Canada's Only Combined Operations School - HMCS Givenchy III
Canadians in Combined Ops Served at the School, 1944 - 45
Canadian sailors (RCNVR) began volunteering for Combined Operations in late 1941, e.g., at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, and as early as February 1942 were training aboard various kinds of landing craft at a number of training camps in the United Kingdom.
The first two drafts of volunteers, including my father Doug Harrison (2nd from left in this blog's title photo at top of page), were introduced to landing crafts first at HMS Northney on Hayling Island - offshore of the city of Havant on England's south coast - and then at Inveraray (HMS Quebec, Comb. Ops. No. 1 Training Camp) and Irvine (Camp Auchengate, Navy). Their first action would be the Dieppe Raid, August 19, 1942.
After participating in the invasion of North Africa beginning in early November 1942, Canadians in Combined Ops went on to train for and participate in the invasions of Sicily (Operation Husky, beginning July 10, 1943) and Italy (Operation Baytown and Avalanche, beginning Sept. 3 and Sept. 9, 1943, respectively). Many returned to Canada shortly thereafter on leave, arriving in Halifax in early December '43. And in January, '44, after a cross-Canada train ride, many landed on Vancouver Island to perform further duties, some of it related to training others re seamanship skills and use of landing crafts.
Below are links to 10 inter-connected entries on this blog/online-site that relate to the Canadians in Combined Ops at HMCS Givenchy III, the navy base on 'The Spit' at Comox, BC. Questions or comments can be addressed to the comment section below or to the editor via email - gordh7700@gmail.com
For more information about the sailors time on 'The Spit', please refer to the memoirs of Doug Harrison; Part 11 (Chapter Nine).
Unattributed Photos GH
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