Over the past several weeks I have brought you many segments to the story about this ceremony. I left off noting that most references to the tragedy of Dieppe tell us that there were three heroes awarded the Victoria Cross, 2 being Canadian.
The same reference materials say that there was only one soldier awarded the Distinguished Service Order and coming from Canada.
My research shows three more Canadian DSO's. Another reference was also found claiming as many as 12.
The same reference materials say that there was only one soldier awarded the Distinguished Service Order and coming from Canada.
My research shows three more Canadian DSO's. Another reference was also found claiming as many as 12.
Here we see an image of a 24 year old, who was given the temporary rank of major, while at Dieppe. His name was Pat Porteous. He was born in British India and was a Scotsman. And he would become the third Victoria Cross recipient for heroism at Dieppe.
Captain (acting major) Porteous was serving with the Royal Regiment of Artillery. In the Dieppe campaign his job was to move back and forth, as the liaison officer, between two detachments charged with destroying the enemy's heavy coastal defense guns.
While working with the smaller detachment first, he was shot through the hand and the bullet traveled up his arm. But Porteous still managed to grab the German soldier and stab him with his bayonet. At the very time the enemy was about to kill a British Sergeant. The officer thus saved the man's life.
The second and larger detachment, had its officer killed. The troop sergeant major had then fallen with serious injuries and the only other officer had fallen dead.
Porteous ran through withering enemy fire, though already wounded, and rallied them on to carry the charge. He was again wounded and collapsed from blood loss. But his objective, destruction of the guns, was a success.
When he later woke up in a hospital his mother gave him the news that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Turning now to the DSO's, in a recent blog I told you the story of Major Curry of the Toronto Scottish, buried at Gods Acre and of his being a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order.
Net citations tell us that he was the only Canadian DSO recipient from that battle, but as noted, this is not accurate. I have found three others, and perhaps there are still more.
The first of the three found is Captain, (latter a Brig. General) Denis "Dinny" Whitacre from Calgary Alberta, shown below...
Captain (acting major) Porteous was serving with the Royal Regiment of Artillery. In the Dieppe campaign his job was to move back and forth, as the liaison officer, between two detachments charged with destroying the enemy's heavy coastal defense guns.
While working with the smaller detachment first, he was shot through the hand and the bullet traveled up his arm. But Porteous still managed to grab the German soldier and stab him with his bayonet. At the very time the enemy was about to kill a British Sergeant. The officer thus saved the man's life.
The second and larger detachment, had its officer killed. The troop sergeant major had then fallen with serious injuries and the only other officer had fallen dead.
Porteous ran through withering enemy fire, though already wounded, and rallied them on to carry the charge. He was again wounded and collapsed from blood loss. But his objective, destruction of the guns, was a success.
When he later woke up in a hospital his mother gave him the news that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Turning now to the DSO's, in a recent blog I told you the story of Major Curry of the Toronto Scottish, buried at Gods Acre and of his being a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order.
Net citations tell us that he was the only Canadian DSO recipient from that battle, but as noted, this is not accurate. I have found three others, and perhaps there are still more.
The first of the three found is Captain, (latter a Brig. General) Denis "Dinny" Whitacre from Calgary Alberta, shown below...
Denis Whitacre was an RMC grad in 1937 and signed up when the war started. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. and soon Lieutenant with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and commanded a Bren Gun Carrier platoon.
On landing in Dieppe he was charged with capturing the beachfront Casino. His men did this and then moved on to hand to hand combat in the plaza behind. Then having to face very heavy fire from the town.
He then decided that continuing would lead to suicide and thus retreated back to the beach. There his platoon was deluged by heavy mortar and machine gun fire whilst awaiting evacuation back to England. He was the sole officer of some 100 that actually captured their original target and managed to escape unwounded.
His skill, courage and initiative were all acknowledged by his receiving the DSO.
Still serving, in July of 1944 he received a dreadful facial wound from an exploding shell. He was thought to be blinded, but miraculously recovered and went on the earn A SECOND DSO.
On landing in Dieppe he was charged with capturing the beachfront Casino. His men did this and then moved on to hand to hand combat in the plaza behind. Then having to face very heavy fire from the town.
He then decided that continuing would lead to suicide and thus retreated back to the beach. There his platoon was deluged by heavy mortar and machine gun fire whilst awaiting evacuation back to England. He was the sole officer of some 100 that actually captured their original target and managed to escape unwounded.
His skill, courage and initiative were all acknowledged by his receiving the DSO.
Still serving, in July of 1944 he received a dreadful facial wound from an exploding shell. He was thought to be blinded, but miraculously recovered and went on the earn A SECOND DSO.
John Hamilton "Ham" Roberts (above) was born in Manitoba. Another RMC grad, he served in both world wars.
Ham was commissioned as a Lt. in the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1914. He fought at the Flanders. In 1918 his bravery was so highly recognized that he was successfully recommended for the Military Cross.
He continued serving in the RCHA and after the final collapse of France,he was the sole commander to return to England with all his guns, and 12 Bofors, seven predictors, three Bren Gun carriers and other technical equipment.
At the start of WWll Ham was a Lt Colonel. By early 1942 he was a Maj. General and Commander of the Operation Jubilee (code for Dieppe.)
He operated as commander from the decks of a destroyer and under very perilous heavy enemy fire. For his ability, courage and determination, he was awarded the DSO.
Ham was commissioned as a Lt. in the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1914. He fought at the Flanders. In 1918 his bravery was so highly recognized that he was successfully recommended for the Military Cross.
He continued serving in the RCHA and after the final collapse of France,he was the sole commander to return to England with all his guns, and 12 Bofors, seven predictors, three Bren Gun carriers and other technical equipment.
At the start of WWll Ham was a Lt Colonel. By early 1942 he was a Maj. General and Commander of the Operation Jubilee (code for Dieppe.)
He operated as commander from the decks of a destroyer and under very perilous heavy enemy fire. For his ability, courage and determination, he was awarded the DSO.
The last of the three DSO men from Canada that I found is Major General Clarence Churchill Mann, born in New Jersey, USA.
While many would question a US born hero's appearance on this site, this general was a whopping 6 years old when his family moved to Ontario.
On this note, please know that perhaps as many as 50 %, and I believe higher of ACCEPTED VC recipients are classed as Canadian even though born elsewhere. Same concept applies to the Canadians who opted for US service in the Civil War and every war they have been in since.
The concept has been oft noted in this space in the past.
Moving on... In 1927 Mann, who had early become yet another RMC Grad, joined the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Two years later he was attending staff college in England. He then served in General McNaughton's 7th Corps and found himself in the Dieppe battle of 1942 and wearing the rank of a Brig. General. He served on board HMS Fernie at Dieppe with the title of Deputy Military Force Commander.
For this work he was decorated with a DSO and later found himself back in Ottawa as Vice Chief of the General Staff at Head Quarters.
More work is needed on many other possible DSO's from the days of Dieppe.
And now to an end note. As you can see from the above and many blogs over the last year and much more, a lot of work goes into these blogs. Moreover, a lot of work is needed in other related matters that have been crying out for my attention for far too long.
With this said I am taking a break from this space until mid August or shortly thereafter, in order to get at some of this backlog.
I must thank you all for traveling along this route with me and hope that you will continue on the road to adventure with me when I return. I will be monitoring the comments sections, and now, more importantly than ever, your comments would be greatly appreciated.
In the mean time, you have well over 575 blogs in this space and within, surely blogs you will enjoy having a second look at. Find it, read it and break out of your shyness and send along some comments.
And please share this work with others you know who have similar interests.
See you all soon, I pray!
Bart
While many would question a US born hero's appearance on this site, this general was a whopping 6 years old when his family moved to Ontario.
On this note, please know that perhaps as many as 50 %, and I believe higher of ACCEPTED VC recipients are classed as Canadian even though born elsewhere. Same concept applies to the Canadians who opted for US service in the Civil War and every war they have been in since.
The concept has been oft noted in this space in the past.
Moving on... In 1927 Mann, who had early become yet another RMC Grad, joined the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Two years later he was attending staff college in England. He then served in General McNaughton's 7th Corps and found himself in the Dieppe battle of 1942 and wearing the rank of a Brig. General. He served on board HMS Fernie at Dieppe with the title of Deputy Military Force Commander.
For this work he was decorated with a DSO and later found himself back in Ottawa as Vice Chief of the General Staff at Head Quarters.
More work is needed on many other possible DSO's from the days of Dieppe.
And now to an end note. As you can see from the above and many blogs over the last year and much more, a lot of work goes into these blogs. Moreover, a lot of work is needed in other related matters that have been crying out for my attention for far too long.
With this said I am taking a break from this space until mid August or shortly thereafter, in order to get at some of this backlog.
I must thank you all for traveling along this route with me and hope that you will continue on the road to adventure with me when I return. I will be monitoring the comments sections, and now, more importantly than ever, your comments would be greatly appreciated.
In the mean time, you have well over 575 blogs in this space and within, surely blogs you will enjoy having a second look at. Find it, read it and break out of your shyness and send along some comments.
And please share this work with others you know who have similar interests.
See you all soon, I pray!
Bart
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