Presentation: HMCS Prevost, London ONT, 2024 (1)

"Dad's Navy Days" and Canadians in Combined Operations

HMCS Prevost, Downtown London, 2024 (1930hrs sharp!)

Doug Harrison's World War 2 Medals

Combined Operations insignia, gun pointing left

Introduction:

A personal challenge to consider -

Paint a good picture, tell a good story or two re Canadian sailors, members of the RCNVR, who also volunteered for a British organization called Combined Operations, or Combined Operations Command during WWII. I think I can do that w my Dad’s memoirs, news articles from the Norwich Gazette, a book from London, ONT, Lloyd Evans' memoirs, along with an extremely rare map from Sicily, and more.

Gord, be aware, it can get confusing because there were many military events or exercises called combined operations, e.g., Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily beginning July 10, 1943 (80 years ago last summer) during which Canadians in Combined Operations (the organization) took part, including my father and a small handful of sailors - a few from London ONT.

Photo of Map of Sicily from Combined Operations, a book by Londoner Clayton Marks

Some pertinent items on the map:

The black arrows (lower right) reveal where Allied troops landed during the opening days of Operation Husky beginning July 10, '43.  E.g., Canadian troops, west of Cape Passero. British troops north of the Cape. My father transported materials of war just north of Avola as part of the 80th Flotilla of LCMs.

The black arrows (upper right) reveal where Canadian and British troops landed during the opening days of Operation Baytown beginning Sept. 3 '43. The 80th Flotilla was active there as well, the first time a Canadian squadron of landing crafts transported Canadian troops. 

Clayton Marks, now deceased, presents information about the Canadian role in Combined Operations during WWII in a straightforward manner. He takes the reader from the early days of training aboard landing crafts in the U.K. at various training camps to Dieppe and North Africa in 1942, to three months in the Mediterranean (to Sicily and Italy) in 1943, to D-Day Normandy in June, 1944.

He includes his own detailed reports and rare accounts from other men who were there.

Photos of Table of Contents, pictures and descriptions of hardy landing crafts, accounts from Dieppe,  etc.

The "Workhorse of D-Day Normandy":

A bit of Comb. Ops background from page 14:

About the same time period my father writes the following:

One day we heard a mess deck buzz or rumour that the navy was looking for volunteers for special duties overseas, with nine days leave thrown in. Many from the Effingham Division, including myself, once again volunteered. (Will I ever quit volunteering?) The buzz turned out to be true and we came home on leave, which involved three days coming home on a train, three days at home and three days on the train going back.

After returning from leave we were put aboard a large passenger liner, Queen of Bermuda, which went aground going astern as we left harbour and couldn’t be moved. We bailed water all night with pails - on a huge ship like that - it was like emptying a pail of sand one grain at a time. However, we were (later) transferred to a Dutch ship called the Volendam, with a large number of Air Force men. This was to be an eventful trip.

Clayton and Dad mention some of the same events, but readers of their books will soon notice they come at things from different angles or points of view: Clayton reminds me of a High School or University History teacher while explaining the role of Canadians - officers and ratings - in Combined Operations, thus the name of his book.

My father writes his 45 pages of memoirs - and his numerous weekly articles in his hometown newspaper (The Norwich Gazette), his submissions to two other books - from a very personal view point.

I.E., "This is where I went, this is what I saw, this is what I did." Collecting background information didn't happen often if at all, but his memory of his personal role and a multitude of experiences is quite vivid and captivating. I've travelled many a mile just to get a better sense of it. 

At the beginning of the first page of his memoirs he writes:

Many Canadian citizens do not know about the active part taken by the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve in Combined Operations overseas during World War II. Here is a story regarding the Canadian Navy on navy barges on the operations against Dieppe, North Africa, Sicily and Italy, and many were at D-Day Normandy also.

Clayton writes an overview, my father writes "on navy barges." "I was on one, this is what I remember."

And at the end of that first page he writes:

... In the navy if an officer says “well done”, it is nearly the same as getting a citation or medal. I hope that my efforts at this story may interest someone enough to say “dad, well done.”

Signed: Doug Harrison V8809

There are only five people who can say, "Dad, Well Done." His book is from a very personal viewpoint. Thus the name of his book.

Clayton Marks went out of his way to collect some of the best background information possible re Canadians in Combined Ops. Here is an example from his chapter about the Dieppe Raid, Aug. 19, 1942:

More information follows in Clayton Marks' book from Robert McRae, later a philosophy professor in Toronto, along with a 25-page report about one sailor's experience at Dieppe, manning a landing craft, by Al Kirby of Woodstock, ONT.

Marks also introduces readers to another officer involved in the Dieppe Raid, who took over for an officer who was killed, and who - one year later - wrote a very interesting, significant account of the Canadian Navy in Combined Operations activities and accomplishments in the invasion of Sicily (Operation HUSKY, beginning July 10, 1943). For many sailors like my father, HUSKY was the main event of WWII, so any positive comments about their service from Koyl was like a feather in their cap.

Koyl writes:

Special Note: Koyl makes a mistake in the order of operations. The 80th flotilla operated a few miles to the north of the 81st, and they arrived on their beaches "about two hours later."

Allow me to illustrate:

As we work our way to the end of Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks we find...

Comment about FISH, Gannet, GASH (Bailey) and "pass the Irish Mail, please."

Nicknames seemed plentiful: Dad - Cactus and Dogo. A stoker was called Smokey; Roy Burt was called Chocolate

Clayton's book, printed and distributed in the early to mid-1990s, about the same time my father was writing columns for his local, weekly newspaper, not only tells us a great deal about the Canadian role in Combined Operations, but it led to the production of two more volumes of WWII veteran stories, i.e., by Navy and Combined Ops vets and spearheaded by two Albertans, possibly from Calgary. 

How did one book lead to others? I offer a photo or two that might help answer that question.

Photo of Clayton, Doug, David Lewis, Al Kirby, Gash Bailey, London.

As found in St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War, Vol. 2

I can only offer speculation. Clayton's book was making the rounds at Navy Clubs, Legion Halls, e.g., here in London, Woodstock, and... Calgary in the early 1990s. Former Sub. Lt. David Lewis, from Montreal, later Calgary, saw it and was inspired... and thought he should make a book as well, he had some contacts, e.g., Len Birkenes, formerly a Leading Seaman, RCNVR, Combined Ops.

Photos of Len with Joe Spencer, Dieppe group, and returning from New Haven, likely on their way to Southampton, likely HMS Tormentor:

As found in St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War, Vol. 1

ALC 269 leaving Newhaven August 21, 1942. C. Sheeler, Len Birkness (sp.)

Used with permission, from the collection of Joe Spencer

ALC 269 returning to Southampton from Newhaven. C. Sheeler, Joe Spencer

Dad was "Proud of White Ensign." From the collection of Joe Spencer

Share the two books, volumes St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War

Rare as hen's teeth! But they can be found online and links to the University of Alberta are included in Resource Lists on my WWII website.

Challenges, continued:

Include something about somebody else w a London connection:

Al Adlington called me on the phone while I was writing for The Londoner. He said, "I trained and served with your father, during WWII":

8 Canadians (RCNVR/Comb.Ops) Al Adlington first left. From the collection

of Joe Spencer second left. HMS Northney, Hayling Is. Jan., Feb., 1942

Wedding picture. Chuck Rose, Al and his new wife Mary and Mary's sister.

Photo - Glasgow, 1942. Mary travelled to Canada aboard the Ile de France.

The last challenge:

Try not to come off like an expert, because I’m not. My view of WWII history... it's like a giant jigsaw puzzle, growing everyday, in all directions, being torn apart daily so new puzzle pieces can be added, whether it's photographs found under grandmother's stairs in Inveraray (explain!) or very rare material e.g., sent me by Sue Katanna, Winnipeg (her stories about her father William Katanna, his obit, her letters from my father, re news related to an upcoming reunion).

How can I possibly consider myself an expert? Maybe dogged, or persistent. Recently, after a couple of emails sent back and forth, Laurel Burt, daughter of Roy Burt (aka 'Chocolate') from Osoyoos, southern BC, sent me a collection of Roy's photos. 

My experiences re research, creating a small archive of materials, makes me thankful I’m only focussing on 950 - 1,000 men. My small piece of the jigsaw puzzle is continually growing... but at a slower, easier pace than the entire WWII model/puzzle. 

Note to Self : Try to come off like an explorer, with a long way to go. 

Reveal details or photos no one has ever seen before. 

AND try not to go all over the map. TOO LATE!! Right??

More to follow.

Please click here to view material for an earlier presentation.

Unattributed Photos GH