My longest night
WWII veteran Derek St Clair Stannard recalls the ‘Dieppe Raid’
At sunset on Tuesday, 18 August, 1942, a small convoy of five Dutch motor vessels with a German escort of submarine chasers slipped out of Boulogne harbour and hugged the French coast westwards, the better to avoid radar detection.
Two hours later, some 10 miles off Dieppe, the distant thud of engines was heard. Star shells were fired lighting up the sky and exposing a huge fleet of landing craft. The German escorted convoy had blundered into the Dieppe Raid…
After the German invasion of their country in June 1941, the Russians had been calling for the Allies to open a second front and so create a diversion. As a result, plans for a raid on the French coast were drawn up; and Dieppe was chosen as the target. The objectives included the destruction of enemy defences, radar installations, power stations, docks and railroads.
The Force chosen to mount the attack consisted mainly of Canadian troops. By early August 1942, plans for the Raid – code named ‘Jubilee’ – were complete. The total Army force numbered 6,106, of whom the Canadians provided 306 officers and 4,658 other ranks.
I sailed in HMS Queen Emma from Portsmouth at about 9pm.
Just before 3am on 19 August, 10 miles off Dieppe, units of the Royal Regiment of Canada were embarked in LCAs (landing craft, assault) including 100 in the larger LCM (landing craft, mechanised) and we headed for Blue Beach - a destination off the small village of Puys.
As we neared the Puys beach, the invasion craft came under heavy fire after recognition signals from the Dieppe harbour mole were unanswered. I touched down with the first wave of landing craft at 5.07am, some 17 minutes late. The sun was up by then and as we lowered our ramp we became a target and were shot at in broad daylight. The Canadian troops onboard charged out bravely, but many were felled by enemy machine gun fire. Those who managed to make some headway came up against a 12-foot high sea wall, some 50 metres from the water’s edge at high tide. Trapped, as they became, they were either killed or wounded.
After the landing, I pulled out with a kedge anchor and sped away to await further orders. In the event, we milled around for quite a time not knowing what to do next. I then decided to try my luck and go back in and endeavour to rescue some of the stricken troops. I came under heavy fire and soon realised my mission was an impossible one.
I learned next that a complete withdrawal had been ordered. We made our way northwards for home but I lost touch with the LCA convoy and sailed independently across the Channel to Newhaven.
Of the 26 officers and 529 other ranks landed at Puys only two officers and 63 other ranks made it back. All told, 907 Canadians were killed, 2,460 were wounded or captured – 65 per cent of the total Canadian Force.
Very early next morning, after I had had some sleep, I ventured to telephone home. My sister answered and I explained I had just returned from Dieppe.
Yawning heavily, she said: “Really? I know it well. Did you have a good time?”
By Sub-Lieutenant D St Clair-Stannard, RNVR, who was 23 at the time of the Raid.
