"Conduct of the Troops Beyond All Praise."
Photo Caption: Brig. W.W. Southam. Who led his men at Dieppe and also
helped plan the raid. Now is a prisoner of war. Photo - The Globe and Mail
helped plan the raid. Now is a prisoner of war. Photo - The Globe and Mail
A few weeks after the long-remembered raid took place, lengthy reports appeared in newspapers, at home and abroad.
An article published in the September 18, 1942 issue of The Hamilton Spectator, as well as Toronto's The Globe and Mail the following day, continues:
Withdrawal following a raid of this sort is always a most difficult and dangerous operation; and in this instance it was especially so as the enemy had succeeded in bringing into action a number of mobile batteries, mortars and additional infantry.
Although this enabled him to organize very heavy fire on both the beaches and the sea approaches, and the ships and craft lying off Dieppe, in spite of excellent fighter cover, suffered sporadic attacks by dive bombers, the navy most gallantly went into the beaches again and again to take off the troops, and officers and other ranks of the military force ashore performed many acts of gallantry in carrying wounded men to the landing craft.
During this phase, destroyers closed the beaches almost to the point of grounding, in order to support the re-embarkation by fire and to pick up survivors.
The expedition returned to England under an umbrella of air force fighter cover which prevented any serious interference by enemy aircraft. In England, dispersal arrangements were most efficiently organized by the Canadian headquarters concerned, and all return ing officers and men were given hot food on arrival. The wounded were immediately dispatched to hospital and the remainder were returned to their unit areas.
Commandos returning to Newhaven in their landing craft (IWM)
Photo Credit - Normandy, Then and Now
Naval and Air Support and Protection
The splendid assistance given by the Royal Navy has already been referred to. No terms could be too warm to describe it. There are on file statements by many members of the Canadian military forces, from private soldiers upwards, which testify to their deep understanding and most grateful appreciation of the manner in which the naval forces ran all risks to assist the troops.
Air cover and bombing were likewise magnificent, and drew equally warm tributes from the troops and from the navy.
Throughout the operation, both the air force and the navy provided smoke screens at the times and places where they were required which greatly reduced casualties to ships and personnel.
The distinguished part played in these operations by both Canadian sailors and Canadian airmen excited the warmest appreciation on the part of the Canadian army. Considerable numbers of Canadian naval officers and ratings were engaged on board the naval vessels; one flotilla of landing craft was almost entirely manned by Canadian naval personnel.
Soldiers Are Rescued From Overturned Craft
Numerous cases of gallantry on the part of such personnel were recorded. At one point, light craft ventured into extremely heavy fire to rescue men of the Royal Regiment of Canada, who were clinging to the bottom of an overturned landing craft close to shore.
Of these rescue craft, one was commanded by a Canadian officer, and in another a Canadian rating and an English rating sacrificed their lives to save these soldiers. Two army co-operation squadrons of the R.C.A.F. attached to formations of the Canadian army overseas participated in the operation. Both did gallant work and suffered losses. Canadian fighter squadrons likewise played a brilliant part. Many Canadian airmen served in R.A.F. squadrons engaged in the operation.
Conduct of the Troops Beyond All Praise
Throughout this operation the conduct of all ranks of the Canadian military forces engaged, and their determination to capture their objectives at any cost, were beyond all praise.
Although they came under the heaviest forms of artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, and confronted situations comparable to the most dangerous tasks assigned to troops in the last war, there was not the slightest hesitation, and all ranks evinced the keenest desire to come to grips with the enemy.
Literally hundreds of documents relating to this hazardous operation now have been examined. In not one of these is there the slightest suggestion that so much as one man of the Canadian army failed in his duty.
Where all were brave, it is difficult and perhaps invidious to quote individual cases of gallantry, but two such instances are mentioned here merely as examples of the manner in which Canadian officers and men maintained the traditions of the Canadian army and the honour of their country.
Lieut.-Col. C.C.I. Merritt, of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, acted with most distinguished gallantry throughout the operation. When his battalion was held up by very hot fire at a bridge on which many men had fallen, Colonel Merritt walked back and forth across the bridge, waving his helmet and calling, "See, there is no danger here," He then led his men across and cleared the commanding enemy positions on the other side.
After many acts of bravery during the day, including leading detachments against strongly defended road blocks, personally disposing of a sniper and organizing and leading parties for the destruction of enemy machine-gun posts which were harassing his men, this most gallant officer was last seen collecting automatic weapons and organizing a defensive position to cover the withdrawal of the last parties of his unit from the beach.
Hero of Engineers Lands With R.H.L.I.
Lance-Sgt. G.E. Hickson, of the 7th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, was assigned to a demolition task in the town and landed with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. As fire was too heavy to move directly to his objective, he attached himself to an infantry platoon, and when this platoon's officer and senior N.C.O.'s were put out of action, took command and led them to the casino.
Here he used an explosive charge to enter through the walls, and reached a large concrete gun emplacement. He blew in the steel door of the emplacement with another charge, killing the gun crew, and subsequently destroyed the six-inch naval gun in the emplacement, as well as two machine-guns.
He then reorganized the remaining men of the platoon and, in the face of heavy enemy opposition, led them into the town as far as the Church of St. Remy. Only when he found his party alone and unsupported did he withdraw it to the Casino. Subsequently, he was among the last men to be evacuated from the beach.
Such deeds as these will be long remembered.
Results of the Operation Are Being Studied
It has already been made clear that comparatively little can be said at present concerning the results of the raid. The operation is still being most carefully studied with a view to extracting from it every possible lesson which may assist us in future operations and the value of the experience gained at Dieppe will appear only in the future course of the war.
At the present time, no public analysis of the lessons learned is possible without giving assistance to the enemy. Certain points of importance can, however, be made here.
A large naval force crossed the Channel and approached the French coast. Protected by powerful air support, it remained of that coast for many hours, with the loss of but one destroyer and a number of small landing craft. This was a significant achievement.
Although Dieppe was a very strong place, military forces were landed on the enemy-occupied beaches, and heavy tanks in large numbers were transported across the Channel and successfully landed. The importance of this has already been referred to.
Although they came under the heaviest forms of artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, and confronted situations comparable to the most dangerous tasks assigned to troops in the last war, there was not the slightest hesitation, and all ranks evinced the keenest desire to come to grips with the enemy.
Literally hundreds of documents relating to this hazardous operation now have been examined. In not one of these is there the slightest suggestion that so much as one man of the Canadian army failed in his duty.
Where all were brave, it is difficult and perhaps invidious to quote individual cases of gallantry, but two such instances are mentioned here merely as examples of the manner in which Canadian officers and men maintained the traditions of the Canadian army and the honour of their country.
Lieut.-Col. C.C.I. Merritt, of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, acted with most distinguished gallantry throughout the operation. When his battalion was held up by very hot fire at a bridge on which many men had fallen, Colonel Merritt walked back and forth across the bridge, waving his helmet and calling, "See, there is no danger here," He then led his men across and cleared the commanding enemy positions on the other side.
After many acts of bravery during the day, including leading detachments against strongly defended road blocks, personally disposing of a sniper and organizing and leading parties for the destruction of enemy machine-gun posts which were harassing his men, this most gallant officer was last seen collecting automatic weapons and organizing a defensive position to cover the withdrawal of the last parties of his unit from the beach.
Hero of Engineers Lands With R.H.L.I.
Lance-Sgt. G.E. Hickson, of the 7th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, was assigned to a demolition task in the town and landed with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. As fire was too heavy to move directly to his objective, he attached himself to an infantry platoon, and when this platoon's officer and senior N.C.O.'s were put out of action, took command and led them to the casino.
Here he used an explosive charge to enter through the walls, and reached a large concrete gun emplacement. He blew in the steel door of the emplacement with another charge, killing the gun crew, and subsequently destroyed the six-inch naval gun in the emplacement, as well as two machine-guns.
He then reorganized the remaining men of the platoon and, in the face of heavy enemy opposition, led them into the town as far as the Church of St. Remy. Only when he found his party alone and unsupported did he withdraw it to the Casino. Subsequently, he was among the last men to be evacuated from the beach.
Such deeds as these will be long remembered.
Results of the Operation Are Being Studied
It has already been made clear that comparatively little can be said at present concerning the results of the raid. The operation is still being most carefully studied with a view to extracting from it every possible lesson which may assist us in future operations and the value of the experience gained at Dieppe will appear only in the future course of the war.
At the present time, no public analysis of the lessons learned is possible without giving assistance to the enemy. Certain points of importance can, however, be made here.
A large naval force crossed the Channel and approached the French coast. Protected by powerful air support, it remained of that coast for many hours, with the loss of but one destroyer and a number of small landing craft. This was a significant achievement.
Although Dieppe was a very strong place, military forces were landed on the enemy-occupied beaches, and heavy tanks in large numbers were transported across the Channel and successfully landed. The importance of this has already been referred to.
British tanks stranded on shingle beaches. LCT (Landing Craft, Tank)
burning in background. Photo Credit - Normandy, Then and Now
burning in background. Photo Credit - Normandy, Then and Now
It can be stated that the organization of combined command worked out in such detail in advance of the operation functioned most admirably. The three services worked together in perfect co-ordination, and in this respect the result of the operation has been to afford complete confidence in the effective co-ordination of the efforts of the services in large combined operations.*
A special point concerning the air aspect of the operations can be made. This extensive raid compelled the enemy to concentrate air squadrons from many distant points and to commit a large force to action. Even night fighters, night bombers and training squadrons were thrown into the fight. This gave the R.A.F. a valuable opportunity, and in the intense air fighting over Dieppe the german air force suffered losses in aircraft amounting to a very serious strategic reverse.
As for the more limited and local objectives of the raid, enemy batteries and a radio-location station were destroyed; heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy and prisoners of war were brought back; and one and possibly two armed vessels were sunk.
For the lessons learned and the advantages gained the forces engaged, and particularly the land forces, paid a very heavy price. The history of similar operations in the past serves to indicate that heavy losses are to be expected in amphibious operations of this type directed against a fortified coastline held by a determined and alert enemy.
At Dieppe the losses suffered were probably due in part to the misfortune of the chance encounter with the escorted German tanker. Such small circumstances are often important in operations of this kind.
The Canadian military units engaged in the Dieppe operation gained combat experience which will be of great value to them in future operations. The troops have returned from the enterprise with added confidence in themselves and, in particular, in the leadership of their officers and N.C.O.'s, which from start to finish was of the highest order.
All ranks of the units concerned, and especially those which have suffered most heavily, are anxious for another opportunity of contact with the enemy which will enable them to exact from him a further reckoning for the losses which they have suffered on this occasion.
The heroism both of those who fell and those who returned will be a source of future inspiration to all ranks of the Canadian Army.
*Editor: This statement would be disputed - even to this day - by many veterans of Dieppe, and past and present writers and observers.
More will follow related to other articles presented on the same news pages as the report in The Hamilton Spectator and The Toronto Globe and Mail.
As for the more limited and local objectives of the raid, enemy batteries and a radio-location station were destroyed; heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy and prisoners of war were brought back; and one and possibly two armed vessels were sunk.
For the lessons learned and the advantages gained the forces engaged, and particularly the land forces, paid a very heavy price. The history of similar operations in the past serves to indicate that heavy losses are to be expected in amphibious operations of this type directed against a fortified coastline held by a determined and alert enemy.
At Dieppe the losses suffered were probably due in part to the misfortune of the chance encounter with the escorted German tanker. Such small circumstances are often important in operations of this kind.
The Canadian military units engaged in the Dieppe operation gained combat experience which will be of great value to them in future operations. The troops have returned from the enterprise with added confidence in themselves and, in particular, in the leadership of their officers and N.C.O.'s, which from start to finish was of the highest order.
British and Canadian prisoners at Dieppe, August 1942
Photo Credit - Normandy, Then and Now
The heroism both of those who fell and those who returned will be a source of future inspiration to all ranks of the Canadian Army.
* * * * *
*Editor: This statement would be disputed - even to this day - by many veterans of Dieppe, and past and present writers and observers.
More will follow related to other articles presented on the same news pages as the report in The Hamilton Spectator and The Toronto Globe and Mail.
Please link to Article: Only "Highest Standard" Troops at Dieppe (2).
No comments:
Post a Comment