Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, 1942 (Parts 1 - 13)

The Invasion of North Africa, D-Day November 8, 1942.

Details, Context re Operation TORCH, from The Winnipeg Tribune

[Photo: A true Combined Operation - U.S. troops disembark from British landing

craft manned by Canadian volunteer members of RCNVR and Combined Ops.]

Caption with above photo, as found at Imperial War Museum: 

American troops landing on the beach at Arzeu, near Oran, from a landing craft assault (LCA 26), some of them are carrying boxes of supplies. Photo Credit - RN Photographer F. A. Hudson

Introduction:

There is a goodly amount of information regarding the roles of Canadians in various operations and invasions - on various war fronts - during World War 2. I have been fortunate to find memoirs and short stories by Canadian sailors connected to the significant work aboard landing crafts during Operation TORCH (that mention their involvement in specific locations at specific dates).

I have also had time to peruse sound copies of The Winnipeg Tribune (digitized) and collect various articles and photographs that inform readers about the action on an important war front on the shores of North Africa in November, 1942.

British, American and Canadian servicemen were involved in 3 Task Forces.

Below readers will find links to 13 posts I have organized that provide details and some context - primarily from The Winnipeg Tribune - about those days when Canadians in Combined Operations were involved in a well-planned operation, important in itself, which set the stage for the invasion of Sicily and Italy the following year. 

Links to Thirteen Posts re the invasion of North Africa:

1. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 1)

2. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 2).

3. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 3).

4. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 4).

Caption: American troops climb into assault landing craft from the liner REINA DEL PACIFICO during Operation 'Torch', the Allied landings in North Africa, November 1942. Two of the landing craft are numbered LCA 428 and LCA 447. Imperial War Museum.

Editor's note: Several Canadians in Combined Ops are sprinkled among the landing craft crews.

5. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 5).

6. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 6).

7. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, Nov. 1942 (Pt 7).

8. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa. Nov. 1942 (Pt. 8).

Caption: Troops and ammunition for light guns being brought ashore from a landing craft assault (ramped) (LCA 428) on Arzeu beach, Algeria, North Africa, whilst another LCA (LCA 287) approaches the beach. Operation 'Torch', November 1942. Imperial War Museum.

Editor's note: A Canadian in Combined Ops stands front and centre as troops disembark from 'his craft'.

9. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, 1942 (Pt. 9)

10. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, 1942 (Pt. 10)

11. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, 1942 (Pt. 11)

12. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, 1942 (Pt. 12)

13. Articles: Operation TORCH, N. Africa, 1942 (Pt. 13)

Please link to Photographs: Imperial War Museum - N. Africa, 1942 (7) for more information about the invasion of North Africa.

Unattributed Photos GH