Teachers and Students of Grant Road School:
Today I am going to tell you about my 28th birthday on August 19, 1942. I wasn't always 76 years old with a 40 inch waistline, once I was 28 years old with a 28 inch waistline. I joined the army in March, 1940 and started my training in Weyburn then to Camp Shilo and then down to Toronto where we lived in the horse barns at the Exhibition Grounds. By December of that year, I was on my way to England. We landed in Scotland on Christmas day and had our Christmas dinner on the train. It consisted of Bully Beef and hard tack biscuits.
Our training in England was done mostly on the south coast. At that time, it was expected that the Germans would invade England on the southern coast. Our training was very tough commando train which consisted of hand-to-hand combat, cliff climbing and practicing landings with the Navy who always seemed to land us short of the shore. This left us soaked and our uniforms took some time before they dried out.
I was also sent on different courses, such as aircraft recognition, more commando courses, N.C.O.s course. This was all leading up to the time when I would have to lead men into action.
In 1942, we were beginning to think that there had to be a reason for this. It was a lead-up to our baptism of fire. This was the Dieppe Raid. Originally, this was to have taken place on July 4, 1942, however on that date, the English Channel was so rough that it was impossible to go. All troops that were to have taken part were all returned to their camps in England. Rather disappointing.
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On August 18, our unit, the South Saskatchewan Regiment, was ordered out on a scheme. We were loaded into our trucks and later that day, found ourselves on board ship.
Everyone seemed quite excited about the task of meeting the Germans. The troops taking part on this raid were of the 2nd Division of the Canadian Army, plus British Commando, the Royal Navy and Air Force. The purpose was to gain information about German defences and radar as a preliminary to the full scale invasion when it happened.
The task of the S.S.R. was to land at the village of Pourville which is about two miles west of Dieppe. We landed on the beach on schedule at 4:50 A.M., however, we landed on the wrong side of the river Scie which we later had to cross.
My company was to get over the sea wall, which had barbed wire on top. Our platoon had a Bangalor torpedo which was to have blown the wire, however, this turned out to be a dud. So, we worked at cutting the wire, also men threw themselves on the wire and the other troops walked over them.
We finally were over the wall and tried to get organized. At this time, our officer in charge of the platoon told me that he was wounded in the foot and that I was to take charge of the platoon. We pushed on then as we hadn't come in close contact with the enemy. Our objective was to move through the village, capture Quatre Vents Farm and then meet up with the groups coming from Dieppe.
However, we still had to get across a bridge over the river. This bridge turned out to be heavily covered by German power fire. We were held at this point. There were dead men laying on the bridge. Our Colonel Merritt saw that his troops were being held up and quickly took the initiative. Waving his helmet, he called: "Come on boys, let's go get them". For this action in
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rallying his men and leading them forward in the face of intense fire, he was later awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award that can be given. I was right there with him as we crossed the bridge. What was left of my platoon was situated in a sunken road. There was nothing but a wide open field from there to the Quatre Vents Farm. My machine gunner, Private Fehner, started up to the Farm, firing his Bren gun from the hip. Suddenly, I saw Fehner stop and fall. He had been wounded. If he was left there, he most likely would be killed. I got one of my men and we crawled to where Fehner was lying, then each of us got hold of a leg and pulled him to safety. I am glad to say he got back to the beach and also back to England. After getting back to England, I recommended that he be awarded a citation. Private Fehner received the Military Medal.
We were finally able to pinpoint where some of this firing was coming from. The Germans had a single soldier dug in the ground with a cover he could open. We captured two of these men in this area. It was from this position that we were to start our withdrawal to the beaches. I told my men if they wished to get to the beach on their own to do so or they could follow me. They decided to stay together. By moving along and dropping down, we came again to the sea wall which we had to contend with again. Our hard training showed its worth as we didn't hesitate in jumping down those high cliffs.
Now we were down on the beach, the next problem was to get out to the boats. I saw boats that were full of troops, hit and suck by German guns, also with too many of our troops piling in and sinking the boats. At this time, the sea was red with blood.
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My watch was shot off my wrist as we were crossing the sea wall on our way out, but that was my only wound. I could see boats further out at sea and I decided then that we would have to reach one of these. I realized that I hadn't swum a stroke in my life, however, if I stayed and waited on the shore, I would never get out. I still had all my equipment and rifle. I slung my rifle over my back and stated out swimming, still dressed in full woollen uniform and my army boots. I still do not know how long it took or how I did it, but I do know that I finally grabbed onto a rope and was hauled into a boat.
From this small boat, I was transferred to the Headquarters Ship, H.M.S. Calpe. The battle was not over yet. This ship was headquarters for all the officers in charge of the raid. I was standing on the deck, talking over the events of the day with three other men when a German plane came close to dropping his bombs on the ship. When things had cleared away, one of the men I had been talking to was dead, one had a leg blown off and the third was injured in his arm. I did not receive any wound.
It must have been midnight by the time the ship landed in Newhaven, England. There are many who say that the raid was useless and a terrible loss of men, but I feel we gained valuable information which was used in the invasion two years later.
This is how I celebrated my 28th birthday. No cake or ice cream, but lots of fireworks. It is my earnest prayer that none of you will ever have to celebrate your birthday as I did.
Let us close with the Act of Remembrance. When I say:
"We will remember them", will you please repeat after me.