Scouse Fletcher hung his head, "I guess you are talking about me there, sir."
"I am talking about all of us, me included."
We decided we would all go to the shower block when we reached the camp to warm up and then dry off. We were all due new uniforms anyway and we made it to the stores before Daddy had locked up. I knew he would be working late preparing for the Canadians the next day. "What now then, sir?"
"We are due new uniforms, Daddy."
"Yes sir, you should have had them a week ago. You didn't come for them."
I laughed, "We were a bit busy a week ago. Could we have them now, Quarter Master?" He nodded, "Blair put that ciggie out and bring me number one section's uniforms. They are on the top shelf." I heard grumbling, "And stop moaning or you will be on a fizzer!"
The hot shower, shave and clean uniforms made all the difference. None had their rank or medals on. We would all have to sew them on. We looked like recruits. We went to the mess to get a brew of tea before we headed down to the boarding house. I said, "I'll see if I can get us some transport, Poulson. I'll meet you here."
Reg was just locking up the office, "You still here sir? I thought you would have been away on your toes by now."
"Just finished."
"New uniforms I see. You lads don't half get through them."
"They keep sending us where Jerry can make them mucky. Any chance of transport back to Mrs. B's?"
"Sorry sir, I sent the lorries off to the station to meet the Canadians. They should arrive here in the next half hour or so ago."
Just then we heard the grind of a labouring engine as the lorries struggled up the hill.
Reg grinned, "We are in luck! I'll get one of the RASC drivers to drop us off." He opened the office door again, "I'd best get the paperwork sorted out."
I stood under the shelter of the lean to roof and watched the lorries pull up and the men disgorge. They were loud. And they were unhappy.
"I thought it was supposed to be summer in this cockamamie country?"
"I heard it rains all year!"
"And it comes from every direction. How does it do that?"
"I hope they have some decent food here. I am fed up of corned beef!"
Their sergeants began to shout out orders and then men formed themselves, reluctantly, into lines. A staff car pulled up and Lieutenant Colonel Merritt got out and stood next to me. "Good to see you Lieutenant Harsker. Filthy day!" The Canadian Major General got out when the driver put up the umbrella.
"Yes sir."
Sergeant Major Dean saluted, "Major Foster has just gone into town. He will be back shortly sir. I have your barracks here."
He nodded, "Captain Friedmann is in command. Major Wallowitz was taken to sick bay this morning. Something he ate, I think. Wally! A moment if you please."
The Captain was a huge man who had, as far as I could see neither neck nor eyes. I do not know what I had expected but it was not this.
"Yes sir?"
"This is Lieutenant Harsker, I told you about him."
He grinned and his slits of eyes disappeared into rolls of fat. "Yes indeed. I am looking forward to this." I must have glanced down at his waistline. "Don't worry about this. I can keep up with the fellahs."
Reg Dean kept a straight face, "Sir, I have the barrack assignments here. I have done three copies. One for you, one for you senior NCO and one as a spare."
"Very efficient. Sergeant Hutchinson!"
A tree trunk with arms and eyes lumbered over to us, "Sir?"
"Here are the barrack assignments." The Captain looked at Reg. "Does the mess have food for us? We were on the train along time. The men are hungry."
"Yes sir and you are, largely, the only ones left in camp at the moment." The Captain cocked an eye.
"Our men stay in the town. They get their own accommodation. The Corps believes it breeds independence."
The General said, "Damned good idea."
Sergeant Hutchinson shook his head, "We wouldn't get most of them back if we let them loose sir. No, a barracks suits me."
I saluted, "Well sir, we will get off. We will pinch one of your lorries and send it straight back. We will be here at six thirty a.m.. We begin training at six forty five. You can have a lie in tomorrow!"
Lieutenant Colonel Merritt laughed, "I told you it was going to be tough, Wally!"
I shouted, "Sergeant Poulson!"
My men ran towards me. I heard comments from the Canadians, "Look at the new uniforms!"
" They must be raw recruits!"
"Don't rush back, girls!"
Captain Friedmann said, "Sorry about that, Lieutenant. They have had a long day and they are a little tetchy."
I laughed, "Oh don't worry. They will be saying much worse tomorrow."
The next morning we ran, along with Reg Dean, to the camp and arrived by six o'clock. I sent Lance Sergeant Gowland and the rest to the tin mine to prepare it. The three of us were ready at six thirty on the parade ground. There was a drizzle, it was the fine rain which was insidious as it seeped into your clothes. The Colonel and Captain Friedman were there at six thirty five. The captain looked towards the gate. The barrier was still down. "Where is the truck you guys used?"
I smiled, "We ran, sir, We do it every morning. It keeps you fit. We only used the lorry last night because we had been working since six preparing for you."
The Colonel chuckled, "Told you!"
The Company Sergeant Major joined us next. I had sewn on my fruit salad as did Poulson who now had his stripes. I saw his look. He knew that we were veterans. We were not just blokes who trained them and then sent them out. He shook his head as his men shambled up to us. When it reached six fifty Captain Friedmann said, "Go get them Jake; this is embarrassing!" The NCO raced off and I heard him yelling at the stragglers to join us.
When they were lined up the Captain was going to speak. The Colonel said, "We are guests here Wally, let our hosts take charge." He nodded to me.
I stepped forward, "Not a good start gentlemen. You are now five minutes late. The Germans are never late! They always come early! Ask their wives!" I received a laugh for that. "That laugh will be the last you have this morning. In fact during the whole time you are with us I doubt that your faces will crack into a smile of any description. I make no apologies for that. You need to be fitter and more battle ready than you are. We have two weeks to do that. It will not be easy." I pointed to Sergeant Poulson, "The Sergeant and my section have just run all the way from Falmouth and we will run you all the way to the training ground. Sergeant Poulson will bring up the rear. Any man who slows up the Sergeant will be on jankers tonight."
I saw the looks of confusion. The Colonel said, "Jankers?"
"Fatigues? Punishment detail? Washing the pans?"
The Colonel nodded, "Understood."
I smiled, "And that includes officers and NCO's."
The two lieutenants and the Captain shot me a look of disbelief but Colonel Merritt nodded, "Bring it on son! I love a challenge!"
"You need to return to your barracks and bring your pack and coat as well as your blanket. You need your weapons but not your ammunition. You have three minutes. I will begin my run three minutes from... now!"
I had their attention and they sprinted. Even the officers went. The Colonel just stood there, "I don't have a bag."
"Sergeant, go and get him the new man's Bergen."
When Poulson returned with the Bergen it was two minutes and forty seconds. Many of the men were back. By the time the Colonel had slipped his on it was time to go. I blew my whistle and began to run up the steep track which led from the camp. I smiled as the Canadian Company Sergeant Major ran next to me, "Well done, Sarn't. It is a tricky route. Just keep this speed."
I settled into the easy, ground eating rhythm which would mean I would arrive at the tin mine able to speak. I did not look behind me that would be the task of the sergeant. I didn't even turn when I heard someone vomiting up their breakfast behind me
. Just before the top of the run, some four miles from the camp, there was a really steep part. I began to stretch my legs. The Canadian sergeant tried to match me but he couldn't. He began to fall back. Part of me knew that I was showing off but I still did it anyway. I reached the barrier and turned with my Thompson slung across my chest. I cocked it and pointed it into the air.
The first twenty men who had kept close to me collapsed behind me. I fired my gun in the air. Right on cue Sergeant Poulson did that at the rear. I heard shouts and expletives as the men from Saskatchewan threw themselves to the ground. As the cordite drifted in the drizzle I shouted, "Men of Saskatchewan, welcome to the war! You should be dead but you are alive. Welcome to hell!"
Chapter 4
Captain Friedmann stood and shouted, "Come on boys. We look like asses this morning. Let's see if we can change the Lieutenant's opinion of us!" His men stood and struggled up the hill. As he passed me he said, quietly, "Point made, son. Let's make these boys into real soldiers!"
I saw that Lieutenant Colonel Merritt was not at the rear as I had expected. He was with the leading group. He gave a mock salute and a grin as he passed me.
Sergeant Poulson grinned and shouted. "We have eight men, sir, for dishwashing duties." He gestured with his thumb as seven Canadians passed us, "Number eight will be along just as soon as he has finished bringing up his breakfast."
My men were standing in a half circle, their bodies obscuring the target. The Canadians were seated on the ground. The officers and NCOs stood and sucked in air. Sergeant Poulson and I joined my men and faced them. We were breathing normally.
"Gentlemen, if it is any consolation to you, all of the men you see before you would be as you are now before we began training. We do this run most days and we run back. Double time is our normal speed. If you would like to be as fit then it is in your own hands. When we finish here Sergeant major Dean has PTIs waiting for you." I saw the Captain nodding. It was a strategy he would implement. "Today we are going to give you the opportunity to experience attacking a German defensive emplacement." I swept a hand around the site. "This is where we train. Your object is to capture the flag." I pointed to the Commando flag which hung limply in the drizzle filled air.
There were targets off to one side, away from where the men were seated. I cocked the Thompson. I fired a burst at three of the targets which were shredded. The men on the ground jumped. "We use Thompsons. They fire a big bullet; it is also a noisy bullet. My men have placed explosive charges around the site. We want this to be as realistic as possible. You should be all right." I saw nervous looks. "We are being slightly unfair in that you have not had the chance to reconnoitre. However had you gone in at Dieppe then the intelligence you would have had had would have come from us. I will brief you now." I turned and pointed behind me. "In a moment my men will go behind a defensive barricade. There is barbed wire all around and there are hidden gun emplacements. I will give you chaps fifteen minutes to plan your assault. My lads will pass amongst you and give you the blank ammunition you will use. When I blow my whistle then do your best. The exercise is over when I blow my whistle three times."
One of the Sergeants asked, "Sir, you have live ammo in your gun. Are you using blanks too?"
I smiled, "That would spoil the surprise wouldn't it, Sergeant? Suffice it to say that all of my men are expert shots. They only hit what they want to hit." Of course we would be firing blanks but I wanted that edge of fear within them.
When my men returned they took up their positions. The Canadians could now see, through the murk, the target. I had Gowland and Groves guarding the rear. If the Canadian Company had any sense they would send some men around that way. In theory it should have been over really quickly. There were over a hundred and twenty of them against just eight of us. The ace in the hole was Fletcher who was hidden half way down the slope in a hidden gun position.
Three of my men were ready to set off charges as soon as I blew my whistle. Three others would throw smoke bombs. I peered down the hill and then checked my watch. They had wasted five minutes talking amongst themselves. Another five passed by before I saw them descend to their men. I hoped the Colonel had taken my advice. Small groups advancing slowly might stand a chance a frontal charge would not.
When I blew my whistle they were still not ready for the attack and when the explosives were set off they threw themselves onto the ground. I heard Captain Friedmann yelling for his men to attack. The smoke grenades soon filled the slope. The drizzle made visibility poor, the grenades made it almost like night. As soon as I heard their shouts as they charged I said, "Ready!" When the first of them slipped on the shingle I shouted, "Fire!"
There were shouts as they slipped and fell. I heard men falling down the slope The drizzle had made the stones both slick and treacherous. Men fell into each other's way. The sudden gunfire had shocked them and the smoke had disorientated. None, it appeared, had gone around our rear and I shouted, "Lance Sergeant, get round here."
Sergeant Poulson set off the next charges. They were off to the flanks. I wanted them herding in the middle. They obliged. Suddenly three Canadians made it to the barrier. George Lowe stood and put his Thompson to their heads, "Bang, bang, bang, You three are dead!"
Suddenly Fletcher's Bren began to fire from the flank. "Right lads, over the top." There would be confusion amongst the attackers; we would use that to our advantage.
We slipped over the barrier and began to make our way down. We knew the way through the wire. It was our own maze we were negotiating. The Canadians' heads were down and they were too busy trying to get up the slope to be aware of our move. My men held guns to their heads and said , "Bang, you are dead!" Once I cleared the smoke I ran directly for the Colonel who was standing with his aide watching the attack. Both of them stared at me as I ran up and pointing my Colt at them I said, in German, "I think your war is over!"
I blew my whistle three times.
Lieutenant Colonel Merritt shook his head, "A shambles, Lieutenant, a shambles."
"Commandos have made the same mistakes, sir. It is why we use it. It is a realistic test for them. Three of your men made the top. The rest were defeated by the terrain, the wire and the tricks we used. The Germans can't control the weather but everything else they can."
Captain Friedmann joined us. He was breathing heavily, "Those damned stones made us slip and fall."
I nodded, "That is the same shingle that is on the beach at Dieppe."
He nodded, "And the smoke; I wasn't certain of which direction to take. When that damned gun fired on our flank...."
The Colonel finished his sentence for him, "We would have been slaughtered." He nodded, "Perhaps the postponement was a good thing. We can learn lessons here."
Both the Captain and myself picked up on his words. Captain Friedmann said, "Postponement?"
"Yes Wally, we are going in. This is real training for the real thing." He turned to me and said, "Right Lieutenant, you have made us see we aren't ready. Now show us how to do it."
While some of the men were not happy about the humiliation of being beaten by a handful of Commandos, the NCOs and officers took everything we had to say and made a note of it. We showed them how to move in small groups, one man covering the others. Sergeant Poulson said, "I didn't hear many rifles. Why weren't you firing at us? When you attack you keep firing. Even if you are attacking a strong point you might be lucky and get a bullet through the slit. Believe me when bits of concrete start zipping around you are more likely to duck."
I held a Mills bomb in my hand. "These can save the day more times than enough. Two things to remember: throw them as high as you can and get down as flat as you can." I pointed to the nearest sergeant, "Get to know which of your men can throw the furthest and make sure they have more of these than the others. If you hear the shout, 'grenade' then get down."
I took out a German grenade from my Bergen. "This is the German equivalent. It has a five second fuse."
I had already pr
imed Harry Gowland who stood at the top of the emplacement and knew what to expect. I smashed the porcelain top and threw it towards Harry. He picked it up and threw it on the other side of the emplacement, "Grenade!"
We all threw ourselves to the ground. The concussion was greater than our tiny charges and pieces of wood fell with the drizzle. When the Canadians rose they all looked for Harry. He strode down, smiling.
"We can adjust our fuses, the Germans can't. Five seconds is longer than you think."
Company Sergeant Major Hutchinson said, "Jesus, Lieutenant, your men sure trust you."
I nodded, "And I trust them. This is not our usual job. Normally we are behind enemy lines. If we can't rely on each other then we are dead men." I saw him take that information in.
We double timed down to the camp. They were all tired but Company Sergeant Major Hutchinson joined Sergeant Poulson at the rear to chivvy on any laggards. The Colonel and the Captain ran next to me. "Impressive, Lieutenant. I can see that our time here will not be wasted."
"To be honest Colonel I would spend just half a day training to assault and the rest getting your men fit and working together." I explained how the Commandos worked.
"So you are like a family?"
"Yes, imagine a family of eight brothers. That is us. When we have a big family gathering then we work with the rest of the family but the eight of us can work by ourselves and we are not put off when we are alone. That can happen on the battlefield. When we retreated through Belgium we had no officers. It was just NCOs trying to keep together a handful of men. Lots gave up. The ones who didn't, well they are better soldiers for it."
I knew I had hit the mark and the two of them exchanged ideas as we headed for the camp. The Canadians paraded before they were allowed to go for their meal. I saluted the Colonel. "We will see you in the morning sir."
"And this time we will be ready!"
"Right lads, double time!"
As we headed down the road I heard Company Sergeant Major Hutchinson shout, "And that, you apologies for Canadians, is what we will be doing by the time we have finished training! They are real soldiers!"
Dieppe Page 5