Three daggers, a bayonet, a bugle, an escape map and a Zippo lighter…

What do a First World War bugle, three Second World War daggers and a bayonet, a silk escape map and a Zippo lighter (not to mention a pile of badges and other insignia) have in common? They all belonged to my grandfather – Doc Alexander – and have been passed on to me via my uncle, Don, and his brother, my dad, Bob. It’s a veritable treasure trove and I’m really excited as I have the mate to two of the daggers and have never seen the other two, one of which is a German bayonet. My grandfather did not play the bugle during the First World War. He was in a mortar unit and then served as a stretcher bearer, but somehow, he came to have this beautiful, but very battered bugle in his possession. Along with all of that is a King’s Own Calgary Regiment Zippo lighter from 1950 that has obviously been well used. I’m not a smoker, never have been, but there is something about flicking a Zippo lighter open and closed. It’s incredibly satisfying, especially knowing that my grandfather would have done the same thing with it. The silk escape map is of Germany and some of the badges would have been on his uniforms at different times during the war. The two white rams lying on the escape map can be seen in a photograph of my grandfather taken in his Regimental Aid Post in Seaford, England early on in the war. The rams were early insignia of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. I’m a pack rat by nature and I love old objects, so I’m thrilled to have this little treasure trove of my grandfather’s fall into my lap and many thanks to my uncle for passing it on to me!

Commando daggers and a German bayonet (front).

Doc Alexander’s name emblazoned on one of the commando daggers.

The treasure trove, including the First World War bugle and the armoured corps white ram badges.

Doc Alexander’s King’s Own Calgary Regiment Zippo lighter, 1950.

First World War bugle.

Doc Alexander in his Regimental Aid Post. Note the white ram badge on his arm.

Lost, and found, photographs of the Vietnam War.

Staff Sergeant Edgar D. Bledsoe, of Olive Branch, Ill., cradles a critically ill Vietnamese infant. The child was brought to Fire Support Base Pershing. This image, with this caption, was originally published in Vol. 3 No. 53 of Tropic Lightning News, December 30, 1968. # – See more at: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2013/03/a_soldiers_eye_rediscovered_pi.html#sthash.QxUNE0Ka.dpuf

There’s a remarkable set of photographs making the rounds online these days. If you haven’t seen them, they’re worth a look. They’ve been hidden for the past 45 years and have only recently seen the light of day. Vietnam war rifleman and amateur photographer Charlie Haughey was given the task of taking photographs meant to improve morale – a very different role from photojournalists or combat photographers covering that war. Given that his approach was different, so too are his photographs. Many of his photographs show the human side of the American soldiers. It’s nice counterpoint to the iconic images from the Vietnam War, all of which are heartbreaking. Charlie’s photographs is a reminder, much like my grandfather’s Second World War journals, that beyond the stereotypes, the news or the history, there are real people involved in these wars.

Remembrance at its best

Imagine over 100,000 people gathered along a parade route to celebrate and honour Canadian veterans of the Second World War? That’s exactly what happened in Apeldoorn, a beautiful city in the Netherlands, on May 8, 2005 during the National Veterans Parade. This parade marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi Germany. And simply put, it was a remarkable sight. Something I will never forget. During the parade, as 350 vintage war-time vehicles carried 1,700 Canadian veterans along a tree-lined street, the throng of happy, smiling people of all ages pushed up against the vehicles with hands out offering a drink, flowers, flags and most of all thanks. Sixty years later everyone there was still so happy to see the their liberators, men they they called “their Canadians.” And the veterans, in response, to this emotional outpouring of gratitude seemed to stand a little taller, smile a little broader and for those who marched along the route, it was easy to see in them the young men they had once been. This is why we remember, why we pause today, even for a moment, to say thanks. These men – and women – gave up years of their lives (and many gave their lives) for the greater good and for that we owe them so much. So veterans everywhere, thank you.

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Military tanks – Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada has just posted a selection of tank photographs, including images of tanks from the First World War, a selection of remarkable colour photographs of Sherman tanks (and a Ram tank) and a photograph of a Sherman tank in Italy belonging to the Calgary Regiment.

Images of the Dieppe Raid now on Flickr

Library and Archives Canada has posted a series of photos related to the Dieppe Raid on Flickr.

 

 

First letter home after Dieppe

In a letter home (the first letter to make it to Calgary following the Dieppe Raid), Doc Alexander wrote:

Now Dieppe is a thing of history, and a memory intermingled with horror and pride at the way in which Canadians can face difficulties. Anything I saw in the whole of the last war – and I saw plenty there – nothing can in the slightest compare with this. A combination of fire from every direction, both sides, in front, behind, above and below, and every conceivable type of weapons pretty well sizes up the situation.

The troops were magnificent: the navy and the air force were wonderful but the price which was paid for the results attained was high. I do not know how much I can write due to censorship so I must not go into details which might be of any benefit to the enemy.

You will know by now that we are a very sad regiment, having lost a great many of our officers and men. Our colonel (Lt.-Col. A.H. Andrews of Winnipeg) is lost. John Begg has been made colonel commanding the regiment. George (Capt. George Valentine) is lost but may be a prisoner of war. We an only hope and pray that this is right. I had a long talk with George on Saturday before we went in and saw him again on Sunday evening as they were leaving. He was cheerful and full of ambition and when last heard from over the radio was displaying amazing courage and fighting a gallant fight. We think there is a good chance that George is alive and we certainly pray that it is true.

Gallant Charlie Page (Major C.E. Page of Calgary). On Saturday night, Charlie and I had a great talk in his car out on the road. A wonderful chap and a great soldier. He fought his landing, and was known to have carried his objectives.

“Buddy” Purdy (Capt. W.G. Purdy of Calgary) was magnificent. He led his tanks as only Buddy knew how. One of the youngest officers in the regiment, clever, likeable and was heading straight for much bigger thing when he led his men into action.

Dick Allred (Capt. Richard Allred of Calgary), faithful old Dick, was as cool as ever, carrying out his job on the beach under withering fire. We miss him terribly here but believe and hope he may have been captured. We know nothing more about him.

Allen Turney (Capt. A. H. Turney of Calgary) is also missing and there is a definite chance that he may be a prisoner. Last Friday, I was with him all day at headquarters. He was a grand lad and faced what was before him with courage, demanding the respect and admiration of all.

Would love to be able to give you more details of things but I know I can’t. You know how we feel. We know how you at home feel, but we also know that things of this nature must be done and to get the results which we must get, we must pay. The paying is cruel to us here, the waiting relatives at home – terrible.

If only these things will bring home to those in Canada the fact that this is a war. We do need men. We need every effort that man, woman and child can put into this, and we need it now, if not in a voluntary way, the compulsory and rigid at that…

Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Rob Alexander photo.

Gravestones for members of the Calgary Regiment in the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Rob Alexander photo.

Trp. C.L. Provis, CATR, Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Rob Alexander photo.

Trp. T. Gorman, CATR, Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Rob Alexander photo.

Trp. V.F. Olliffe, CATR, Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Rob Alexander photo.

Capt. D.G. Purdy, CATR, Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Rob Alexander photo.

0900 hrs

The Churchill tank “Blossom” broke its right track in the chert as TLC 5 burns in the background. Rob Alexander collection.

A handful of smooth chert pebbles taken from the Dieppe beach.

⁃    It becomes apparent that the attack is failing and the command is giving to prepare to withdraw.

⁃    Doc Alexander wrote: “A French hospital ship pulled alongside us and we loaded a few of our casualties on it and it pulled away.

⁃    “Dive bombing was added to our bombardment and three huge black German aircraft flew straight at us and when only a short distance away released aerial torpedoes. I was on the cat walk facing them and saw three which went in front of the ship. Timmy Cameron was on the rear of the boat and saw two go behind it.

⁃    “We gradually drifted away from shore. Our engines were running but we could not steer it. The Locust drew up beside us and we transferred to her, what casaulties we had left, she tried to tow us, but failed, then came along side and tied up to us and due to the fact that a Marine Sargeant had been able to start our motors, we could travel if the Locust steered us.

⁃    “All our Naval Crew were gone, but one, and another who had gone overboard but had swum back and took charge of the boat, all our Gunners were dead and our guns were all out of action. We were a complete derelict. We could see a T.L.C. Burning on the shore, and I saw another sink. The smoke stack and bridge of our boat was blow away, the hull was riddled with holes large and small – thirty-three holes were registered by direct hits from large guns – and I have no idea how many were there from small ones.”

0835 hrs

⁃    TLC 8, after withdrawing from Red Beach, begins its run into White Beach, after Lt.-Col. Johnny Andrews radios Major Gordon Rolfe, who is on the beach in scout car Hunter, “Is it worthwhile my coming ashore?” Rolfe replied that Andrews was needed.

⁃    Andrews signals: “About to beach. Be seeing you. Cheerio.”

⁃    Doc Alexander wrote: “Eventually, word was received that a few Tanks had broken through and we were ordered to attempt a landing on White Beach near the Casino. All this time great aerial battles were in progress – some German planes were getting through , but mostly the R.A.F. Had control of the skies. Some bombs had fallen fairly close to us, and shells from shore had also come in our direction, but we had not had a great deal of trouble.

⁃    “As we drew nearer the Beach the second time, Germans could be seen on the shores by the cliffs, and as we drew nearer, we were caught in a terrific hail of fire from Shore Batteries, Field Guns, and a constant hail of Machine Gun fire and bursting shrapnel. The wounded and dead were everywhere. The fire grew worse as we drew nearer the shore – we were called to our stations – the motors of our vehicles were again started, and when we were within fifty yards of shore, all hell broke loose. The call for stretcher bearers was heard in all directions. We left our vehicles and climbed to the upper parts of the boat.

⁃    “On reaching the upper part, a shell exploded which knocked me back to the bottom of the boat – but I was unhurt. I climbed to the top again when another shell hit and blew me the opposite direction – right off the boat, but somehow I caught an Engineer’s foot – and was pulled back on again.

⁃    “At this time – the ramp on the front of the ship was starting to open as we were approaching the shore – a shell exploded in the front of the ship – breaking the cables and rigging and allowing the door to fall into the sea, forming a brace which kept us from going in further, and a direct hit was registered from he side. The ship was a complete standstill, the skipper was wounded and ordered “abandon ship” then jumped into the water.

⁃    “The call came up from below to reverse the engines, and seeing no one on the bridge and discovered no living people left – everywhere were dead bodies – some badly mutilated, some not. I shouted down that there were no living people above deck. I heard a call from the cat walk for help and ran there to find it crowded with dead and dying men – all wounded, not one uninjured man.

⁃    “At this time was the first that I had noticed that the Col’s Tank had gone off the ship. His cover had been torn away by the protruding steel on the doorway, and it immediately submerged in about 6 feet of water and as the cover was gone – the engine flooded and stopped.

⁃    “Some of the men escaped from the turret and I saw them picked up by a small L-Boat which immediately put out to sea, but only travelled a short distance when it received a direct hit from one of the short battery and burst into the flames. I saw the men again jump into the water, but do not know whether they were again picked up or not. At this time a little distant from our boat, the sea was dotted with human bodies, held up by Mae West life belts and the Germans were pouring both Machine Gun and shells into their midst.

⁃    “Our boat was now hopeless, all the Naval crew were either killed or blown overboard and we floated sideways into the Beach, receiving broadsides from all of the shore guns. Machine gun bullets were beating a constant tattoo on the boat. Explosions were occurring inside and out, and at one time the inside of the boat was a sheet of flame. Men were blown overboard. Many whom I had just finished bandaging, whne I turned back I found had been killed, and nearly all were blown completely off the ship. The boat came to a stop between the Col’s Tank and the short, but something floated it off the Beach again and we floated helplessly in front of this range of guns until we were reported to the Navy to be absolutely out of action.”

A German gun emplacement atop the west headwall with Red and White beaches in the background. Rob Alexander photo.

The west cliff overlooking the beach. Rob Alexander photo.

The Dieppe beach with its loose chert pebbles. Rob Alexander photo.

About 0605 hrs

⁃    TLC 8 (No. 125) carrying the Regimental Headquarters Ringer, Regiment (commanded by Lt.-Col. Johnny Andrews) and Rounder (commanded by Major John Begg), along with Doc Alexander’s Blitz Buggy ambulance and carrier, pulls into Red Beach near the jetty. Capt. Aussie Stanton’s tank Ringer leaves the landing craft and immediately becomes stuck in the loose chert rocks.

⁃    Doc Alexander wrote: “At about 7:30 a.m. – The second wave of Tanks went in, including our Craft and two B-Squadron Craft. We reached and beached on Red Beach, right near the Jetty. The fire was fairly heavy, but I did not think excessive, and our boat was undamaged. We were all in our places, loaded on our Craft, ready to pull out. Aussie ahead, Col. Andrews next, John Begg next, and myself with two vehicles next. The motors were running – the unloading door or ramp dropped perfectly, the ship stopped and the leading Tank, piloted by Aussie Stanton rushed onto the shore. It was immediately in difficulties – a high hill of loose shale leading up to the Sea Wall – could not be crossedd by it. It go on the mound and worked back and forth, could neither go ahead or back up. He blocked the only exit from the ship – the Engineers tried to rush palisading to his assistance, but the first three out were mown down – and the machine gun fire became very severe.

⁃    “The ship was ordered to pull out from the Beach and find another landing spot. We only suffered the three casualties on this attempt.

⁃    “We pulled back and into the Harbour and got in touch with Major Glenn, who was in command of all Tanks on shore; who ordered no more Tanks to come ashore until congestion could be relieved.”

⁃    TLC 9 (No. 166) carrying Brenda, Betty and Blondie, lands on White Beach, using TLCs 7 & 8 as cover on its port (left) side.

Looking from the jetty towards White Beach. Rob Alexander photo.

0605-0630 hrs

⁃    Doc Alexander wrote: “At about 6 a.m. – I think – word was received over the wireless that the South Saskatchewan Regiment had landed on Blue Beach unopposed, and soon after this came word that the first Tanks had landed.”

⁃    The four TLCs of Flight 2 (TLCs 7, 8, 9 and 10) lands on time

⁃    TLC 7 lands its tanks Bellicose, Bloody and Beefy in the centre between White and Red Beaches. Heavy shelling sinks TLC 7 as it attempts to withdraw from the beach. A shell that punched through the side of the landing craft sets the hydrogen tanks for barrage balloons on fire.

The view from the west headwall looking east over White and Red Beaches. The jetty can be seen in the distance, with the seawall and esplande to the right. Rob Alexander photo.