Context: More News From Irvine, Scotland

The Bold Policy.... To Fight The Invader

Editor lands safely at Marina Inn (far right), Irvine in 2014

Early Canadian volunteers for Combined Operations arrived at HMS Quebec, Scotland's No. 1 Comb. Ops Training Centre (on Loch Fyne, south of Inveraray, north of Furnace) in early spring, 1942, to participate in training related to various landing crafts. Subsequently, within just a few months, training continued at Camp Auchengate (between Irvine and Troon), in preparation for their first call to action.

Their first call, unbeknownst to the sailors, would be to participate in Operation RUTTER (the raid at Dieppe, which was cancelled before the day of departure), and later in Operation JUBILEE (the dismaying raid at Dieppe), both in the summer of 1942.

While training they would have had access to local newspapers (e.g., The Irvine and Fullarton Times), gossip, rumours (i.e., buzzes) and more. Much of what they read and heard would have fostered discussion, concerns and possibly the occasional smile amongst the young Canadians.

Canadians in Combined Operations at HMS Quebec, 1942.

Whalen (middle row, left); Don Linder, Kitchener (middle, far right)

Muirhead (back row, centre). Effingham Division.

Photo Credit - Joe Spencer, RCNVR, Combined Ops

The following article appeared in The Irvine and Fullarton Times on March 13, 1942, about the time young Canadians settled into wooden cabins at HMS Quebec, south of Inveraray. Would it merely inform (e.g., "There's a serious war afoot."), or raise concerns about their future role?

THE BOLD POLICY

The further extension of the war is becoming nearer and nearer to an accomplished fact, and a point has now been reached when the Allied nations must make a definite decision as to their attitude towards certain nations - particularly Vichy France and Spain. Unless Germany suffers in the near future a much more disastrous defeat than at present times probable, these two countries will be actively and definitely ranged against us.

Promises (Marshal) Petain that the Vichy Government will not hand over the French fleet to Hitler can be regarded as of no value whatever.

(Editor: British forces had already attacked the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940. "The raid resulted in the deaths of 1,297 French servicemen, the sinking of a battleship and the damaging of five other ships," says Wikipedia. According to Wikipedia as well, the "French fleet in Toulon was scuttled.... (by Admiral Auphan, Vichy Secretary of the Navy) on November 27, 1942" after the Allied invasion of North Africa. Wikipedia - Scuttling of Fleet).

The aged Marshal may be wholly sincere, and no doubt the best part of the French people are behind him in this resolve. But there is in France a sufficiently strong body of traitors to the Allied cause to upset the Petain Government and work with Hitler, if events prove propitious for this policy. So, also, in Spain there are forces that are working behind the scenes for an eventual full co-operation with the Axis. Franco's waggon is firmly hitched to the Hitler star, and he only awaits the opportunity to come out in his true light.

Again, there is the question of Japan and Russia. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Russia will be attacked by the yellow foe at the moment suitable to the latter, and another Pearl Harbour scoop will be attempted.

In view of all these circumstances, what attitude do the Allied nations intend to adopt? We have shown by our recent air attacks on French factories working for Hitler that the seriousness of the position is being realized. But much more requires to be done.

For instance, can the Allies stand idly by and see the enemy take over the French island of Madagascar, off the S.E. African coast? This island would be a rare prize for the Japs. as its possession would enable them to endanger and even block our line of supply to the East. A Vichy pledge has been given to America that Madagascar will not be permitted to fall under Axis control, but that assurance is worth only the same as their other assurances - nothing.

Resolute steps must be taken in connection with this and other problems set by the suspicious actions of Vichy France and Spain. 

Above all else, let there be an end to appeasement. In spite of all the early lessons taught us, there is still a hankering after this policy. Admittedly, with France an all-in enemy, our position would be momentarily worsened at a time when we want all the additional help we can get.

But a bold policy with France and Spain is our only course, and we must take the risk of something unpleasant happening that would in all likelihood happen no matter how propitious might be our words and actions. And the same applies to Russia and her attitude to Japan.

Save Fuel the Parozone Way. Irvine Times, Mar. 13, 1942

Commemorative plaque, in Irvine Library, High Street.

Three weeks after "The Bold Policy" was published, news was heard - coming from the Kyle Cinema in Irvine - about an additional, volunteer force being raised "in the event of invasion".

  From The Irvine and Fullarton Times, April 3, 1942

First we read that "a meeting took place in the Kyle Cinema on Sunday evening.... under the auspices of the local Invasion Committee.... to raise a force for use in the event of invasion by an enemy."

Then we read the following:

The new force (the newly-formed Invasion Committee) is intended to raise, after vacancies are filled in the Home Guard and the Civil Defence Services, will be known as Home Defenders, and the intention is that they will help in the work done by the various services under whose orders they will come should there ever be an invasion of this district.

Provost Lamont said that several weeks ago Invasion Committees were appointed.... with the object of mobilizing every man and woman in the defence of the country in the event of invasion. In his view there was no need for secrecy; there had, perhaps, been too much of it in the past and there was no use now of beating about the bush. There may be in the near future extensive operations by the enemy by way of an offensive which might be in Russia, the Middle East or these islands, and they could take it that the Germans would strike unexpectedly.

If the danger was to these islands, then it was imperative "that every man and woman over the age of sixteen should put his services at the disposal of the country." (Applause.)

For this purpose cards had been issued, and he asked that these should be returned as soon as possible. It was expected that every person over the age of sixteen would indicate on these cards the particular service in which they wished to enrol. He confidently expected a great response....

He had appealed to Irvineites on more than one occasion recently and they had not let him down. Take their War Weapons Week as an example: the sum aimed at was 25,000 Pounds and they got 125,000 Pounds; and there was again their splendid achievement of the past week, when their target figure of 80,000 Pounds had been exceeded. (Applause.)

 RFA Ennerdale with landing crafts off Greenock, Scotland, 1942.

Well-known to Canadians in Combined Operations who trained for Dieppe.

Photo Credit - Joe Spencer, veteran of Operation JUBILEE

In another news column from The Irvine and Fullarton Times issued on March 13, 1942, young Canadian sailors would read that events were not going at all well for Allied forces, and about characteristics of their foes. No turning back now, however.

We read:

A Black Period

.... What a sad list of too late, too little, too weak, too ill-prepared, too few, too far we find in the various excuses made in explanation of our failures.

Not in one sphere only, but in Greece, Norway, java, Singapore, Rangoon and poland. Our promises have been fair and well-intentioned, but our performances beyond the strength of our resources.

It was not without cause that the Netherlands Government issued a strong indictment of the Allied campaign in the Pacific. The insufficiency of air support rendered the troops there practically powerless.

There is a tragic note in the last words in the cable sent from Java: "Now we shut down. Long live our Queen. Good-bye to better times."

Dr. Van Mook, Lieutenant-Governor of Dutch East Indies, with every reason, said: "There is no use hiding the fact that there is bitterness in some places in Java, but our people understand the difficulty of getting things moving. The Allies must understand that there was an expectation of more help than arrived... but it was a case of too little too late."

So long as this too little and too late can be made a reason for defeat, so often will such occur. It has been a black period - Japanese victory in the Dutch East Indies, the fall of Rangoon, the occupation of Singapore, and the intelligence given by Mr. Eden in the House of Commons of the brutal and bestial devilishness of the Japanese towards prisoners in Hong Kong.*

This is but typical of this race - yellow of skin and yellow at heart - who recognize no law of civilized warfare, and who even disregard the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. They are foul birds who have flocked together with the equally foul Bosch, who in Russia exhibited the same fiendishness to the wounded Soviet soldiers and to defenceless women and children of that country.

It is a Herculean task which faces the Allies, but it will be achieved, and the dismay caused by defeats will pass away as strength to resist and power to attack is made possible....

*[Editor's Note - The following was written in modern times: "Those (Canadian troops) who survived to be taken prisoner probably had the worst war of all: 260 died in Japanese prison camps. In Canada a Royal Commission was appointed to investigate the Hong Kong tragedy, but nobody was ever found at fault. And all that can be said in (Prime Minister Mackenzie) King's defence is that he had no idea the Japanese army was so good in battle, or so cruel in victory." Page 220, Canada in the Great Power Game 1914 - 2014 by Gwynne Dyer] 

The Irvine and Fullarton Times, March 27, 1942

Former site of RAF DunDonald (Army, Air Force) during WW2.
It is north of former site of Camp Auchengate (Navy), and south of Irvine

 The name Auchengate lives on, as do sturdy cement fence posts

 Former hangars, RAF Dundonald. Used in 2014 as a manufacturing site.

Golf balls are now found on Dundonald site, not "live ammunition,"

as was the case in the 1950s and 1960s, says owner of manufacturing site.

 News items in the March 13, 1942 issue of The Irvine and Fullarton Times reflect on the efforts made by local citizens and small organizations in towns 'round-about' (e.g., Stevenston and West Kilbride) to raise money for their Russian Allies.

We read:

An attractive and entertaining film programme was provided in Grange Cinema on Sunday evening in aid of the National Council of Labour "Help to Russia Fund." 

There was a large audience, and the principal film shown was, "It All Came True," featuring Humphrey Bogart. A Russian film, "Palace of Wonders," was also screened.

During the interval, Mr. J. Forde, J.P., spoke on efforts made by the local committee which, up to date, had raised 175 Pounds in house-to-houses collection, etc. That sum, along with all other monies, would go toward providing medical aid to our Russian allies, who were putting up a magnificent fight against the Fascist aggressors.

And about "Russia Week" in West Kilbride the following was said:

Last week might well be called "Russia Week", for the representative committee of ladies who are endeavouring to make the local contribution to Mrs. Churchill's "Aid to Russia" Fund a worthy one, put every ounce of energy they could into the effort.

Whist Drive

On Wednesday the Ladies' Committee organized a whist drive in the Public Hall, with again great success. Mr. F.R. Blair, in a short speech, welcomed the hostesses and their guests to what proved to be a delightfully happy evening. Prizes were presented to the successful players....

Ads as found in The Irvine and Fullarton Times

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Combined Operations Memorial at HMS Quebec

Above memorial plaque reads:

Inveraray was No1 Combined Training Centre 1940 - 1945.

Its purpose was to train Navy, Army and R.A.F. personnel in assaults and landing.

Several camps were situated on the shores of Loch Fyne. This was H.M.S. Quebec, the Naval base.

During the war years, many famous leaders visited including King George VI, Winston Churchill, Lord Lousi Mountbatten and King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav of Norway.

250,000 British, Americans, Canadians, Free French, Polish and Norwegians all trained here.

The former site of HMS Quebec is now home to a caravan park.

Photo - Mick Benoit, son of Frank Benoit (RCNVR, Combined Ops)

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Unattributed Photos GH