War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (1)

Two WWII Navy Veterans (also in Combined Operations)

Connect Via Royal Mail, While 1000s of Miles Apart

Air Mail from Queensland, Australia Arrives in London, Ontario, Canada

Introduction:

Though I feel I have prying eyes as I peruse 4 air mail letters from the early 1990s that were certainly not meant for me (my conscience, instilled or enlivened within me at a very early age by my well-meaning parents sits upon my right shoulder as I type this post), I'm pretty certain the two Navy veterans (now deceased) and their respective families will forgive me. 

They can rest assured that no deep, dark, or family secrets will be revealed, just matters related to Australian and Canadian sailors who participated in the Dieppe Raid and invasions of Sicily and Italy. Just details related to items that are now part of the public record, and if they are not, then they should be, in the form of appreciation and praise for the manner in which these men served their respective countries during WWII.

Air Mail from:

Note postal stamps below, e.g., Old Stafford Mail Centre

Recipient:

Clayton Marks authored/editted and distributed Combined Operations,

a book that started making the rounds in late 1980s, early 1990s

Mr. Cyril Masterman writes:

Dear Clayton,

Some time ago (I came across) your name and activity re the Royal Canadian Navy Association (R.C.N.A., likely in London, Ontario). Recent moves in the U.K. re the Honour Roll have prompted me to write to you.

Two Australians commanded the two Flotillas of  Tank Landing Craft (LCT) in the Dieppe Raid. My fellow Australian was killed (which suggests that C. Masterman commanded one of the Flotillas and fortunately survived the raid). I later took my Flotilla to the Mediterranean* where we took part in the landings in Sicily, Reggio and Salerno etc. etc.

Valentine tanks being offloaded from a landing craft (small LCT) during

combined operations training at Inveraray in Scotland, 9 October 1941.
Photo - War Office Photogr. Capt. W.T. Lockeyear, H14592. IWM.

(*Masterman likely spent at least 3 months in the Med, like my father and his mates in the Canadian Flotillas of Landing Craft, i.e., LCMs or landing craft, mechanised).

His letter continues:

His paragraph is repeated below for those who, like me, are sometimes "challenged by cursive":

There were no Canadians in these two Flotillas but there were several in the assault landing craft (LCAs), including D. H. Botly, R. M. Smith, D. L. Marchant, J. E. O'Rourke, P. F. McRae, and G. F. Bayne. These names are taken from a list* I have of the H.M. Ships and Landing Craft that took part in this suicide mission.

(*Clayton Marks also listed the names of all Canadians who were in Combined Operations and who had participated in the Dieppe Raid. The list was presented to the Mayor of Dieppe in 1992. All names Masterman listed above appear in Clayton's list except D. L. Marchant (he is shown to be a member of the Royal Navy (RNVR; not RCNVR) on two other lists). 

Gordon Hurley is preparing a list of all Naval personnel to be presented to the Mayor of Dieppe on the 50th Anniversary (in) 1992. He has the names I have given you but you may care to contact him. G. F. R. Hurley... (his full address in the U.K. followed.)

A couple of years ago I was asked to speak at a R.A.N. (Royal Australian Navy) Naval Symposium. The topic "The Dieppe Raid." Since the release of all the top Secret Signals, meetings etc. of the War Office after 30 years a lot has been written telling us what really did happen at the time. A documentary was written by Anthony Cave Brown in 1977 entitled "Bodyguard of Lies."* I sent to the U.K. for a copy, a paperback of 1,000 pages, but a wealth of information by W. H. Allen & Co. Ltd.

(*A. C. Brown's book can be found online at AbeBooks, Amazon, etc. Some notes reveal that there are two volumes, so "Body of Lies" may just whet your appetite.)

Photo Credit - AbeBooks

Masterman's letter continues:

(Cursive translated...) My Flotilla spent a lot of time with the Tank boys of the Calgary Regiment* and they were a great bunch of fellows.

(*many books about the Dieppe Raid mention the exploits and challenges faced by the Calgary Tank Regiment, e.g., the shingle beach, the cement tank defences, and more).

 

I am a Life Member of the Dieppe Veterans Assn. of Canada, also a long time member of the M.L.C.A. (?? Help Wanted. If a reader knows the meaning of M.L.C.A. please let me know @ gordh7700@gmail.com) The 5th Flotilla which went to the Med with us had 1 Canadian by the name of Downey. I've forgotten his Christian name.

I was on loan* to the R.N. (British Royal Navy) together with many other Australians, supposedly for two years but it was 3 1/2 before I was returned to Australia and appointed Staff Office Combined Ops at our Naval Headquarters.

(* A few Canadian members of Combined Operations also stated they were "on loan to the R.N." After two years overseas all or most were granted leave back to Canada, whereupon many were offered another assignment with Combined Operations, e.g., to train for D-Day (or to train others) for the invasion of France beginning June 6, 1944. My father and his mates were offered or chose an assignment at HMCS Givenchy III.) i.e., at Canada's Combined Operations Training School on Vancouver Island). 

Masterman's letter concludes:

I was the Senior F.O. in L.C.T.s and thoroughly enjoyed my association with the Brits. My most treasured possession is a brass plaque* the Flotilla presented to me on leaving. Beautifully engraved with all our landings, done by a stoker with a hammer and sharpened file and mounted by the chippie on the Queen Elizabeth on a piece of English Oak. (I did a short stint as Gunnery Officer on the Q.E. prior to returning to Australia).

I trust this scribble may be of interest. 

Yours Sincerely,

Cyril Masterman

(*"a brass plaque" on the Q.E. is a fine reward for service and I will attempt to locate Cyril's surviving family members to see if they have a photograph of it. Details to follow if luck is on my side).

Clayton and Cyril may have later met at the commemoration of the Dieppe Raid in 1992. If not, I know that Clayton records in his book (self-published in late 1980s or early 1990s) several lists of names, i.e., Canadian participants in the Dieppe Raid, flotilla by flotilla... including those who were aboard Landing Crafts, (for) Tanks (LCTs) which include two commanding officers who were members of the R.A.N.V.R. Masterman seems to be a fellow interested in lists of names so done might be forgotten. If he came across Clayton's book (e.g., via Navy reunions, and one was in fact held in Australia several years after WWII ended) he would have wanted Clayton to have any details he could provide.

A few details as found in Clayton's book:

More ships are listed, e.g., Landing Ships (for) Infantry, Small (LSI(S))

along with Senior Officers, Landings (S.O.L.s) at various beaches. Pg 31

More Groups from 3 - 13 are also listed. Groups 1 - 6 were destined to land at

particular beaches. Groups 8 - 12 included LCTs commanded by Aussie F.O.s

From Pages 32 - 34, Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks

All LCTs above were commanded by F.O. Cyril Masterman, RANVR. Pg 33

4 of 6 officers mentioned by Masterman in his letter are listed above,

i.e., D.H. Botly, R.M. Smith, D.L. Marchant and J.E. O'Rourke. Pg 34

Lt. McRae, also aforementioned in Masterman's letter, was my father's

Commanding officer. If my father had not been placed on leave he likely

would have either been killed or wounded and/or taken prisoner of war

along with several others in McRae's command. Pg 35

On page 36 of Clayton's book we find the names of the two Australian Flotilla Officers of the L.C.T. Flotillas who took part "in this suicide mission" (Masterman's words). Unfortunately, Lt.-Cdr. H.P. Brownell, R.A.N.V.R., did not survive the day of August 19, 1942.

The complete lists from Clayton Marks' book, i.e., Combined Operations, only partially provided above, will be shared in a future post on this site.

As well, the second of Cyril Masterman's letters to Clayton Marks will soon follow.

If readers can provide more details re the names of those from Canada, Australia, U.K., U.S.A. (e.g., 50 U.S. Rangers took part), please let me know at gordh7700@gmail.com

Clayton Marks (centre) hosts a meeting of five WWII navy veterans who 

produced a total of five books or volumes of stories. London, Ontario

Please click here to learn more about Clayton Marks and other Navy veterans who put their pens to work many years after the war - Photographs: Aging Navy Vets Reconnect at Reunions (1)

Unattributed Photos GH