Report on Dieppe Raid

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY - MAJOR J. E. MCRAE

At 0450 hrs 19 Aug we touched down on Green Beach, Pourville, the approach was without incident and no fire was opened until the actual landing took place. With little difficulty or delay the coys were over the wall and on their way to their objectives with only four casualties. On the left, the beach defenses with the exception of the post on the extreme left of the beach, were taken out with little difficulty, but at the bridge, both A and D Coys and the special platoon came under heavy fire, of M.G. and mortar, which held them up. They attempted to work forward in small parties and took charge and let the men across this particular spot and organized parties and personally led them to take out enemy M.G. posts. Under this gallant leadership all ranks showed great courage and determination to get forward and complete their respective tasks. B Coy cleared the village and two platoons were then taken to assist the left coys but owing to the intense fire of M.G. Mortar and snipers, and light field guns they were unable to complete their tasks as ordered. D Coy being unable to get the grips with the enemy at Four Winds Farm, were ordered by the C.O. to swing left and assist A Coy on the R.D.F. station. Requests by both A and D Coys for arty support was passed to the F.D.O. who immediately went forward. Fire brought down was not effective and was of no assistance in helping these coys forward, they called for mortar fire at this point and we were unable to give this as our coys worked forward but aside from taking out some enemy posts were unable to assist their coys forward.

BHQ was opened at a Garage about 100 yds from the beach, it was moved several times to avoid mortar fire which was particularly heavy and very accurate, two bombs fell in the near vicinity of H.Q. causing several casualties. At about 0939 hrs, C Coy reported they were being attacked by approx a bn and were ordered to fall back to a posn outside the village and take a defence line and to hold until zero for e evacuation, a pl of the Cams of C was asked for and sent forward to assist this coy. Requests for craft to evacuate casualties were put through to Bde but no craft arrived until 1100 hrs. In the meantime casualties had been evacuated to the beach under direction of the M.O. Capt. Hayter, who with his S.Bs done an excellent job of caring for the wounded, always under enemy fire and in most cases in the open where they were under direct observation of the enemy. Sniping was particularly troublesome in the village but a great many were taken care of by the "I" Sec with Cpl. Gregory in charge. This N.C.O. was untiring in his efforts to get many of the enemy. Lieut. Duchanan, Adjutant, was particularly active and showed great courage and devotion to duty during the entire show, passing order and arranging defence of B.H.Q. Cpl. Coxford "I" Sec and Sgt. Walton and all Sigs were absolutely splendid in their respective jobs and all done a marvellous piece of work in keeping communications to Bde and Coys, often in the open with no cover and they all showed great courage throughout. Heavy casualties occurred on the beach during evacuation, the tide being low gave the enemy a good field of fire from the high cliffs and he was quick to seize the opportunity. The boats remained well out owing to the low water and this meant that the heavy fire of M.G. mortar, snipers, taking-part in the latter stages. Some craft being over loaded swamped and the personnel had to be transferred to other craft. Arty fire was heavy at this stage being directed at the craft. Enemy attacks by dive bombers were carried out on the convoy but owing to our fighter craft were not very effective. Great determination and courage was shown by all ranks during the entire operation and on the beach, where despite heavy fire a great spirit of coolness was displayed in assisting wounded comrades to the craft. On arrival at Newhaven about 2130 hrs the wounded were evacuated to various hospitals, others, after being served with tea, were despatched to their units.

DIEPPE, 19 AUG 42.

After an unfortunate accident on board ship which knocked out 12 men of 14 platoon C Coy S. Sask. R. under Lieut. L.G. Kempton we got underway on what was to be the most exciting 9 hours of our lives. The fact that we only had 16 men left in the platoon did not worry Mr. Kempton, in fact it made him that much more determined and he had us lead up with just that much more ammunition, to take the place of that the men who were left behind would have carried. The boys were glad to get it and Mr. Kempton carried more than any of us as he was an officer that would not ask you to do anything he would not do himself.

The time of landing came and Mr. Kempton gave us a few words of encouragement and as the ramp of the A.L.C. was lowered he was the first off dashing through the hail of tracer bullets, and calling to us all the time as he raced to the sea wall to find a place for us to go over it. At last we were over the sea wall he proceeded to lead us through the town toward our objective. We picked up a few prisoners but as Mr. Kempton was set on getting to the objective he turned the prisoners over to another platoon and kept going.

On nearing the objective Mr. Kempton insisted on going ahead alone and looking it over before allowing us to attack as it was still fairly dark and due to our shortage of men he did not want to run us into trouble by carrying out the plan we had originally laid down. Coming back he reorganized a plan of attack and led the charge in himself as two of the sections had been knowked out on board ship. The attack was successful due to the wonderful leadership and the determination of the men to follow him wherever he went.

After we had consolidated Mr. Kempton took a few of the men out in front of our position and searched farm buildings on our right and left flank for enemy snipers. Also going through a hotel which was being used as billets by the enemy. He then reported to the O.C. of the Coy, as to our successes.

At approximately 0945 hrs a lone car was seen coming down the road into town which we had covered but Mr. Kempton was not to be fooled by it and did not give orders to fire on it. It soon turned around and went back the way it had come and disappeared into the bush about 2000 yds away. Soon we were able to see the enemy moving out of the trees and a section started down the road in our direction followed shortly afterwards by larger bodies of troops. We allowed them to get into range and opened fire with all we had taking our toll of them before they had a chance to get cover on the sides of the road. They moved back to the cover of the trees again and proceeded to pull a pincer on us, Mr. Kempton said to me "Now we are in a hell of a fix as our flanks are unprotected except for what fire we can produce ourselves". I hate to keep the boys but we will have to stick it until they get in on top of us, and then make the best of getting out as they are relying on us in the town. He sent word back to Coy H.Q. telling of our position and proceeded to arrange things for the withdrawal when the time comes.

We held out until about 1045 hrs and Mr. Kempton told us to start moving back a few at a time until all that was left was one bren gun which covered him when he came back. We took up a position on the crest of a hill and covered the bren as it was coming out, but as one of the boys on the bren crossed the road he was hit. Mr. Kempton headed out to get him as the other chap on the bren could not get to him. I stopped Mr. Kempton and told him he was needed worse than I was so to give me covering fire and I would go get him. He said "O.K" and that he would tell the mortar to lay down some smoke. As I was moving out towards the bren gunner they opened fire on me but I was lucky and only got hit in the pack so carried on to the bren gunner, who only had a flesh wound in the leg and was able to make it back under cover of the smoke. On the way back I found Mr. Kempton lying on the road and found that he had been hit when they opened fire on me. He had died instantly as he no doubt would have wished to protecting his men to the last.

L-12296,Sgt. Lehman, M.
S. Sask. R., R. Coy, 2 C.D.I.R.U.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12313, SGT. RICHARDSON, W.A.

At approximately 0445 hrs 18 Aug 42 we were only a few yds from shore when enemy machine gun fire opened up to our extreme left. As our ALC's touched beach machine gun fire opened up coming over the wire entanglements and covering the beach to our right. No. 1 and 2 section lead off the ALC and we followed taking cover in close to the sea wall until the first two sections and Pl HQ were over the wall. I gave the order for the section to follow me and went over the wall, crossed the road, and dropped in a ditch.

We advanced to the left in the face of machine gun fire to a road block and pill box which was under heavy fire from MG posts on the hill directly in front of us. I heard Lieut. England say he had got his directly in front of us, and called for Sgt. Neil to take over. Someone was laying smoke under cover of which I climbed on top of the pill box to try and locate MG posns. As smoke cleared I saw an MG post directly in front of us in a hole in the face of the cliff. It was approximately 25 yds and I was able to silence him with a burst of TSMG fire. I gave the order for 3 sec to advance on left side of pill box. We rushed forward to face of cliff thus gaining cover from 2nd enemy MG which seemed to be high on the hill and to the right. The cone of fire from their MGs seemed to cross in the area of the pill box and road block and was very accurate. In this advance my section became split and presumably suffered casualties as I had now only two men with me, and on looking back could see two bodies ahead and right of pill box.

We had just reached the cliff edge when Pte. Kelly shouted a warning. A grenade had been thrown from above us landing not more than 25 ft from us. We dropped flat. The grenade was approximately 18" long, 2" in diam and had a handle about 8" long on one end. It seemed to take longer to explode than our No. 36 and no one was hurt by it. As soon as it went off another landed in the same spot and while waiting its explosion I pulled a 36 from my belt. As soon as it exploded I stood up and threw my 36 as high up the cliff as I could in the general area of the enemy grenadier. The 36 went off and as we no longer interfered with, we crossed the road in hopes of finding the remainder of the section. Here we contacted Sgt. Neil and Pte. Reynolds. We all moved inland then until we sighted "A" Coy at which time we faced the left flank and advanced until we reached No. 1 and 3 secs under heavy enemy fire from MG on a hill on the right and snipers forward and left.

We took fire posns facing hill on it. The range was about 550 yds but enemy fire was extremely accurate. Pte. Tyman was riddled and Sgt. Hergsteinson wounded in this area. L/Sgt. Kerr showed extreme coolness and ability in sec control and general ability at this time. Capt. Osten and remnants of "A" Coy joined us here. A plan of attack was laid out but as we could not contact Navy for support barrage on the hill on our right it was dropped as it was impossible to cover so much open ground without supporting weapons.

Lieut. Diekin arranged defence Capt. Osten and approximately 25 ORs attempted to advance up the slope on the left but were driven back by heavy mortar fire. I was on firing point and noticed enemy moving to left steadily. Assuming they were reinforcements outflanking us I called for a bren, and Lieut. Diekin and another officer camp up and looked the situation over then we were ordered to withdraw. We moved back to the road at approximately 0900 hrs, withdrew. Capt. Osten organized this defence line. We held this line until 1113 hrs, then withdrew to the beach.

While good fighters at long range, the enemy showed no inclination to counter attack, although he seemed to be in a good posn to cut off our withdrawal if he showed initiative and guts. There were no ALCs for use on the beach and several of us swam out until we were picked up by ALCs and taken aboard a destroyer. I was aboard about 1350 with L/Sgt. Kerr, Sgt. Coderre, Pte. McDonald, J. and others. Pte. McDonald, J. was wounded along with another, and one killed when the deck was machine gunned by a stuka when bombs lit on the water about 60 yds on the left.

Other than AA action by destroyer we had no further action and were landed at Portsmouth and returned to our unit through the normal channels.

This statement is correct in all details to my knowledge.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12601, PTE. WENTZEL, C.C.

I was on the special force, under command of Lieut. England. We made our landing at 0450 hrs as soon as we were on the beach we made our way as quick as possible to the bench wall, went along the wall to the left of where we landed for about 100 yds then the wall to the left of where we landed for about 100 yds then climbed over the wire and got across the road, during this time there was some machine gun fire, but very little was directed towards us.

When we got across the road, we saw two civilians on a veranda of a house, and found out they were Belgian, Mr. Styles of "A" Coy was there, so took charge of them.

We then went along the side of the house to a road block and pill box and cleaned the pill box, the section I was in, was then with part of "A" Coy. We kept advancing along the road and by this time we were under heavy fire. We were forced to cross another road, so we used smoke to cover our advance. We then were in a small gully, and still under fire, so it was not bad.

We held the posn we took and gave covering fire for some of "A" Coy on our left, they were trying for a mortar post.

At 1030 hrs we were given the order to withdraw to the beach. We fought a rearguard action at 1100 hrs with the help of one Pl of "A" Coy and some of "D" Coy which had joined us.

When we reached the beach we split up and made for the ALC.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12740, PTE. RANDS, T.J.

When we first landed on the beach everything was quiet but as soon as we reached the wall hell seemed to open up. I was a bit soared but as soon as we got over the wall I was more concerned with keeping up with Coy HQ (I was with "D" Coy). We came up to the hotel, and crossed the road to a pub, that had a filling station in front of it. We set up Coy HQ there and waited for the bridge crossing.

In a few moments we rushed across the bridge in a smoke screen had a few casualties there, but they were mostly wounded.

It was here that I gained a new respect for the stretcher bearers, they went to work in their gory job without a word about it. I might say here that their work all through the raid was of the highest degree. Lots of the boys are alive today who would still be there on the beach if it was'nt for them.

We went ahead towards our objective, did not reach and turned to help "A" Coy. When the word came to retire we came back to the beach via the foot of the cliff.

It was here that we got most of our casualties from German cross fire. I managed to get into an ALC and back to England, so here I am.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12082, L/SGT. KERR, R.K.

I was second in command of No. 1 Section special Force. We landed on Green beach at approximately 0450 hrs in the morning. We were the first ALC to beach. The men as a whole were lightly nervous. After we beached, the troops advanced to the cover of the Sea Wall. It was there for the time that fire was concentrated on the ALCs but we were still not noticed. My section leader was somehow detached from the section so I took command. Our scaling ladders were thrown on top of the wire on the edge of the wall and were used in the same manner as a bridge. Immediately we came under fire from the cliff and well manned pill boxes on the left. Someone heaved smoke to cover our advance across the bridge. It was at this point that we suffered several casualties including our Pl Comd Sgt. Neil (Pl Sgt) took command. One pill box was silenced with Tommy gun at 50 yds range. From this point on we went with "A" Coy following the paved road and into a valley about three quarters of a mile from the beach. Here we came under cross fire from machine guns on the hill immediately in front of us about 600 yds. Here we suffered more casualties. We withdrew to a ridge about 50 yds behind us and here enemy mortar fire was brought on us. We did not seem to suffer any casualties, the bombs burst in the trees above our heads. We remained there for about half an hour and pushed over to our left towards the beach. From there on we withdrew slowly to the beach.

The following observations were made: -

1. The enemy used practically all automatic weapons.
2. His fire was very difficult to spot.
3. There was practically no air activity over us.
4. Our own troops behaved like veterans as soon as we were fired upon.
5. Their mortars were taken from place to place by horse drawn carts.
6. The support of our mortar fire would have enabled us to gain our objective.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12079, CPL. COWROY, H.A

We beached at app 0445 hrs. We were not detected until we hand landed and our ALC had turned around. Heavy gun firing tracer amn opened up on our ALC from high cliffs to the left of Green beach. We were not fired on until we reached the road block about 100 yds from where we landed. The road block seemed to be under fixed lines of fire. Our only casualty was the Pl Comd, Lieut. England, No. 3 section silenced pill box to our left and about 35 yds to our front. Sgt. Neil took over Special Force from this point and led us inland following along on the right side of paved road under cover for approx 1500 yds. We then came under fire from machine guns from high ground to our left and also to our right. From our posn we could not fire on their gun posns we advanced another 150 yds along a hedge travelling east parallel to paved road leading to Dieppe. We then had a view of the MG post on the high ground to our right. Our Pl was lined along the hedge row for approx 50 yds all in fire posn. The enemy were well dug in and we needed 3" mortar fire on their posns or heavy Arty. We could not get word to either of these with our 18 set and all we could get is the odd shot at the enemy. After approx one hour we tried to locate MG on our right which was not firing at us at the time. As soon as No. 2 Sec started out of the valley to the left, the MG to our right opened up on us, we lost one man, and our section ldr was badly wounded. No. 1 and 3 sections gave us covering fire until we got down in the valley and from there we retired to our posn near the beach. Here we took up firing posns on MG posts on high-ground which were still firing on us. At this range it was impossible to see any flash from their MG, or any smoke, while our brens, after two mags of steady fire could be detected by the smoke, and in many cases was, wounding the gunners and smashing the bren with their fire. From here we formed a rear guard action to point where paved road swung back towards the beach. Capt. Osten organized a defence here to hold until 1100 hrs. By 1030 hrs Jerry had plenty of reinforcements but did not have enough guts to attack us. At 1110 hrs Capt. Osten gave orders to retire to the beach. We suffered many casualties holding our defence posns but we really seared the Hun. We were'nt followed up to the beach and we got over the sea wall with the aid of smoke and our only opposition coming back that far was from snipers. The beach was under heavy fire from MG, anti-tank and A.A. guns. There were 2 ALCs sinking when I came to the beach and no more in sight. Most of us made for the water and swam until we were either picked up by ALC or reached our gun boats. We were machine gunned in the water and I was picked up by an ALC at approx 1215 hrs.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY LIEUT. L.L. DICKIN.

I was I.O., on this raid and landed in the CO's ALC with No. 9 Pl. We beached without opposition and found a spot in the wire where we could climb the sea wall and took shelter in some buildings. Here we set up temporary BHQ.

Radio communication was very poor and I spent much time attempting to get through to coys and Bde. Finally received report about a half hour after landing that "B" coy held village of Pourville and "C" Coy was on way to objective. Bde 46 set still not working.

We moved BHQ towards left side of town - find "A" and "D" Coys having a still time. Finally C.O. goes forward to "A" Coy.

Enemy mortar fire comes down on town and we suffer our first casualties in the town itself.

Camerons land and come up to us. CO returns and says "A" Coy have neutralized opposition at road block and are pushing on. He sends me up to reinforce "A" Coy. I reach rear pl of "A" Coy just past road block and take them up to main part of Coy, about one mile inland. A pl of camerons are right behind us. Here we are held up by heavy fire. Our 2" mortars have become casualties or are out of amn. Capt. Osten calls for ships arty fire on enemy posns. Arty fire never came. We attempt left flanking attack - unsuccessful. Then right flanking attack - again successful - 3" mortars or Arty would have been useful here. From our attacks, and also due to mortar fire, our casualties are heavy. Casualties are evacuated to beaches as well as possible, but we are too far forward for reserve stretcher bearers to help and can't afford to send any un wounded men back, so it is a case of walking wounded helping stretcher cases as much as possible.

Receive orders at approx 0945 hrs to hold perimiter until 1100 hrs. Hold it by using a small scattered force in front, heavy with brens, and the main body about 100 yds back ready to counter attack. At 1100 hrs we start back to beaches by fire and movement. Arrive back on green beach but except for dead and wounded there does not seem to be anyone there.

We take up posns along wall and breakers, and wait hopefully for Navy. Heavy fire coming down on beaches from right cliff (we are left flank).

Finally between 1145 hrs and 1200 hrs three ALCs come in sight, knowing beach is shallow, (one ALC was already stuck) - we take to the water and wade out to meet them. Taken aboard ALC. Too many men on board so transfer to another ALC with fifteen men. We put men on board a destroyer and go back towards beach. One engine not working and craft only turns one way. Beaches seem to be pretty outside to see if help is needed. Apparently not. We start back for England and get towed behind a "Q" Boat.

1. Sten guns are no damn good. I did not see one, and I have not heard of one, that fired more than mag and then jammed - ono spot of sand and they stop.

2. Camouflage, concealment, fire and movement with continued observation of enemy posts is the essence of winning the fire fight.

3. Mortars, both 2 and 3 inch, are splendid weapons but we could not carry sufficient amn for them.

4. Enemy mortar is deadly accurate but bomb not nearly as effective as ours.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12499, PTE. JOHNSON, O.A.

Landed on beach and rushed for cover. Pte. Harris was with me on the beach, but we separated and I never saw him again. We were the signallers with Special Force. We advanced to our objective, and being under continual fire, took advantage of all available cover. Where gaps were large tossed out a couple of smoke bombs. Mr. England was hit and was sent back, leaving Sgt. Neil in charge. We reached objective and made recco for best way to attack. In this way we suffered several casualties, and decided we could not storm target. Called for mortar fire on target which was acknowledged by BHQ. A little later was joined by Capt. Osten and remnant of "A" Coy. He had lost his signallers so with Sgt. Neils permission I did the signalling for both forces from then on. Capt. Osten made a recco of the situation and decided we must have mortar fire. Called BHQ and asked "How about that mortar fire", were notified that mortar crew had been knowked out, but that they were trying to rig up mortar crew. No mortar fire, so called again a half hour later. Col. Merritt answered and said we could get none, but that we must hold posn at all costs. I told Capt. Osten this, but no one else.

From 1000 hrs we could hear BHQ plainly but they could not hear me. I could speak to other stations however. Aerials on 18 sets no damn good. Must have different arrangements.

Held posns till 1100 hrs and had orders to withdraw. "A" Coy and our force withdrew, Sgt. Neil and I followed, we took along 2 brens, and one Tommy gun which we found on the way back, gave them to fighters on the beach that had carried off wounded. Went off air at 1130 hrs, was told to embark at first opportunity, so called taxi and left for England.

STATEMENT OF L - 12700, PTE. HOSZOUSKI, S.L. ON DIEPPE RAID

We landed on the beach and not a shot was fired at us till we reached the sea wall, it became very heavy after that and it seems as if their wish was to get us on land first, as most of the fire was directed at the boats.

They wired both sides of the road, and then fired on fixed lines down them. It was in one of these places that Col. Merritt displayed great courage and leadership. Over a coy of us were held up and he led us across the bridge which was immediately below a strong pill box. In a very few minutes it was silent.

The enemy had their fire fixed so that they could cover each other and the places they could not reach in this manner the four inch mortar was used which was a very accurate and efficient weapon, pick out, some we did not succeed in finding. The Navy did a wonderful job in returning to the beach and picking us up under fire from the shore and bombing from the air.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12016, SGT. SMITH, B.H.

For about an hour after leaving the Mother ship in ALCs everything was quiet. Then on our left some distance away flares began to drop and German AA and shore batteries opened up. We knew that it was an opposed landing and expected opposition on the beach.

As we neared the beach all was quiet but one AA gun on our right. We landed noiselessly on the beach and took cover under the sea wall which was eight or ten feet high and started over the wall going through slits in a disused pillbox and through a knife restin it, which I managed to push aside.

We crossed the promenade taking up positions until the Pl was off the beach. Then we moved to the left, making for the bend in the road, which was our coy RV. We came out of the buildings and started along the road. I went over the bridge followed by one section and came under very heavy LMG fire, the remainder of the Pl then crossed under the bridge.

To the right of the road about 10 yds was a fence reinforced by German wire, which is much heavier than ours. Beyond this a stoop bank and a low land which was flooded.

As we advanced from the bridge the fire was very heavy from two pill boxes situated one above the other, well up on the forward slope of the hill. There were snipers and riflemen from the slope of the hill and back along the road.

The MGs seemed to be firing on fixed arcs and were very accurate and all were mutual supporting, covering nearly all dead ground.

We returned this fire, inflicting quite heavy casualties, receiving numerous ourselves. On several occasions German MGs were silenced momentarily by firing in the slits of pillboxes at about 300 yds.

On reaching the bend in the road we took cover behind a road block and the bank of the road and engaged the enemy.

From a pill box 50 yds away they began dashing out, throwing hand grenades, and dashing back. Three of these were thrown and did no damage to us but did to the enemy.

Here snipers started firing at us from buildings about a hundred and fifty yds further south on the left of the road. Sgt. Tromberg and I went to clear them. These were cleared with only one hand grenade and very few shots. The Germans showed no desire for close fighting. By this time the pill box on the corner had been cleared and the enemy along the road driven back with heavy casualties and the remainder of the coy was coming up.

I met Capt. Osten and proceeded towards our objectives. We continued along the road, crossed over into the trees as planned, with fire from snipers at all times. As we came up behind a hedge-row we were met with very heavy MG fire from two hills and were forced to ground. We tried to beat down his fire and advance but this was impossible. Four truck loads of reinforcements were seen coming up to these posns.

We then moved back about 50 yds and to the right, planning a right flanking movement. Here again we came under very heavy MG fire. The enemy guns always supporting one another. Here we were joined by more of our own men and some of the Camerons of Canada. Lieut. Dickin joined us at this point and displayed great heroism.

The Germans then brought mortar fire to bear on us, which was very accurate. We could do nothing here so tried a left flanking movement. Here we met the same results. We were in a small orchard with a few houses scattered around, some containing a few Germans, and a few in the trees. We cleared these, but came under heavy mortar fire, MG, and incendiary fire. This gun seemed to be the same size as a two pounder, could be fired as in AA or at troops at a very rapid rate.

Here a French family assisted us by dressing our wounded. This was done though we told them not to and gave them hand bills.

From here I was sent back and around to the left with ten men to secure our left flanks as they were trying to cut us off from the beach. After clearing a house and some trees of a few remaining Germans we contacted Major White with "B" Coy. We then withdrew about 50 yds to get out of mortar fire and held this line until 1100 hrs when we were ordered to withdraw to the beach. We withdrew fighting a rear guard action with Lieut. Dickin still showing great courage, saving many men lives. Snipers were still firing from the high ground with German forces working in as we withdrew.

As we neared the beach we came under heavy fire but upon using smoke this succeeded. From the time I arrived on the beach at approximately 1130 hrs until leaving at 1230 hrs it was continually under MG fire with a little mortar and occasional Arty fire. At about 1200 hrs I left the beach and was picked up in an ALC. On our way out from the beach we were machine gunned by aircraft that just missed. We were then put on a small AA boat which was machine gunned once and went into action four times against enemy craft. We turned back several times to pick up airmen out of the water.

We arrived in a British Port and were taken off the boat at 0200 hrs, put into trucks and taken to a reception centre where we received a hot meal and rum.

The German soldier seemed a very brave man at 200 yds and would die at his own gun, but at close quarters would run rather than fight. He is very good at the art of camouflage. They are very skillful with the four inch mortar and this weapon is mounted on wheels and is very mobile. The accuracy of all German weapons suggest very accurate and numerous range cards, even on the smallest objects.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 13396, L/CPL. BALES, A.F.

We arrived on the beach just before dawn and got to the sea wall when the enemy opened fire. We were held up by one pill box but that was soon disposed of by Pte. Sawden, C., with a 36 grenade. We easily got over the first wire which looked as if the Germans had left it open as an obvious approach into their machine gun fire. All dead ground was covered by mortar fire effectively. One of our lads found a range card with seventeen points marked.

Our Col. was marvelous and he gave us courage to push on. When we reached the RDF station we found the enemy too strong for us with the weapons we had. Arty was badly needed. The withdrawal at 1100 hrs was well carried out with Lieut. Dickin giving us covering fire. We suffered a number of casualties on the beach as the ALCs were coming in. Our medical staff did wonderful work under enemy fire. The German is a wonderful fighter at long range, but not at short range.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 13166, L/CPL. CREIGHTON, C.E.

Their main idea was to let us get off the ALC before they opened fire. Then they tried to sink the landing craft. Both sides of the road were wired in so we had to go up the road in the face of enemy fire. Their machine gun was fast firing and their mortar very accurate. With mortar they laid down bombs in a straight line, then let some fall behind the line. When we reached the hill each position seemed to be covered by another position. We had to go through a wall of fire to reach their positions. Their defence did not seem to be cross fire, they covered the immediate front of the next posn which allowed us to get quite close without drawing fire.

Heavy Arty would have aided us greatly in gaining our objectives.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12090, PTE. THRUSSELL, L.R.

Boats landed us at Pourville at dawn, we were under cover of the sea wall before being fired on, went through pill box on beach wall but were all unoccupied. Went to road, turned left were safe from fire until last two houses on street were reached. Several casualties occurred here so when Col. Merritt came up to us he asked for some volunteers to rush across bridge at pill box on hill our first objective. When we crossed bridge several men took to low ground at side of road but were hit. When Col. Merritt, Sgt. Smith and Clarke came upon our special force all of them seemed to be casualties.

The Col. stated "we have to get the bastards out of here", so we took all the smoke bombs we had and threw them between us and pill box and rushed immediately to dead ground between the pill box and road blocks. We then crawled up nearer to pill boxes, the Col. had me cover fire on green coloured signal station. Col. Merritt and Sgt. Smith and Clark went up and threw four grenades in box. Two of them moved up to green signal and OP post reaching phone and wireless set. The Col. told us all to stay put as our own men and Germans were both firing upon us. The Col. then went back and told our own men that the first posn was taken. Then several more of our men moved up, we reached brow of hill and were met with heavy fire from MG and snipers and had several casualties most of which were hit with incendiaries. We then retired to road and moved up the road, and stopped again. The remainder of coy came up when Lieut. Dickin told us all to go along with them.

We were then held up about 200 yds from there in some woods as Jerry had too heavy a posn for us to take without arty or mortar fire to help us. We met Capt. Osten here and he used the 18 set to try and get mortar support on hill, but we could not get on required posn. The code word to withdraw had come through, we began to withdraw to another posn. Capt. Osten ordered me and another chap to carry Pte. Sawden back to beach as his leg had been smashed before when eight pl were after their objective.

Upon reaching the beach all able bodied men helped wounded as they were under heavy fire from MG on far ridges. Then the boats began to come in under mortar fire and bombing attacks.

The enemy was very accurate with their four inch mortar. If we could had more smoke when leaving beach we could possibly have cut down our casualties one quarter at least. The enemy opened fire on a bunch of our chaps who gave up trying to push ALC from shore for about three quarters of an hour. When this was done all the rest who had brens and TSMG opened fire so they could get under cover. Then we went further out in water for cover. Most of our casualties were now on boats.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12867, PTE. STEWART, W.S.

When we arrived on the beach we were fired on, we spread out along the sea wall until the wire on top was cut. When this was completed we crossed the road and got in the shelter of the buildings and got organized. Our section advanced over the bridge and engaged with the enemy machine gun post on the forward slope of the hill. After this was taken out we advanced up the hill. After this was taken out we advanced up the hill, all this time we were under heavy mortar and MG fire. But we got forward until we reached the embankment topped a row of tall beach trees. Here we were met by the remainder of the Coy and part of "D" Coy. We were split up into three gps and took up posns. We were commanded by Major White, Capt. Osten, and Capt. Edmonson. We remained in these posns until we got the word to retire. I was sent out by this time with an injured man, we reached the beach safely and got aboard an ALC and transferred to a destroyer and landed safely home.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12696, PTE. STORY, V.A.

As our ALC came in to the beach at Pourville, we could see A fire from the German guns, and the drone of our fighters was very loud, due to the fact that they were flying very low. We were very fortunate in landing, and we made for cover along the promenade and proceeded to scale the wall. By this time Jerry had spotted our landing and he opened fire on the ALCs that were withdrawing, with no results.

As we came over the sea wall a German pill box was causing us considerable trouble, and Pte. C. E. Sawden volunteered to take it out with a couple of 36 grenades, providing some one carried his rifle on up to him. Lieut. Stiles accepted. Sawden, exposed to fire, nonchalently strolled up to the pill box and tossed in two 36 grenades, wiping it out and killing four Jerries. We were then able to lift the remaining men up over the wall, and on to our objectives.

We crossed the bridge, where a few of the fellows were hit, and proceeded down the valley to the RDF station. Approximately 400 yds from the RDF station we came to a French house, where the French offered to help us, and we gave them a message regarding their safety, but still it had no effect.

We were not very strong in number at that time, and found it impossible to reach the RDF station, so Lieut. Stiles decided to clean out a couple large houses in that vicinity, as the French informed us that the two houses were full of Germans. As we approached the houses Jerry opened fire on us with 4" mortar and we were very fortunate in getting away, having to withdraw and wait for reinforcements. Every now and then a few men would come up and finally we went back to the hedge row near the grey house, and that as far as we were able to advance.

We were informed that the Navy was to fire on the hill for two minutes, and then we would attack, but it fell through and we eventually had to start our withdrawal to the beach.

Col. Merritt came up, full of inspiring courage, and gave us help on the withdrawal to the beach.

We arrived on the beach to discover that the ALC had not come in yet, so some of us gave the RAP men a hand to carry the wounded down to the beach ready to put in the boats when they arrived. Some of the others were up giving covering fire. Jerry kept his mortar going very steadily at us, and even though he is very accurate, I don't believe their mortar has the bursting power nor range of ours, Jerry snipers are very good.

Air support by fighter command was A-T and Jerry did not have much chance of bombing us or machine gunning us.

Due to the fact that the beach party had been wiped out things were quite disorganized, and as the ALCs came in, every one seemed to run to the one boat, this caused one to upset.

The ALC I was on took us out to a TLC and our voyage was uneventful, and our air force was very strong in numbers at all times.

My experience has led me to believe that any Canadian is worth three Jerries; and their mortar is very accurate and faster, but hasn't the power of ours.

What we lacked was a bit of heavy artillery to clean the hill and I think we should have more fire power per section, such as TSMG and brens. As for Anti-tank they are far too cumbersome to carry around, and of not much value on a raid.

Our 2" mortar kept Jerry pretty worried and was of great value to us.

German posns were all built so as to establish all round protection. Their mortars I believe have a 360 degree traversing arc, and they can rapidly change their range and arcs. Their MGs were all on fixed lines.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY LIEUT. L.R. MACILVEEN

We landed on the extreme right of the beach at Pourville at 0450 hrs 19 Aug 42. I organized the men at once and we moved through a gap in the wall to the main street at the left end of the large hotel. There we were fired on by the enemy who were immediately engaged and killed. At the hotel we captured two enemy prisoners and two civilians. On questioning, the civilians informed us that there were no more enemy in the building. We tried, unsuccessfully to burn the building down.

I then moved the platoon up the road to the first road on the right. As we moved up the road we engaged and silenced several of the enemy. We moved up the right hand road until we contacted 14 pl at the M.T. shed and from there we swung right and moved onto our objective from above and behind. On reaching our final objective we found it to be in a disused condition. We consolidated just below the position. At this time 13 pl had passed below us and were moving up to its final objective. We gave them covering. I sent back my success signal to Major Orme at 14 pl and received message to contact 13 pl to see if they required help. They did not so I left one section as a reserve. At this point one man of this section was wounded so he walked back to Coy HQ.

I moved back and withdrew my pl down to a large white "Maison Blanc" with the intention of clearing it thoroughly. We arrived there and located and killed several enemy and captured two. We also took considerable amn., 2 medium MGs, a 2" mortar, and ten bombs. There was also a considerable amount of equipment in the house. We fired off the MG amn and destroyed all weapons found. Shortly after this I recalled 13 pl who were engaging the four enemy snipers. When they returned I engaged the enemy with the captured mortar. Their fire ceased and we destroyed the mortar. The two pls then took up a position of all round defence.

At about 0930 hrs I received a message from Major Orme stating that a large party of enemy estimated at two or three companies were moving down the road from the west towards 14 Pl. I was ordered to re-enforce 14 Pl. I reached 14 Pl area and organized my men in defence. Shortly after we received the code word "Vanquish". I moved my pl back towards the village about 200 yds and engaged the enemy with fire and smoke while 14 Pl passed through and returned to the village. I waited 15 minutes and then withdrew my own pl to the village. We took up defensive posn at the main cross roads. A short time later "B" Coy, S.S.R. and the Camerons of Canada moved back. I assisted in organizing the Camerons in the perimeter defence of the village.

At 1100 hrs we received order to re-embark on ALCs on the beach. We moved down after the Camerons had passed through, and found the beach swept by MG fire and impossible to cross. The MG post was on the cliff just above the hotel commanding the beach. We engaged the post with fire but could not neutralize it. At this point Col. Merritt came up and organized an attack on the post including Major Orme, myself, and three of my men (Bren Guns). The attack was successful and the post was silenced.

On returning to the hotel I lost contact with Major Orme, at this point were bout 120 SSR and Camerons, including one loan officer. I organized the men in order to move down to the central part of the beach where the ALCs were coming in. It was necessary to silence a bren gun which was firing across our point. I sent a Cameron Sgt. to do this. We then laid down a heavy smoke screen to our right and rear and the entire body moved off at the double until we made the beach. As I reached the beach I saw Col. Merritt who wished me luck. On reaching the beach we had to swim about 400 to 600 yds through water riddled with MG and sniper bullets, and mortar bombs. The major part of my Pl succeeded in reaching the ALCs, and finally a destroyer. We landed at Portsmouth at 0130 hrs 20 Aug 42.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12666, L/CPL. WETSCH, J.

We landed on the beach at approximately 0500 hrs in an orderly manner. They were firing tracer at us, but concentrating on the ALCs. While they were doing this we made our way along the sea wall. They seemed to be firing a lot at the RAF so we did not have much opposition, just the odd sniper taking a pot shot at us. We carried on to our objective which was a large MT shed. When we arrived it was unoccupied so we consolidated up the field a few hundred yds and took up a firing posn. We sent out a fighting patrol to see if we could find more of the enemy. About 1000 hrs we noticed the enemy coming down the side of the hedge, we immediately opened fire on them and they all dropped on their knees and started to crawl. Apparently they could not see us because they did not fire a shot. They then organized, and started to spread out, some going to our left and some to our right. We then saw that we could not hold them off much longer, and we had the order to withdraw, as soon as we got up they opened up and give all they had with their automatic weapons. We had two casualties, one was on the hill, and one was our Pl Comd. We carried right on to the beach while our brens were giving us covering fire. When we reached the beach they had it covered with mortar fire. We had to wait for a half hour or so for the ALCs to come in. When the ALC came in they opened up with the mortars on them. The boys all split up and took for the water. That is where the most of our casualties were. The ALC took us to the destroyer, and went back for more of the boys. While we were on the destroyer we were machine gunned, and the Navy boys got hit. They also were dive bombing but the bombs all seemed to drop too short.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID WITH REGARDS TO MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS BY CAPT. F.W. HAYTOR.

Personnel taken on raid - 20 stretcher bearers and one batman to help at R.A.F. These were divided up, four SBs to A., B., C., D. Coys and two to HQ Coy. The medical Sgt. one Cpl. and batmen remaining with me at BHQ.

Equipment - Twelve stretcher plus four Neal Robertson stretchers were taken. One stretcher for each 2 SBs. Three stretchers at R.A.P., and the remainder at beach to be picked up later and used. One blanket rolled on each stretcher. Each SB had his first aid haversack with 12 shell dressings plus triangular bandages, qentian Violet Jelly, syrettes, sulphonilamide powder.

The RAP equipment was carried in large packs, the instruments being divided fairly evenly the Sgt., Cpl. and myself so that if anything happened to cause the loss of one or two of the packs, there would still be enough left to carry on with.

Landing on the beach was silent and successful. One SB casualty at that time with compound fracture of left leg - L-13126, Pte. Sherratt, J.W.

The RAP established itself automatically in a small grassy plot with embankments 6 or seven feet high on three sides and a house on the remaining side. A number of casualties who had received their injuries at or near this plot were placed by the embankment for protection and treated there. Thereafter casualties were taken into a garage built into a field at the end of the house, and also a number, mostly Camerons of Canada received their treatment in a small shed immediately north of the house across a narrow road.

It was obvious that the field ambulance - should it land - would be unable to send vehicles to that location because of enemy fire. Therefore all casualties, after receiving treatment, were evacuated by stretcher, or walking, to the beach and placed on the beach by the sea wall which helped to protect them from enemy fire. Evacuation across the beach was carried out by SBs and any other personnel who was able to help carry a man, timed to get across the beach and reach the waters edge at the same time as the ALC arrived. This was done under very heavy machine gun and mortar fire. The majority of those wounded during the crossing of the beach and to be left to look after themselves as it was suicide to try and stop and care for them. Many were wounded after embarking on the ALCs and were attended by their companions.

Great praise is due to the stretcher bearers for their work and attention to wounded during the raid, working under heavy fire and crossing areas without cover to attend the wounded and carry them back to the beach. Many casualties who did not need further attention were cleared directly to the beach and those who were brought in to me at the RAP., had already received excellent care.

The majority of casualties among the stretcher bearers were received while carrying wounded across the beach to the ALCs. Some SBs making repeated trips.

Two others who helped evacuate casualties from the RAP and rendered very valuable assistance were Capt. Brown, Canadian Chaplain Service - Attached to Camerons of Canada, and a Sgt. of the US Rangers, name unknown to me.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That SBs be issued with pistols and a few rounds of amn for self-protection only, as the complaint of the SBs was of the weight, awkwardness and general hinderance to their work of their rifles and loaded bullet pouches. Most of their rifles were either discarded early or left at the RAP to be picked up before evacuating to the beach.

2. That containers for sulphonilamide powder with duster top covered by unperforated top be issued for use of each SB. I had issued the powder to the SBs in first field card envelopes and it was not used to the extent it should have been, either by the SBs or in the RAP. I believe mostly due to the extra time it would take to unfold the envelope and dust on the powder when there were numerous other casualties around requiring immediate attention. I think anything which might help to increase speed in applying this very valuable drug to wounds would be in order.

3. Stretcher Slings were used very little. Most of the SBs had togal ropes to use as stretcher slings but they were rather short for the purpose. I would recommend that two stretcher slings per stretcher be issued where a two man carry is adopted in order to carry the weight more across the shoulders and less on the arms.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY LIEUT. EDMONDSON "D" COY

We landed on the beach at Pourville, France, 10 Pl left, 17 Pl centre, and 16 Pl on the right. Scaled seawall. All Pls immediately passed through houses onto main road moving to left was Major McTavish with Pte. Grant. Runners were the first to cross bridge, 16 Pl 3 Sec., 18 Pl I Sec., 17 Pl followed by crossing bridge or swimming river. At this time we were help up by heavy mortar and MG fire. By rushing, swimming and raft the remainder of the Coy crossed the river. Suffering a number of casualties, we assisted "B" Coy with our own mortar and smoke before crossing bridge. Mr. Edmondson called out for Arty fire on pillboxes and contacted OC and Coy HQ, then went on to pill boxes and crossed to right up hill to objective. Were running up by heavy MG and mortar fire. Three Camerons officers contacted us and threw in their lot with us. Major McTavish ordered attack on right flank. Attack were repulsed through heavy mortar and MG fire. We then held defensive posn to cover withdrawals of coys. On our own withdrawals we lost three men. Major McTavish and remainder returned to pill boxes took position and held on there for a considerable time. We then withdrew to beach, took up positions with brens under the top of cliff left flank and kept covering fire for all men who returned to beach and then waited for ALCs to pick us up.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY SGT. WILLIAMS, "D" COY

After we crossed the bridge we turned right followed road for 500 yds. Consolidated with some C. of C. and "A" Coy. Made our way over road, up hill and reached our objective. We killed several Germans and were later forced to withdraw and fought a rearguard action suffering light casualties. We withdrew to road and took up firing position, and every one went through to beach except five men who kept cover while beaching. We then withdrew to ALC under heavy fire at all times.

REPORT ON DIEPPE BY LIEUT. J.R. NESBITT

We landed at dawn, rushed off the boats and up to the Sea Wall, put our ladder up and cut the barbed wire on top and over. All of my Pl got over the wall safely. We collected close to a building by the Sea Wall to get organized. It was then that the enemy opened up with MG fire as we started off for our objective, which was on the left. One section and myself got into a courtyard on the near side of the bridge and were held up by MG fire covering the bridge from the pillbox on the hill. We sent back word that we were being held up. The Col. came up and made a dash across the road to another courtyard when he made a dash to a low field and got in position beside some buildings that were burning. By this time the Pill box has been wiped out and I took my men up the hill to Mop up. We got into a field with high banks around it, on the enemies side. There were quite a few troops there ahead of us, they were waiting for the navy to shell a strong point, but apparently they were unable to do this.

We decided to split our forces and attack from two sides at once. The enemy had a mtr and MG nest on the left side and there was no chance to get up there, that way, without being completely wiped out. We had to retire as he was getting our range with mtr fire. We then got word to retire and fight a rearguard action until such time as the boats could get us off the beach. I took some men and took up a position along the road which we had come up on and stayed there until about 1100 hrs then went down to the beach. We had to wait for quite a while for the boats to come in and all the time we were being sniped at, machine gunned and shelled by mtr. There were a lot of casualties here. When we got on the boats we were attacked from the air several times and some more were wounded. We arrived back in port about 0230 hrs.

REPORT ON DIEPPE BY L - 13416, PTE. KROHN, J.

Having everything pre-arranged upon Wednesday at 1300 hrs we embussed on our scheme with the impression that it was just another scheme, but upon arriving in a port town we definitely realized that this was at last the reality. The voyage on the transpor boat was uneventful. We were very fortunate to be able to transfer into an ALC and land upon the beach undetected by enemy guards, we were not fired on until we had made quite a considerable opening through the wire entanglement. At that moment our ALC was under fire, it moved into reverse at full speed and was gone safely out of range. L/Cpl. Chilton cut the wire, Bud Evenden rolled it out of the way and I set the ladder up against the wall. We scaled the Wall and the rest of 16 Pl followed suit. The main street was easy to be seen; we dashed for it and turned left to cross the bridge. L/Cpl. Chilton, Evenden, Carswell, Pickford and myself were fired upon when we reached half way across, Chilton, Evenden and Pickford made a mad dash for the other side, Carswell was wounded together with two other boys beside me. It was too late for us to be able to make the dash. One more boy fell right beside me, so I flattened out, rolled myself over the side, into the Canal at the same time dragging one of the boys with me. The bridge was under heavy fire by this time. The rest of the company had to wade the Canal. By this time our 3" mtr came into action giving us a smoke screen, 2 Pl and part of 17 Pl came across through it and established Anti-tank fire upon the pill box directly ahead of us against the side of the hill. This fire was lucky enough to disable the Pill-Box. All of "D" Coy was concentrated upon by enemy fire, mtr and MG fire was very heavily directed upon us at our positions among the few buildings on the other side of the bridge. We were forced to move from one posn after another. There mortar landed twice within six feet of me, so I realized it was too hot here so Charlie Harden, Sandy Edwards, H.E. Edwards, and myself (No. 2 on the mortar) made a dash for the hill. L/Cpl. Chilton and Pickford were just ahead of us, having gone upon the high cliffs. We searched the sleeping quarters of the pill box and found a German under the bed very much alive. We had intention of shooting him but were held back by an officer so Wostradowski, and myself were left in charge of him for the time being. By this time part of 18 Pl was up the hill having followed the sunken road leading up to the hill top. It was 9 o'clock by this time and the O.C. gave us an order to prepare for to retire. I came down off the hill and helped carry wounded down to the beach. I made seven trips back and forth to the beach and only had the same stretcher bearer, for two trips the rest having been shot on me. It was half past twelve by the time we were prepared to receive the ALC. The navy laid a heavy smoke screen and sent out their ALC at 11 o'clock but met such heavy fire they had to retire from our beach. The Camerons and the Calgary Highlanders were lucky enough to be loaded under that first screen. Things looked very heart breaking, Enemy machine gun firing upon us on the beach, every half minute, boys passed away, blood everywhere, everybody took it wonderfully and always thought of someone else and never of himself. I made a scout of the whole beach to try to find Tone and Giroux, but to no avail. It was one o'clock and the last of the ALCs were in being loaded. Bud Evenden, L/Cpl. Chilton and myself proceeded towards one at high port, Chilton was badly wounded so we had to have carry him. The ALC had come too close to the shore and upon turning around it grounded in the sand. Those of us that could, pushed and heaved to push her off. It took all of twenty minutes to get her free. Fire was heavily laid down by Ack Ack and artillery on our small craft we got it free eventually and then I climbed on deck. Chilton and Bud were laying there on deck so I started to drag Chilton under cover, he received an Ack Ack shell in the stomach and a moment later another in the hip. Evenden, received a wound in the head, but I managed to get them under cover. Chilton died a few moments later. While this happened our boat was riddled by bullets and started to leak badly. The sailor flagged for a M.T. to come to our rescue. We were only half way out when we were told to swim for the M.T. So I stripped and swam for it. The rest of the boys were transferred on to the MT. I was given a good drink of rum and this was god sent, it gave me more strength. I spent three hrs dressing wounded. The destroyer did not leave for port until 0430 hrs. Half the crew was killed or wounded by 5 o'clock. I volunteered to load Pom Poms and did this for 5 hrs. Then I was taken to a reception camp and had a drink of rum I was cold and quite shell shocked by this time. I had a good sleep and back to camp. Back but, how I came out unwounded is a mystery.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 13504, L/CPL. BERTHELOT, G.B.

We landed on the beach just before dawn, under heavy MG fire most of which went over our head. We then dashed over the sea wall and along the front of the hotel, worked our way around to the left side and the back clearing the hotel of its occupants which were one MG crew and the rest forced French Labourers. We then advanced to our second objective, our A/Pl Comd, Sgt. Long, in the lead. He was wounded as soon as he went over the crest of the hill. The Pl Sgt then took command, but he was uncertain of what to do, we wasted a few minutes of very precious time, I thought if we do not do something very soon we would soon all be dead, as we were all in a pretty compact bunch we would have all been wiped out with a mortar bomb. I called Pte. Haggard and told him we should advance, one section on the right and two sections on the left. There was no logical spot to leave a stop section at the time. We gave the pl Sgt our idea and he agreed, so we advanced. We then cleared the mens quarters, killing the officers and several other ranks, who tried to escape towards the weapon pits. The quarters were then between us and the pits.

Haggard then took command of the two sections on the left, Cpl. Mathieson, the right section. Cpl. Mathieson proceeded around to the right with his section. Haggard detailed me to give cover fire from around the corner of the house with my bren gun, he took his two sections along a sunken road in behind the German pits, exchanging shot for shot with the Germans in the pits, getting no place and wasting a lot of time. Haggard then called me over to where they were. When I got there, there was our Pl Sgt in the deepest part of the road, hollering at the boys to advance and charge the Germans in the pits. No one wanted to start out, so I took my bren shooting from the hip, and advanced into the pit area shooting almost directly straight down in the pits as I went along. Soon after I started advancing across up comes Cpl. Mathieson from the opposite side firing his Tommy Gun from the hip. A few of the boys then dashed in from both sides and threw hand grenades into the pits. In about 15 minutes, time, from the time I walked out with my bren, we had about twenty dead Germans and 30 prisoners on our hands. Two men escorted the prisoners to BHQ.

The Pl consolidated on top of the hill, Lieut. Wells, myself and H. MacDonald cleared the houses in the vicinity of the Germans positions we had just captured. Shortly after that we withdrew to the beach, there L/Cpl. Hart, myself, and four other men were detailed to a posn to the left of Green Beach to act as a rearguard. We remained there until all the men had been evacuated and then we made for the ALC, four of us arriving safely.

The six of us were L/Cpl. Hart, Pte. Davies, Pte. Pool, Pte. Poitras, J.G., Pte. Prebushewski, and myself.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY CAPT. G.B. BUCHANAN, ADJUTANT.

"On Aug 19 at 0450 hrs the South Saskatchewan Regiment landed on the beach at Pourville, 2 miles west of Dieppe. We were proud to be the first Canadian troops to step on German-held ground and every man was "rarin" to go".

As our small boats crept into the shore we could see lights shining in some windows and smoke curling from a few chimneys. We thought how peaceful it was and how soon we would disturb this quiet seaside town by rifle and gun-fire. Except for the grim and determined look on these prairie lads faces, one would think it was just another exercise and a white-armed umpire was going to appear and tell us to make it look real. But this was the real thing and we all knew it. In a few seconds we would be tearing those Jerries with all the pent-up feelings we had saved in two and a half years of hard training.

With a sudden increase of speed and then the scrape of gravel, and the ramps of the craft fell down and out we ran onto German soil. In no time the skies were flashing with tracer bullets and flares. One chap was heard to remark, "gee, this is better than 1st July". Over the sea wall and into the town we went, each coy going full out to their planned objectives. It was soon apparent that the German posts were fully manned and we were going to have a grand fight on our hands. All hell seemed to let loose, not for a second did anyone hesitate, in they went, with yells and many a wise-crack like: "God, those Heinies are using live bullets" and "Hey, where's the umpire", "I shot that guy and he won't let me go ahead, "Nice place for a 48 hrs leave".

A nasty hidden 4" mortar and a light artillery gun were making the town echo with their continuous explosions. The road and bridge was under constant fire, which threatened to hold up the show and also cut off some of the boys across the river.

Col. Merritt, our husky C.O. saw the situation, he took off his tin hat and twirling it, for all the world like a boy with his school books, sauntered across the bridge calling back, "Come on, boys, they can't hit a thing, come on, lets go and get 'em, and they did.

And again later at another place, a pill box was causing trouble and the C.O. walked brazenly up to it and put it out of action with bombs. And again, on the withdrawal, when two Jerry machine-guns were hitting the boys on the beach, this one-man army of ours, accompanied by Major Orme of Weyburn and Pte. Kitchen of Regina, climbed a cliff and ended the war for those Jerries.

All day long this C.O. of ours was inspirational to the boys with his daring and leadership, and his name will always be honoured in this regiment.

On the other side of the bridge Pte. Charlie Sawden of Consul, Saskatchewan saw his section being in danger of complete extermination from a pill-box, he took his grenades, and stood up in the road and walked right up to the strong point, and tossed in his bombs, he killed seven heinies in that post.

At another spot a platoon of Germans with four machine guns and a mortar were holding a hill, which Pte. Berthelot of Regina, and his platoon were trying to take. Berthelot took the war into his own hands and with a bren gun, firing from the hip, advanced across the open ground, under cover fire from his platoon. He went up the hill single handed and wiped out that post single-handed, with a score of twenty-five Jerries dead and 30 prisoners. At the same time Cpl. Scotty Machieson of Broddock, Sask., with a Tommy gun advanced on a second post a few yards away and repeated the scene with more scalps for their score.

Back at BHQ., the stretcher bearers and Captain Frank Rayter of Alameda, Sask. were performing their duties under the most trying conditions, treating German and Canuck wounded to the best of their skill.

Major Jim McRae of Weyburn was kept busy moving BHQ from place to place, he was gifted with a sixth sense, every time we moved the previous spot was bombed out. He controlled the battle at HQ and the withdrawal to the beaches, as only an old and skilled soldier can.

Another old sweat, from the 1914 show, Cpl. Joe Gregory of Swift Current, performed many feats of bravery and skill at arms during the hectic morning. Many such tales could be told of this tough bunch of prairie fighting men, but time will not permit.

When the withdrawal started Major Orme of Weyburn and his Coy fought a grand rear guard action against a whole Battalion of enemy reinforcements.

On the beaches we had our worst moments, the tide was low and just starting to come in, several craft had come in too close to shore and beached on the sand and could not be moved, thus we had a long stretch of beach and a long stretch of water to cover, to get to our craft which stayed out in five feet of water. This whole space was under constant and heavy fire from adjoining cliffs, and no words of mine can describe the sheer display of courage and bravery that dominated that half hour of hell. Our stretcher bearers repeatedly carried wounded out to those boats and come back for more. Many of the lads in hospital owe their lives today, to the stretcher bearers coolness and guts.

And the Navy chaps can not be forgotten, again and again they came in for us, through that curtain of lead and steel, to take us out to larger boats outside. But, at last, the ordeal was over and as the last craft left the shore, we saw the fellows who had to stay behind waving us on and still keeping the Jerries away from the sea wall.

We put out to sea in a large convoy, protected by the Royal Navy and hundreds of spitfires, who were having the time of their lives, chasing the Hun all over the skies. The long journey back was cold and wet, but we didn't mind, we had had our first baptism of fire and come through it with flying colours flying, our only regrets were to the lads we had to leave behind on that beach at Pourville, all we want is another crack at Jerry and we will more than square their account and some day we will march right into Berlin and meet them again.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L/CPL. LEGROULX, E.J.

We beached at Pourville and our pl were not under fire till we were a few blocks into the town, here we encountered an MG firing from a window. All took very good cover, and it was soon knocked out by fire. It was quite dark because of the wooded country, so we advanced cautiously. We went through a bush and here lost contact with other sections and Pl HQ. for quite some time. The reason for that is the noise of big guns which made it hard for the section comds commands to be heard and understood. We were on our own so we advanced towards our objective and encountered a machine gun post on the beach or the bridge in the town. Their amn seemed to be smokeless so could not be seen from the front. We threw a few grenades to demolish the guns, and made our way to our last objective and consolidated. We met another section there, and sent word to the third section, and P1 HQ., that we had reached our consolidation area. We kept sniping at MG posts at the bottom of the hill. Being open ground all around us we could not chance a direct assault. However our sniping must have taken effect because the fire ceased there and a few direct hits by 2" mortar put paid to that place. It was then time to retire and no opposition was met and was uneventful. When we reached the town we met some French civilians, and I, being able to speak French, asked a few questions. They did not seem to mind the shelling by the four inch mortar by the Germans, and they wanted us to hurry back on the second front so they could help us. From there we made an orderly withdrawal to the beach where a few boys got nervous, but not histerical. We helped some of the wounded on to the ALCs, the 4" mortar was getting real close. It seemed impossible to find where it was coming from. We made the destroyer, and then the planes were our only menace but our RAF looked after them. We reached a British port and there we were well taken care of.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12570, PTE. ROBERTS, W.

After landing on the beach we ran directly to cover of some buildings. A machine gun fired on us from here. We went up the street until we met a German officer, so we took him prisoner. From there we went to the top of the hill with little opposition, and there we came upon an MG nest at the bottom of the hill. It could be seen but we could not get at it. We were about 500 yds away from it so fired on it with rifles and A/Tk, for we could not get at it with mortar. By ten o'clock it was silent. About 1100 hrs we started back and reached the bottom of the hill safely. We waited at the bottom for orders from the Col. to go to the boats. He sent us in gps to the ALCs, I got back okay, but their mortars and machine guns held us up a lot.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY CPL. MADGE, L.

The Navy landed us on the beach at Pourville at exactly 0450 hrs. Five section, which I was in, was the first to land. We went through an opening in the sea wall, and encountered opposition. Every one was very calm and we beat down the enemy fire and caused casualties. We advanced up the street, and captured a prisoner. We lost contact with our other two sections for a short time. We were going down the street when we ran into a French civilian, one of our fellows could speak French so we found out where some enemy posns were. We advanced along the road close to the river and ran into an enemy posn. We had one casualty there and found out when advancing give yourself good covering fire and then you are quite safe. The enemy posns are well camouflaged and even with glasses are hard to find. We reached our last objective about 0930 hrs and encountered heavy opposition but we were in a well concealed posn and managed to silence their guns. We lost contact with Pl HQ and the Camerons came through us so our Pl officer advised withdrawal. On arrival at BHQ we were talking to some French people and they were all for us. This was about 1130 hrs when the Camerons started for the ALCs and we covered the withdrawal. We found that Jerry had a very good mortar and could lay it down where he wanted it. We used our A/TK rifle to good purpose in knocking out an MG post where our rifles would not touch it, so we advanced under cover of the A/Tk.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12549, L/CPL. JAMES, F.C.

As our ALCs grounded we made ready to disembark. Upon landing we made for the sea wall and were hunting for a break in the wall for a place to go over when we were fired on from both flanks with heavy MG fire which as luck would have it were firing on fixed lines. The sealing ladders were placed at the walk and we proceeded over the top and against the hotel wall. Then we went around the left side of the hotel where we ran into MG fire. This was soon cleared out and we proceeded around the hotel to the alley in the back which by this time was packed with French and Belgian civilians who were soon calmed down. On the left was a high back up which we went in open formation and upon arriving at the top were confronted with a big two story white house which had some board signs out in front, which proclaimed it to be a German HQ of some kind. This house was cleared with hand grenades and we proceeded up the bank on the left of the house while the other two secs took the right side.

On going along a cement wall we were fired upon with MG fire which came through the wall, using the holes in the wall as peaholes, we threw eight hand grenades into the pit on the other side while the bren gun fired on another pit killing three Germans. After a short time the Germans came out with their hands up calling "Nix Cameroad". There were promptly disposed of and we proceeded out into the clearing with about six prisoners. These were questioned and with a little coaxing with the bayonet called their remaining men out of some other dugouts. These were searched and sent back to BHQ under escort. So far we had 12 prisoners, two German officers killed and about 25 other ranks, four German MGs, some trench mortar, and an unknown number of rifles and automatic weapons were secured in the last engagement. We then proceeded out into open formation towards a large ravine. On arriving at this a sniper picked off one of our men on the right flank killing him and wounding the Cpl. of No. two section. Two of us crawled forward and hauled him back into shelter, and he was carried back to Pl HQ. In the meantime, we found out we had gone too far and we came back to the house and consolidated about 50 yds in front of it. During our stay I noticed, on going through the house, that all beds were equipped with white sheets and that all the men had small packs about the size of our haversacks which were lined with fur of some kind, and were used for carrying their writing material of some kind. After being consolidated for about four hours we received the order to withdraw to the beach, which we did on the double, going back the same way we came. On arriving at the beach we took firing posns along the promenade and waited for the ALCs to come in, in the meantime we were under heavy 4" mortar fire. The ALCs came in and we proceeded into them under heavy MG fire and mortar fire. After some trouble in getting out we went on our way to the nearest gun boat.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 12225, PTE. CLARKE, E.A.

In the early morning of 19 Aug 42 we prepared to land on the French coast. Immediately on landing our pl lined the sea wall which did not come under fire at that time. It dawned on me that the Germans had fixed lines of fire, and we were safe for the time being at the foot of the sea wall. The barbs on the barbed wire were about an inch long and were curved like a fish hook. A ladder was placed on the wall, we went over the wall, across the promenade, and took shelter along what appeared to be an old deserted house. We had planned to go to the right of the building but found we could not, so made a dash along the left side which meant going out in the main street. The street ran straight up from the beach into town. MG fire was heavy, we left the street, and went along the town side of the building, we moved along from shelter to shelter. An NCO threw an incendiary into a building, it burned slowly, and several Frenchmen came out, they were dressed in blue denim shirts and trousers, and some carried what appeared to be lunches, they were rather panicky and ran gibbering and waving their hands above their heads. In the vicinity on our left was a house and on the veranda of the second story appeared French women. These women were crying and they were quieted by the words of a French Canadian. We continued up the side of a bush covered hill and word came that the Jerries were there. We advanced further until we noticed a brick house with a lawn in front surrounded on the front and left side by a hedge and back of that a bush. In that bush was our pl. We assaulted houses with heavy rifle and MG fire, supported by hand grenades. We went past the house, throwing a few more hand grenades, then down the road throwing grenades, into the main street. As we went up the road a brick wall lined each side and a side road which was heavily defended with barbed wire joined this road on this side. An enemy mortar was at the end of the road, but we fired on it and destroyed it. The Jerries appeared surprised and rather snivelling although several of the larger sullen looking creatures still had that arogant look which made me want to pull the trigger. This party was marched to Coy HQ. The remainder of us went to consolidate our position, along the crest of the hill one of the men was killed. We had achieved our objective. I was in a slit trench and saw the "R" boats come in to the beach they were under heavy fire from the flanks. About 0930 hrs we moved back to a better location, and took positions. At 1015 hrs we passed down a road strewn with German dead (returning to town). On reaching the promenade we came under heavy fire from the German 4" and 6" mortar. We suffered casualties there but the Navy silenced the 6" gun. The Camerons were to go first, the SSR to follow. Some of us remained laying around the hedge of the hotel where BHQ carried on. In the meantime German MGs and snipers were firing from the roofs and other unseen places. The word to reembark was given and we made for the ALCs. Dead were strewn along the beach.

I believe the raid to have been a success but would have been more successful with more air support.

REPORT ON DIEPPE RAID BY L - 13405, CPL. DEVINE, H.W.

We landed on the beach at the appointed time, it was to be a quiet landing but the enemy seemed to know we were landed, at least there were a lot of tracers bouncing around. The beach itself was poorly covered with fire, we had no casualties until we were well clear of the beach. There was a wall about eight feet high covered with barbed wire, but this obstacle was soon passed and we started down a narrow road towards our objective. We met with no opposition except the odd sniper but it was still dusk, and impossible to do accurate shooting, so we passed them and left them to the pl behind us. We reached our objective, which was a large M.T. shed which proved to be empty so we consolidated about three hundred yards beyond. At this time we were over a mile inland and had not lost a man. It took the enemy about two hours to organize an attack on us. We opened up on them at about five hundred yds but the attack came on and we were ordered to withdraw.

We reached the beach and there we got our first taste of the German mortar, it seemed to be a very accurate weapon, but has a very small bursting range, we took up posns and the other Bns withdrew to the ALCs. By the time they were away and we started back, the enemy was sweeping the beach with MGs, and the ALCs could not get in very close. We suffered most of our casualties here, but a surprisingly large number of us made it. We were put on destroyers and apart from the dive bombers the excitement was over for us. We disembarked at a British port about ten hours later, pretty well done in but satisfied.

REPORT ON DIEPPE BY L/SGT. COLDWELL, J.W.

As we neared the coast of France we could see a battle going on on our left. All was quiet at the spot where "D" Coy had to land. When we hit the beach the enemy still held their fire, we came in contact with a wall which was about 10 ft high and had barbed wire on top. We had ladders in which we climbed the wall with and cut the wire on top with our cutters. As soon as we got over the wall we met MG fire which was very heavy. We worked our way through to the road where we were held up by MG fire. We used our smoke and made our way over the bridge, we suffered a number of casualties on the bridge. We reached the pillbox but the enemy had the range on us with his mortar. Some of our men climbed the cliff to give us covering fire while some went down the sunken road where we came in contact with Major MacTavish and Coy H.Q. with them were a number of Camerons. From here we planned to give covering fire while the Camerons attacked on the right flank but the enemy was too strong however we held our positions. At this point we captured two prisoners and also suffered a few casualties. At this point Pte. Fenner was wounded very badly being shot in both legs while engaging the enemy in Bren Gun fire, which he was doing very effectively. We dragged him down the hill on his back where we dressed his wounds as best we could and had him taken to the RAF where I learned later that he swam one half a mile to the ALC. From our position at the sunken road we got the word to evacuate the wounded and knew then that it would not be long before we withdrew. We dashed back to the pill box and trenches for cover as we gave covering fire. We finally got to the beach and it was here that we met with the most of our casualties. On the beach we were under every kind of fire, from the air, dive bombed, mtr and MG. Our air force and navy were excellent and too much praise cannot be given them. One of our destroyers was sunk.

REPORT ON DIEPPE BY L - 13191, L/CPL. MCKENZIE, H.

It was still dark when our assault boat hit the beach, everything was quiet. There was ACK ACK fire going up as our planes were already overhead, we crossed the beach with little difficulty and with the aid of ladders and wire cutters got over the wall and well into town before we were fired on, which was at the concrete bridge at the river. The bridge was covered with fire from the hill to the left and made it very hard for us to get across. Some of our boys got over the bridge some swam the river. I for one had a tough time swimming the river as my equipment dragged me down as we crossed the river. I heard mtr fire for the first time. We passed a pill box that had already been cleared also some enemy machine guns which we fired back at him. The chief worry was the MG firing from the top of the hill. Their trenches are well concealed and are hard to locate. Two of our boys circled a trench while we were firing into it until it was cleaned but the enemy came up a little ways back and wiped out quite a few of us. We were warned not to advance as the field was mined. We had 3 smoke grenades to get back to the beach with. I found a Bren gun and was giving covering fire until I ran out of ammunition, soon the ALC came up and we got aboard and came out OK after some shelling from the air. The navy brought down quite a few enemy planes.

REPORT ON LIEUT. W.G. CUNNINGHAM.

On operation "Jubilee" I met Lieut. Cunningham at B.H.Q. on the final evacuation on the beaches. An L.M.G. post on the cliff at the end of the beach was killing a lot of men and causing confusion. Repeated attempts to silence the post were only momentarily successful. Lt-Col. Merritt called for volunteers to climb the cliff with him to wipe out the post. Lieut. Cunningham called to members of his Pl to follow him, and he led them off behind Col. Merritt. At this stage Cunningham was walking with difficulty and suffering from his wounds. The attempt at the cliff face proved too formidable and the party were forced to return. This officer collected his Pl together and led them down to the sea wall and when last seen was standing on the top of it directing the descent of his men.

Lieut. Cunningham showed great skill in handling his Pl on the attack and the withdrawal. His objective was an enemy wired-in position one mile inland. He reached this position and engaged the enemy who were about one Coy in strength. It was during this encounter that he was wounded in several places by schrapnel.