Dieppe Raid, Operation Jubilee

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Franek, May 9, 2008.

  1. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Matt
    100 percent correct.
     
  2. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    I think John Mellor's book The Dieppe Raid is a very good refresher on Jubilee with an account which is at the heart of the action.....an action which John Mellor fought in as a British Commando.

    A very informative book giving the background to the raid which at the planning stage earlier in the summer of 1942 was coded Operation Rutter......then cancelled with what is suggested as a lack of secrecy imposed on those who were to taken part.

    John Mellor died in 2007........John Mellor - Friday, January 12th, 2007

    As regards Jubilee, the British authorities published a note on the successful Operation Cauldron,The Destruction of a German Battery by No 4 Commando during the Dieppe Raid.

    OPERATION CAULDRON

    A classic example of the use of :-
    WELL TRAINED INFANTRY.
    FIRE AND MOVEMENT
    The killing power of INFANTRY WEAPONS in the attack.
    THOROUGHNESS IN TRAINING,PLANNING,
    and EXECUTION.

    VARENGEVILLE
    18TH AUGUST 1942

    At daybreak No 4 Commando,consisting of 252 all ranks including several Allied personnel,assaulted the 6 gun battery at Varengeville. The position was defended by an approximately equal number of Germans,with all the advantages of concrete,wire and mines,concealed MGs,mortars,dual purpose flak guns and knowledge of the ground.they had had to years to perfect these defences and when the time came they fought with the greatest determination.Yet,within 100 minutes of the landings,the position was overrun.The basttery and all its works were destroyed,and at least 150 Germans left dead on the ground.Prisoners were also taken.British casualties were 45,of whom 12 were back at duty within 2 months.

    The document then continues in detail, the aspects of Cauldron

    Extract from the book The Commando Pocket Manual 1940-1945 compiled from authentic documents.

    Overall......If Jubilee demanded too much, a look at Rutter as outlined by John Mellor without doubt was asking much more.
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  4. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Gets me every time:

     
  5. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Aye
    Copy that.
     
  6. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Sergeant Albert Willis, a prisoner, displays his manacled hands for the camera, in a clandestine photograph taken by William Lawrence to document evidence of German mistreatment of prisoners in the camp. The hands of prisoners at Stalag VIIIB were bound every day from morning parade until the evening parade for a period of 14 months as a German reprisal for alleged Allied mistreatment of German prisoners during the Canadian raid on Dieppe. Initially cord was used, until sufficient handcuffs were supplied.
    STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF) 1943
    Clandestine photographer- W/O W.Lawrence

    shackle.jpg shack.jpg shack1.jpg
     
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  7. gpo son

    gpo son Senior Member

    I've read...Not that its mitigation but it was widely reported the boys had a work around in place pretty early on...
    Matt
     
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  8. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Yes, I've read that as well and found the quote, "someone soon made a key and then many more and the handcuffs went on and off as we pleased"
     
  9. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    It is recorded how the Canadian POWs first dealt with the daily cuffing.

    Apparently with the clandestine manufactured handcuff key,Canadian POWs were able to present themselves to the Germans for cuffing ...then hands being released out of sight from the guards, the POWs again presented themselves for cuffing....a game of musical chairs as might be said as they wasted the guards' time with a continuous requirement for cuffing.
     
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  10. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    With the Dieppe anniversary passed,I noticed a memoriam in the DT from comrades of the fallen and of "Tigger" Lieut Colonel Joseph Picton - Phillips,the C.O of Royal Marines, A Commando who was killed on the day.

    Lt Col Joseph Picton-Phillips R.M. 001 (3).jpg



    Looking at Picton Phillips's involvement in the raid from John Mellor's account....an extended extract.

    Aboard Calpe,Commander Ryder,VC,reported to Hughes-Hallett that the Royal Marine Commandos had been unable to enter the harbour of Dieppe to capture the enemy landing barges believed to be moored there.The tremendous barrage of shells from the East Headland had formed an impenetrable barrier off the harbour mouth.They could not sail through it without being slaughtered.

    In turn,Hughes-Hallett offered the Royal Marine contingent to General J "Ham" Roberts.It must be remembered that communications between ship and shore were practically non existent but General Roberts was led to believe that the Essex Scottish had broken through on Red Beach and were occupying the buildings along the sea front.To aid them in their task,he had just ordered the Fusiliers de Mont Royal to land on Red Beach and assist the Essex Scottish.He had also been led to believe that the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry had broken through the Casino and were funnelling into the town.He therefore took what he honestly believed to be the right decision and committed the Royal Marine floating reserve into White Beach to assist the R.H.L.I.

    With the reserves thrown on both beaches and a breakthrough which already had been accomplished,the Canadians could now deliver a knock out blow-capture the town,destroy essential installations and leave before 1100.Roberts was not aware of the catastrophe on both Red and White beaches,which were shrouded from his view by clouds of smoke.Nor was he aware that the F.M.R. had been decimated after landing on the wrong beaches.

    "Tigger" Phillipps formed up his Royal Marine,A Commando group some 5 miles offshore,then headed directly into White Beach.Almost immediately they came under heavy fire of German batteries,which surrounded them with huge fountains of water as the heavy calibre burst among them.One boat was blown to pieces while still two miles from the beach.Another boat was sunk shortly afterwards.At a distance of 400 yards from the beach,only seven boats were left from the ten that started the run in.

    As they emerged from the smoke screen that lay off shore,the Royal Marines were shocked and dismayed to see the destruction and carnage on all sides.Blazing tank landing craft and tanks were dotted along the shore.Shells landed on all sides.The deafening thunder and chatter of enemy guns against the inferno of fire and destruction told them the whole story.Too late they realised that there were sailing into a deadly trap.The enemy fire had increased enormously since the first touchdown,and now no boat could possibly land its troops on that terrible beach.

    As the enemy turned its fire power against the new threat from the sea,Phillips calmly donned a pair of white gloves so that his signals could plainly be seen by his remaining boats.Standing to his full height,he turned his back to the enemy and raised his arms above his head to halt the advance.At the same time he shouted,Go back! For God's sake go back! His warning came almost too wait.Scores of mortar shells landed among the remaining seven boats.Two were sunk immediately,but the other five boats turned,wounded but still afloat.Enemy machine gun fire cut down this gallant a few seconds after he stood up to warn his men to go back.

    The Royal Marines who did manage to land were cut to pieces in the surf.Only a handful reached the shelter of a burnt out tank and under the command of Lt Smale R.M,they engaged the enemy with Bren guns in a brave but futile act of defiance as they awaited the end.One of the boats that had turned about after Phillips' warning returned once more to the scene of carnage to pick up the survivors.Under the command of Captain R.R Deveraux,R.M, they dragged the Royal Marines abroad before they fell to enemy sharp shooters.
     
  11. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Here is Tom Baker again in a 2009 interview:

     
  12. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

     
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  13. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Reviving this "old" thread (started in 2009) because the subject matter has just been re-drawn to my attention.

    The simplest way of giving you the relevant links is to refer you to my "page of links":
    Ron Goldstein remembers ww2
    and ask you to scroll down to Ref No 31

    Ron

     
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  14. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I think this item from the BBC Witness audio series was made in 2015, but as part of their WW2 archive, it is available currently on the Iplayer:

    BBC World Service - Witness, The Dieppe Raid

    In the early hours of 19th August 1942, a convoy of Allied ships approached the port of Dieppe carrying more than 6,000 troops. The mainly Canadian force was supposed to carry out a hit and run raid that would help the Allies learn and plan for the real invasion of occupied France later in the war. But almost immediately things started to go wrong.

    Ronald Miles, then aged 20, was a crew member on a landing craft.
     
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  15. Paul Bradford

    Paul Bradford Active Member

    First time that I have seen it and it is great.

    Paul
     
  16. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    77 years ago today.
     
  17. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Attached Files:

  18. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

  19. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Ten years on this forum. I have visited the beaches on several occasions. Climbed the high ground on either side of the landing zone. Walked in silence at the Canadian Cemetery. Once with Canuck and a couple of times on my own.

    Lest we forget....
     
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  20. Len Trim

    Len Trim Senior Member

    Just finished reading Andrew Roberts book Emiment Churchillians. There is a chapter on Mountbatten in it. Tears him to shreds not least over the planning or lack of it for Dieppe.
    Len
     
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