Evening star., 1942-08-20

the Haadland near the harbor with
mile long Black smoke billowed out
and turned white as it curled along
just above the sea to conceal OUT
landing from the shore defenses.
Crouching low, the Canadians got
ready Their faces were taut and
their jaws were firm. We knew this
wouldn't be any party.
We could see destroyers and gun
boats creeping up behind the attack
f1otillas racing for the main shore.
| The fame and roar of the artillery
told use that the naval lombard
! ment of the town had started. The
navy kept its torrent Of shells pour
ing into Dieppe as we sped for the
shore
Already some of the Canadians
we're landing at Puts as we headed
for the beach at the base OF the
slope leading to the shore in break
between the chalk cliffs.
To one side. fighter planes hoped
in at sea level to blast with cannon
and machine guns ,the hotels and
buildings full of Germans on the
Dieppe esplanade.
Dawn was breaking. The battle
of Dieppe got hotter.
We were to land in matter OF
minutes. Through the smoke layers
looked up at the white cliffs grow
ing higher before us.
Unceasing Clatter.
Anti-aircraft guns up there clat-
tered increasingly. Machine guns
drilled down bullets that changed
against the armor of our boat.
By the time our boat touched the
beach the din was at a creScendo.
/ peered out at slope lying just
in front of us and 1t was startling to
discover that it was covered with the
fallen forms of men in battledress.
The Royals ahead of US had been
cut down as they stormed the slope.
1t came home to me only then that
every one of these men had gone
down under the bullets of the enemy
at the top of the incline.
The vicious bursts of the yellow
tracers from the German machine
guns made veritable curtain about
our boat The Royals beside me
fred back with everything they had.
One Canadian blazed away with an
anti-tank rife.
The Germans held a couple of
houses near the top of the slope and
inl CT
the top of their level they were able
to pour fire into some of the boats
including ours.
Several bursts from machine guns
struck men in the middle of our
craft. The boats ramp was lowered
to permit the men with me to get
ashore, but the German fire caught
those who tried to make it.
The remainder crouched inside,
protected by armor and pouring a
return fire at the Nazis.
The Canadian shooting was dead
on, and half a dozen men in steel
/ helmets and field gray uniforms
toppled from the windows to the
/ ground.
Other Germans made the mis-
] take of trying to change their posi-
tions, only to be caught when sight
ed by the Royal Sharpshooters
armed with bren guns.
! Caught by the Unexpectedly in
tense Nazi fire. the Canadians
fought heroic battle from those
craft that were still nosed up on
the beach.
Flimsy Bit of Plating.
lay behind a flimsy bit of plating
as heavy bullets cut through it a
couple of feet above my head.
An officer sitting next to me was
firing his Sten gun He got off
magazine and a half, killed at
least one Nazi. and then was hit in
the head. He fell forward, bleeding
profusely.
A sailor next to him was wounded
in the neck. Another got bullet
through the shoulder Those around
the injured tied them up with field
dressing
The fire was murderous now and
the Canadian fire power was being
reduced by casualties.
There were eight or 10 in our
boat who had been hit by now
and landing here seemed impossible.
A naval officer with us decided to
try to get the boat off the beach.
On maneuvers there were times
when it was difficult task to do
this quickly, but by a miracle the
boat slid off and We eased away out
of the hellish fire with a nerve
racking slowness.
The Nazis pegged away at us for
half mile out.
That attempted landing was one
, of the fiercest and greatest events
, in the whole raid and was the only
spot where the landing was tempo
rarily repulsed.
| I'll remember forever the scene
in that craft. Wounded men lying
! about being attended by medical
: orderlies oblivious to the fire; the
, heroism of the Royals as they fought
5 back and strove as desperately as
any men could TO get on the beach
and relieve their comrades fighting
ashore; the contempt of these men
for danger and their fortitude when
,, hit.
: 1 never heard one man cry out.