Book: The Dieppe Raid by R. Neillands

The Dieppe Raid

by Robin Neillands

Great discovery at a used book store

Those with an interest in clear background details re the times leading up to the Dieppe raid will like this book. Those with questions about the purpose of the raid may find them answered therein.

And those with an interest in the role of Canadians during the raid - particularly the sailors and landing craft operators who not only volunteered for the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) in the early 1940s but also, shortly thereafter, for the British organization called Combined Operations in its early stages - will find this book an informative read.

Back cover  whets one's appetite

The first five chapters reveal a great deal of information leading up to the actual raid, including details about the oft-forgotten first run, Operation Rutter, cancelled in early July 1942, about five weeks before the disastrous second run.

Table of contents:

Before the "what were you trying to do?" is answered, we learn about the development of the Combined Operations organization - for an 'offensive' role (page 19):

Offensive, amphibious operations were at the heart of Combined Operations (page 21):

The first groups of Canadian members of C. Ops. were formed in December 1941- after the sailors volunteered their services while undergoing Navy training in Halifax - and were soon on their way to the UK for training aboard various landing crafts (page 23):

The first Canadian landing craft crews were trained at HMS Northney, see below (page 27):

Eight of the first Canadians to join C. Ops., stationed at HMS Northney Feb. 1942
L - R: Al Adlington, Joe Spencer, Chuck Rose, Doug Harrison,
Art Bradfield, Don Linder, Joe Watson, Jake Jacobs.

The first real action some of these men saw was the Dieppe Raid. Prior to that, their main work involved getting used to handling Assault and Mechanised Landing Crafts - and doing guard duty.

My father, Doug Harrison, outside the same brick cabin. On guard!

From another book (The Watery Maze) we read a bit more background re Canada's involvement in C. Ops.:

Why did the raid fail? Much can be learned in this book:

This book will also open the door to many fine photographs, some with catalogue numbers from the Library and Archives in Canada and the Imperial War Museum (IWM), UK. Many photographs re the Dieppe raid (a high percentage from IWM) are also found on this website for your perusal:

A lot of decent, thorough research by the author R. Neillands went into the writing of  The Dieppe Raid and it comes highly recommended for its many benefits to readers, myself included for certain. 

Please link to Book: Sicily - Whose Victory? by Martin Blumenson

Unattributed Photos GH