Dieppe_Operation Jubilee_Channel Ports

by Tim Saunders

  Engineers

  Toronto Scottish (Machine Gun

  Battalion)

  2nd Canadian Division Royal

  Canadian Service Corps

  2nd Canadian Light Field Ambulance

  2nd Canadian Division Royal

  Canadian Ordnance Corps

  2nd Canadian Division Canadian

  Provost Corps

  2nd Canadian Division Canadian

  Intelligence Corps

  GHQ Reconnaissance Regiment

  Commando Forces (Under command

  2nd Canadian Division)

  Number 3 Commando

  Number 4 Commando

  A Commando Royal Marines

  Detachment 10 Inter-Allied

  Commando

  Detachment 1st US Rangers

  Air Forces – Air Marshal T Leigh-

  Mallory CB DSO

  Kenley Sector

  Kenley – 4 Squadrons

  Redhill – 3 Squadrons

  Northolt Sector

  Northolt – 2 Squadrons

  Heston – 2 Squadrons

  Redhill – 1 Squadron

  Tangmere Sector

  Merston – 2 Squadrons

  W. Hampnett – 1 Squadron

  Thorney Island – 2 Squadrons

  Shoreham – 2 Squadrons

  Friston – 2 Squadrons

  Ford – 4 Squadrons (2 x Hurribombers & 2 Day Bomber)

  Thruxton – 1 Squadron (Boston aircraft for smoke)

  Debden Sector

  Gravesend – 3 Squadrons

  Hawkinge – 2 Squadrons

  North Weald Sector

  Southend – 2 Squadrons

  Manston – 4 Squadrons

  Hornchurch Sector

  Hornchurch – 3 Squadrons

  Fairlop – 2 Squadrons

  W./ Malling – 4 Squadrons

  Biggin Hill Sector

  Biggin Hill – 3 Squadrons

  Lympne – 2 Squadrons

  Eastchurch – 2 Squadrons

  Hawkinge – 1 Squadron

  Army Co-operation Squadrons

  Gatwick – 3 Squadrons

  Thruxton 2 (Smoke laying

  aircraft)

  Appendix 1

  Victoria Cross Citations

  ANTHONY PORTEOUS, R.A.

  Captain (Temporary Major), 73033, Royal Artillery

  Victoria Cross

  War Office - 2nd October 1942.

  The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:

  Captain (temporary Major) Patrick Anthony PORTEOUS (73033), Royal Regiment of Artillery (Fleet, Hants.).

  At Dieppe on the 19th August, 1942, Major Porteous was detailed to act as Liaison Officer between the two detachments whose task was to assault the heavy coast defence guns.

  In the initial assault, Major Porteous, working with the smaller of the two detachments, was shot at close range through the hand, the bullet passing through his palm and entering his upper arm.

  Undaunted, Major Porteous closed with his assailant, succeeded in disarming him and killed him with his own bayonet thereby saving the life of a British Sergeant on whom the German had turned his aim.

  In the meantime, the larger detachment was held up, and the officer leading this detachment was killed and the Troop Sergeant-Major fell seriously wounded. Almost immediately afterwards the only other officer of the detachment was also killed.

  Major Porteous, without hesitation and in the face of a withering fire, dashed across the open ground to take over the command of this detachment. Rallying them, he led them in a charge, which carried the German position at the point of the bayonet, and was severely wounded for the second time. Though shot through the thigh he continued to the final objective where he eventually collapsed from loss of blood after the last of the guns had been destroyed.

  Major Porteous’s most gallant conduct, his brilliant leadership and tenacious devotion to a duty, which was supplementary to the role originally assigned to him, was an inspiration to the whole detachment.

  LIEUT.-COL. CHARLES CECIL INGERSOLL MERRITT

  South Saskatchewan Regiment

  Victoria Cross

  Department of National Defence, Ottawa. 2nd October 1942.

  THE CANADIAN ARMY

  The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of The VICTORIA CROSS to:

  Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Cecil Ingersoll MERRITT, The South Saskatchewan Regiment.

  For matchless gallantry and inspiring leadership whilst commanding his battalion during the Dieppe raid an the 19th August 1942. From the point of landing, his unit’s advance had to be made across a bridge in Pourville which was swept by very heavy machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire: the first parties were mostly destroyed and the bridge thickly covered by their bodies. A daring lead was required; waving his helmet, Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt rushed forward shouting “Come on over! There’s nothing to worry about here.” He thus personally led the survivors of at least four parties m turn across the bridge. Quickly organizing these, he led them forward and when held up by enemy pillboxes he again headed rushes which succeeded in clearing them. In one case, he himself destroyed the occupants of the post by throwing grenades into it. After several of his runners became casualties, he himself kept contact with his different positions.

  Although twice wounded Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt continued to direct the unit’s operations with great vigour and determination and while organizing the withdrawal he stalked a sniper with a Bren gun and silenced him. He then coolly gave orders for the departure and announced his intention to hold off and “get even with” the enemy. When last seen he was collecting Bren and Tommy guns and preparing a defensive position which successfully covered the withdrawal from the beach.

  To this Commanding Officer’s personal daring, the success of unit’s operations and the safe re-embarkation of a large portion of it were chiefly due. Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt is now reported to be a Prisoner of War.

  HONORARY CAPTAIN JOHN WEIR FOOTE

  Canadian Chaplain Services Royal Hamilton Light Infantry

  Victoria Cross

  Department of National Defence, Ottawa. 14th February 1946.

  THE CANADIAN ARMY

  The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:

  Honorary Captain John Weir FOOTE, Canadian Chaplain Services.

  At Dieppe, on 19th August, 1942, Honorary Captain Foote, Canadian Chaplain Services, was Regimental Chaplain with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Upon landing on the beach under heavy fire he attached himself to the Regimental Aid Post which had been set up in a slight depression on the beach, but which was only sufficient to give cover to men lying down. During the subsequent period of approximately eight hours, while the action continued, this officer not only assisted the Regimental Medical Officer in ministering to the wounded in the Regimental Aid Post, but time and again left this shelter to inject morphine, give first-aid and carry wounded personnel from the open beach to the Regimental Aid Post. On these occasions, with utter disregard for his personal safety Honorary Captain Foote exposed himself to an inferno of fire and saved many lives by his gallant efforts. During the action, as the tide went out, the Regimental Aid post was moved to the shelter of a stranded landing craft. Honorary Captain Foote continued tirelessly and courageously to carry wounded men from the exposed beach to the cover of the landing craft. He also removed wounded from inside the landing craft when ammunition had been set on fire by enemy shells. When landing craft appeared he carried wounded from the Regimental Aid Post to the landing craft through very heavy fire.

  On several occasions, this officer had the opportunity to embark but returned to the beach as his chief concern was the care and evacuation of the wounded. He refused a final opportunity to leave the shore, choosing to suffer the fate of the men he had ministered to for over three years.

  Honorary Captain Foote personally saved many lives by his efforts and his exa
mple inspired all around him. Those who observed him state that the calmness of this heroic officer as he walked about, collecting the wounded on the fire-swept beach will never be forgotten.

  Appendix 2

  Advice to Visitors

  Preparation and planning are important prerequisites for an enjoyable and successful tour. This section aims to give some advice to those who are travelling to France for the first time and acts as a checklist for the more seasoned traveller.

  Travel Documentation

  UK and European Union citizens are required to carry passports when travelling to France. However, many non-EU citizens will require a visa to visit France – check with the French Embassy in your country of origin before travelling.

  Travel to Dieppe

  Most visitors travelling to the Northern France do so by car. However, with Dieppe’s direct access by ferry, an increasing number of visitors are cycling around the battlefields. Whatever the visitors’ mode of travel around the Dieppe area, a journey originating in the UK has to cross the Channel. A wide range of options available. The most convenient ferry service is the route from Newhaven direct to Dieppe. The service, however, only typically operates from around Easter to the end of October. Delivering the visitor to Dieppe reduces continental driving and has the benefit of the view enjoyed by those who took part in the raid. An hour to the west is le Havre, which is served by ferries from Portsmouth. Choice for most visitors depends on the convenience of the sailing times and, of course, relative costs. To the east of Dieppe are the shorter, and consequently cheaper, crossings in the Calais area and or those who dislike ferries there is the Channel Tunnel, but this option, though quicker, is usually more expensive. From Calais, Dieppe can be easily reached via the autoroute in two hours but bear in mind tolls cost up to £5 each way. It is worth checking out all the options available and make your selection of routes based on UK travel, ferry times and cost. French law requires you to carry a full driving licence and a vehicle registration document. Do not forget a GB sticker if you do not have EU number plates with the blue national identifier square.

  Insurance

  It is important to check that you are properly insured to travel to France. Firstly, check with your insurance broker to ensure that you are covered for driving outside the UK and, secondly, make sure you have health cover. Form E111, available from main post offices, grants the bearer reciprocal treatment rights in France but, even so, the visitor should consider a comprehensive package of travel insurance. Such packages are available from a broker or travel agent. It is a legal requirement for a driver to carry a valid certificate of motor insurance. Be warned that without insurance, repatriating the sick or injured is very expensive, as is return of vehicles. Accommodation

  There is a very wide range of hotels in the Dieppe area, ranging from five star to Chambres d’hotel, however, the latter are not as numerous as in Lower Normandy. The usual Ibis, Campaniele, Mercure chain hotels are to be found on the southern edge of town astride the D 915. Up to date contact details are available from the French Tourist Office, 178 Picadilly, London W1V 0AL (01891 244 123). Further details of accommodation and travel amenities are available from the office of Dieppe Tourisme. To telephone from the UK dial 0033, drop the 0 necessary for ringing within France.

  Maps

  Good maps are an essential prerequisite to a successful battlefield visit. Best of all is a combination of contemporary and modern maps. The Battleground series of course, provides a variety of maps. However, a number of modern map series are available in both the UK and in Dieppe. Most readily available in both countries are the Michelin 1:200,000 Yellow Series. Better still are the Institut Geographique National (IGN) 1:100,000 Serie Vert (Green Series) maps. Normally only available in the UK at a specialist map shop they can, however, be procured as a special order through high street bookshops such as Waterstones. The Series Vert maps have the advantage of showing contours and other details such as unmade roads and tracks. The most detailed maps, readily available in France, are the IGN Serie Bleue in 1:25,000 scale. The map covering Dieppe can normally be found in the tourist shops in Dieppe. However, if you are planning your tour well in advance, large retailers in the UK can order Serie Bleue maps, given sufficient notice. The London map retailer Stamfords, provides a quick and easy method of ordering IGN maps on line.

  Courtesy

  Much of the area where the flanking attacks took place is open farmland but many of the villages in the area have expanded and the German strong points have in some cases been built over, around or enclosed. Please respect private property in both open country and villages, particularly avoiding driving on unmade up farm tracks and entering non-public areas. Adequate views of the scene of the action can be gained from public land rights of way. In all cases, please be careful not to block roads by careless car parking. The people of Northern France extend a genuine welcome to those who come to honour the memory of those who raided Dieppe in 1942. To preserve this welcome please respect the local people and their property.

  Bibliography

  Dieppe Revisited – A Documentary Investigation. John P Campbell. Frank Cass & Co Ltd 1993

  Dieppe 1943 – The Jubilee Disaster. Ronald Atkin. Mac Millan 1980

  Clash by Night. Brigadier Derek Mills-Roberts William Kimber 1956

  The Commandos at Dieppe. Will Fowler. Harper Collins 2002

  Combined Operations. HMSO 1943

  Unauthorised Action – Mountbatten and the Dieppe Raid. Brian Loring Villa Oxford University Press 1989

  Dieppe Tragedy to Triumph. Brigadier Denis and Shelagh Whitaker Leo Cooper 1992

  INDEX

  Abbeville air raid

  Air battle

  Air photography

  Airborne Forces

  Alanbrooke, Field Marshal Sir

  Andrews, Lieutenant Colonel

  Arques-la-Bataille

  Bangalore Torpedo

  Bartelt, Oberstleutenant Herman

  Berneval (Goebbles Battery)

  Blue Beach (Puys)

  Bombardment-air

  Bridport (Dorset)

  British Army Units:

  Eighth Army1 Para

  Devonshire Regiment

  Bruneval Raid

  Canadian Army:

  Raising of

  Arival in UK

  Inactivity

  Training

  Units:

  2nd Canadian Division

  4th Infantry Brigade

  6th Infantry Brigade

  Calgary Regiment

  Royal Canadian Engineers

  Black Watch of Canada

  Essex Scottish

  Fusiliers Mont Royal, les

  Royal Hamilton Light Infantry

  Royal Regiment of Canada

  South Saskatchewan Regiment

  Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

  Casino

  Catto, Lieutenant Colonel

  Cauldron, Operation

  Churchill Tank track layer

  Churchill Tank

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Cole, Air Commodore

  Collar, Operation

  Commandos

  No.Commando

  No.Commando

  Raising of

  Royal Marine Commando

  Special Service Brigade

  Training

  Combined Operations

  Crear, General

  Destroyers, Hunt Class

  Dieppe:

  Aims of the raid

  Bombardment

  Planning

  Plans of landing of tanks

  Selection

  Tides

  Topography

  Dorset

  Dumais, Sergeant Major

  Durnford-Slater, Lieutenant Colonel

  Eastern Headland (le Polet)

  Envermeu

  Esplanade

  Foch, Boulevard Marschal

  Foke Wulf

  Foote, Padre John

  Ford, Exercise
s

  Four Winds Farm

  Führer Order Forty

  German Army:

  Fifteenth Armie

  LXXXI Korps

  10th Panzer Division

  110th Infantry Division

  302nd Infantry Division

  570 Infantry Regiment

  571 Infantry Regiment

  I/571

  II/571

  III/571

  I/302 Artillery Regiment

  2nd Battery, 770 Coastal Artillery

  Regiment (Goebbels Battery)

  813 Battery (Hesse Battery)

  German Recce Flights

  Goebbles Battery

  Gostling, lieutenant colonel

  Green Beach (Pourville)

  Haase, Generalmajor Conrad

  Haase, Oberstgeneral Curt

  Hess Battery

  Hughes-Hallet, Captain RN

  Intelligence

  Isle of White

  Jasperson, Lieutenant Colonel

  Jubilee, Operation

  Kuntzen, General

  Labat, Lieutenant Colonel

  Leigh-Mallory, Air Marshal

  Mann, Brigadier

  Marechal Foch, Boulevard

  McNaughton, General

  Menard, Lieutenant Colonel

  Merritt, Lieutenant Colonel

  Messerschmitt ME-109

  Mills-Roberts, Major Derek

  Montgomery, Lieutenant General

  Mountbatten, Admiral

  Munro, Ross

  Naval gunfire Support

  Naval ships - British:

  Naval Force

  Naval Group

  Naval Group

  Albrington, HMS

  Fernie, HMS

  Locust, HMS

  Steam Gunboat

  Steam Gunboat(Grey Goose)