Books: "No Price Too High," by Terry Copp

No Price Too High: Canadians and the Second World War

By Terry Copp with Richard Nielsen

Training in England: The Black Watch carry out a landing exercise

at the Canadian Assault School at Bordon, Hampshire. Pg. 91

Photo Credit - LCMSDS**, Wilfrid Laurier University

Introduction:

Of course this entry or post begins with a photograph and caption that shines a light on Canadians and their involvement in exercises where landing crafts played a pivotal role. That's what my blog is about for the most part.

However, No Price Too High is not. That being said, there are a few references to the work of the RCN and RCNVR during WWII and many, many other entries that will inform the patient reader about the work and accomplishments of all branches of Canada's Armed Forces from 1939 - 1945. Excellent photographs abound as do personal stories, letters and significant details.

"Based on the acclaimed TELEVISION SERIES" (6-hours, 1995)

Click here to learn more about the 'No Price Too High' archive

The book is approx. 250 pages in length. Three video cassettes - if they can still be found - cover six hours. Of course, most know that no amount of book pages or video hours will tell the full tale of WWII, but the book makes a valiant effort to cover significant events re Canadians during the war.

THE TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Please note: "SUGGESTED READING", beginning on Pg. 244, is extensive.

Along with extensive photographs, the book has much to recommend it

On page 8 I read: "...the book is intended to complement the films, not reproduce the script." I suspect a patient person would benefit from searching for the video series, perhaps at used book stores or eBay, etc., but I did not see anything re the TV program on YouTube. Happy hunting, I say.

As the Table of Contents reveals, readers are informed of topics from 'HITLER' to 'HIROSHIMA' with stops at various war fronts, including those that Canadians in Combined Operations were well familiar with, e.g., Dieppe, Sicily, Italy, and Normandy (beginning page 153). Missing, however, is a good recap re Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November, 1942, during which Canadians in Combined Operations and their landing craft flotillas were much-used and productive. 

"The Unknown Navy" (the Canadian Merchant Navy) is highlighted on page 107 but Canadians who volunteered for Combined Operations remain "The Almost Unknown Navy" as far as I can tell. 

[Note to Self: Makes me think that the 'No Price Too High' archive at Sir Wilfrid Laurier could use a copy of Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks, from the Canadian POV. Maybe a copy of my Dad's memoirs as well : ) ]

That being said, my bias is showing, because much information is provided re the majority of the Canadian Armed Forces, and details re the Dieppe raid and much more are very enlightening.

Interesting comments are made about U-boats and corvettes 

Photo Credit - National Archives of Canada

"Life in a U-boat is unnatural and unhealthy..." by Wolfgang Luth, page 58.

"It soon became apparent that only chance could bring a corvette into contact with a U-boat, and then the only useful weapon available was the ship itself, used as a ram." Page 59

"By 1941 Halifax was one of the most important ports in the world"

Photo Credit - DND/National Archives of Canada/PA112993

"The plan called for five assaults on a front of ten miles." Page 95

Photo Credit - National Archives of Canada/PA171080

"At Berneval on the left flank, the Commandos ran into a German coastal convoy and were badly scattered." (Page 95). For more information about this incident provided by Canadians in Combined Operations (and operating some of the troop-laden landing crafts), please turn to page 60 of St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War 1941 - 1945 Volume 1.

Below is a screen shot of the book cover of St. Nazaire to Singapore Volume 1:

This significant book, stories by Canadian veterans of Combined Operations, is

archived at the University of Alberta*. Inspired by Clayton Marks, London

Then, go to page 60. Below is a screen shot of the page revealing a photograph of the first Canadian killed during the Dieppe Raid, and an accompanying, unique story. 

It begins:

Sub LT Cliff D. Wallace, RCNVR was the first to be killed during the sea fight with a German Convoy on the way to Dieppe at 0300 hours. They were on the way to land 3 Commandos' main party at Berneval, Yellow 1 Beach of the Dieppe attack...

[*the archive at the University of Alberta has been known to be unavailable at times. Questions, comments and concerns can be addressed to GH at gordh7700@gmail.com]

Please click here to view many other iconic photographs re Dieppe Raid

Photo - Canadian War Museum Collection/National Archives of Canada

As stated earlier, No Price Too High shares valuable information about the men and women involved in the many branches of service during the Second World War. I encourage readers to browse the shelves of local used book stores in order to find this enlightening book. 

Photo Credit - Department of National Defence/PL13456

Please click here for information about another recommended book, Writers On World War II: An Anthology (Part 2) by Mordecai Richler

** Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies

Unattributed Photos GH