 16 German divisions comprising six army corps on the entire central front. In addition, a special brigade of Hitler's black-shirted Elite Guards, flown to the front from Cracow, Poland had been routed, a special communique said.
The Nazi invaders are fleeing westward under heavy blows of the pursuing Russians, abandoning military equipment and even their wounded as they seek to hasten their escape, the Soviet communique said.
Surrender of Manilla Nearer: Japanese Forces Slash Their Way Towards Capital
Advance in Philippines Despite Fierce Resistance of Defending Troops; Scant news of Battles
Washington, Dec. 31.--(AP)--The early fall of Manila a probability, Gen. Douglas MacArthur nevertheless reported to the United States War Department tonight a "stubborn resistance" is being offered the Japanese "according to prearranged defence plans". The commanding general in the Far East also said American and Filipino wounded had been evacuated on the steamship Mactan, bound for Australia. The vessel had been converted into and marked as a hospital ship, which by treaty should make her immune from enemy attack.
Meanwhile, from the navy, came a communique, apparently intended as a denial of Tokyo claims that Maui, Palmyra and Johnston islands, in or near the Hawaiian group, had been effectively bombed.
Fighting Men Are Honoured
London, Jan. 1 -- (CP) -- Canadians fighting in the air and on the sea were rewarded by the King today in the New Year's Honor List. Of the 24 Canadians included in the list, all but two are airmen.
Receives D.S.C.
The Distinguished Service Cross was awarded to Lieut. Robert C. MacMillan* of Charlottetown, P.E.I., a member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve, whose name was included in a long list of seamen honored "for outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness and for setting an example of whole-hearted devotion to duty without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not have been upheld".
The name of Sub.Lt. D. Armstrong of Toronto appeared in the naval list under the heading "mentioned in dispatches".
By Evelyn S. Tufts, Staff Representative, The Halifax Herald in Ottawa
Ottawa, Jan. 1 -- The price the Empire paid at Hong Kong had been justified by the losses inflicted on the Japanese and the delay occasioned in their drive south, Prime Minister Churchill said at a press conference which he gave yesterday morning. The conference took the form of an open forum, where all were at liberty to ask any questions that seemed pertinent. One of the first queries was if he believed the losses suffered in Hong Kong, where two Canadian battalions, the Royal Canadian Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, had fought.
"Yes," he said slowly. "I think so. The Canadian reinforcements enabled the defence to make an effective resistance and valuable time was gained. But for those battalions' help, I don't think there could have been an effective defence."
Many other questions were asked the Prime Minister during the informal interview which lasted nearly an hour and at which more than 100 journalists were present.
London, Jan. 1 --(CP-- Germany's submarine fleet has suffered such losses that the Nazi high command apparently is finding difficulty getting and training new crews, the Ministry of Information declared today. It said the Allied situation at sea had changed from one of anxiety to one of confidence as regards both German air and sea assaults on British merchant shipping. Although no exact dates or figures were divulged, a year-end summary said Britain's shipping losses from air attacks had been cut in recent months to only eight per cent of those early in the year.
"A very heavy loss has been inflicted on the enemy's U-boat fleet," it added, "and from time to time evidence becomes available to show that the German high command is faced with difficulties in manning U-boats and adequate training of their crews." Merchant shipping losses early in 1941 were "on a scale which caused anxiety", the review went on.
"In the last few months, however, they have been reduced to an extent which enables the future to be regarded with confidence provided our measures for the protection of sea-borne trade continue to increase in power and effectiveness as they have done during the last 12 months" it declared. The 1941 balance in the Atlantic, it said, was heavily in Britain's favour but permitted "no relaxation either of precautions at sea or of work in shipyards throughout the British Empire and the United States.
Despite heavy initial losses, the extension of the war to the Far East "will have a vital effect on the war at sea in the Atlantic as well as in the Pacific", the summary said.
From the editorial page of The Halifax Herald, January 1, 1942
Link to Context for Combined Ops, "Four-Stacker Takes a Fish"
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