Canadian Military History
Volume 22 Issue 2 Article 2
2013
Heavy Bombers and Civil Affairs First Canadian Army in France, July-September 1944
Terry Copp
Michelle Fowler
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Recommended Citation Terry Copp and Michelle Fowler "Heavy Bombers and Civil Affairs First Canadian Army in France, July- September 1944." Canadian Military History 22, 2 (2013)
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Terry Copp and Michelle Fowler
ooks and articles about D-Day and advisor, O.D. Skelton, were the Battle of Normandy continue Abstract: The liberation of France in determined to maintain Canadian B 1944 came at a high cost to the local to appear in an unending stream but independence by rejecting any populations who were caught up in a number of important issues remain the struggle for their freedom. The suggestion that they should follow to be fully explored. This essay Allies’ decision to use heavy bombers Robert Borden’s example of seeking a examines the role of First Canadian in support of land operations was voice in Commonwealth foreign and Army and its subordinate formations made out of military necessity but defence policy. The consequences it had the terrible consequence of in two areas that have received little of this policy were outlined in a killing and wounding large numbers attention: decisions with regard to of French civilians. To deal with the memorandum written by Lester B. the use of heavy bombers in support dislocation of war all large Allied Pearson, then the Official Secretary of land operations and aid to the army formations possessed Civil in the Office of the Canadian High civilian population administered by Affairs detachments which sought Commission in London, who noted to allieviate the impact of battle on Civil Affairs (CA) officers. The two that, “so far as policy and planning the civilian populations by helping issues are intimately linked because to provide the basic necessities in this war are concerned, our status the major challenges facing the CA of life including clean water, food, is little better than that of a colony.” organization were products of the shelter as well as providing security Our role, he concluded, was to supply destruction of French towns by the and governance where needed. soldiers and pilots who will be told In the towns of Caen, Le Havre, where and when to fight “as a result heavy bombers of the RAF/RCAF Boulogne and Calais, as well as others and the US Army Air Forces. The first liberated by First Canadian Army and of deliberations in which we have had part of the paper will show that the its subordinate formations, the Civil no part…I dislike this role of unpaid Canadian government – by its own Affairs detachments were largely Hessians.”1 choice – had no say in Allied strategic dealing with the aftermath of the Pearson’s memo and similar bombing by Allied aircraft. planning in general, and bombing protests from other diplomats were policy in particular. Thus it fell to ignored in Ottawa where the Prime Lieutenant-General H.D.G. Crerar, the following part of the paper. The Minister rejected all attempts to commander of the First Canadian remainder of the piece relates how re-create the Imperial War Cabinet Army in Northwest Europe, to the Civil Affairs organization of First instituted by Lloyd George in 1917. apply Allied bombing capacity in Canadian Army organized relief for For King such proposals meant support of his forces, the subject of civilian populations in areas targeted “responsibility without power” and Library and Archives Canada PA-115526 Library and Archives by the heavy bombers. he preferred a policy that avoided Opposite: A bulldozer clears rubble from Throughout the Second World both.2 It was therefore not surprising the streets of Caen on 10 July 1944 War the government of Canada that Canada was neither informed shortly after the liberation of the city. systematically avoided any attempt nor consulted on the terms of the Most of the civilian casualties as well to become involved in the strategic Atlantic Charter in 1941 and was as the damage was caused by Allied bombers. direction of the war. Prime Minister invited to participate in photo ops – Mackenzie King and his principal not discussions – at the two Quebec
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of First Canadian Army. He had little confidence in Crerar and would have preferred to deal with Lieutenant- General Guy Simonds, whom he regarded as the only competent senior Canadian officer and, equally important, the only one who would not play the Canadian card if a dispute arose. Crerar, he correctly feared, would wish to be seen as the leader of Canada’s national Library and Archives Canada C-026031 Library and Archives army, an aspiration complicated by the fact that only one of the two Corps in his Army was Canadian. Montgomery repeatedly postponed activating First Canadian Army Headquarters and initially sought Prime Minister Mackenzie King (left) and his principal advisor, O.D. Skelton (right), to limit Crerar’s responsibilities. The were determined to maintain Canadian independence by rejecting any voice in Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Commonwealth foreign and defence policy. The two men, along with King’s sister, Jennie General Sir Alan Brooke, understood Lay, visit Kingsmere, King’s summer home in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec, in July 1923. Montgomery’s views but he noted:
Conferences. One result was to place The existence of First Canadian I want you to make the best possible the burden of upholding the status of Army in the Allied order of battle use of Crerar, he must be retained in the Canadian military as the national raised other questions which many Command of the Canadian Army… service of a sovereign state and not wished to avoid. An army-sized You can keep his Army small and just subordinate components of formation is made up of two or give him the less important role, Allied formations under British and more corps which in turn normally and you will have to teach him. American command. consists of two or more divisions. We had the same trouble in the last As preparations for the invasion Large numbers of ancillary troops are war and had to replace Byng by of France, Operation “Overlord,” attached at both the corps and army Currie although the latter was a very were finalized, Canadian land, air, level along with medium artillery medium commander.5 and naval forces were integrated regiments, engineers, and much else into British command structures. including Civil Aid detachments. Brooke’s comment about Byng Both the Royal Canadian Navy Under ordinary circumstances an and Currie is both inaccurate and and the Royal Canadian Air Force Army has considerable latitude typical of the condescending attitude would continue to serve in this to plan and carry out operations of senior British officers. Crerar manner but the decision to form First under a directive from the Army would have to learn to deal with Canadian Army in 1943 reinforced Group commander. After General this as best he could. While waiting the Canadian government’s policy Bernard Law Montgomery was for Montgomery to activate First of requiring the Canadian Army appointed to command the Anglo- Canadian Army, a small headquarters commander to formally certify that Canadian 21st Army Group neither was established and the Civil Affairs “Overlord” and all subsequent plans Lieutenant-General Sir Miles sections of both 2nd Canadian Corps were “feasible operations of war.”3 Dempsey (Second British Army) nor and First Canadian Army began Even if the government had no desire Lieutenant-General H.D.G. Crerar their work. Every Army and Corps to be committed by participation (First Canadian Army) were allowed in the Allied sector was mandated to in Allied military planning it had much room for independent action. assume responsibility for refugees, a fundamental responsibility to Montgomery controlled as many relief supplies, medical assistance, ensure that large bodies of Canadian aspects of operations as he could by and other functions during periods of citizen soldiers were not sacrificed, bypassing both Army headquarters to active operations in their formation’s unwittingly or not, in unduly risky deal directly with Corps commanders sector.6 operations of which Canadian when it suited him.4 Ideally, co-operative authorities had less than complete Montgomery had other reasons arrangements with local authorities knowledge. for wishing to limit the independence on these and other key questions
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such as currency and public finance October 1944, British and Canadian book, Quand les alliés bombardaient la should have been in place, but Civil Affairs officers worked with France 1940-1945 with its estimate of American hostility towards French Coulet and his nominees without 60,000 French fatalities from bombing leader Charles de Gaulle meant difficulty.7 has led researchers to review the that no agreement existed when the Montgomery activated 2nd debate over Allied bombing policy Allies landed in France. Fortunately, Canadian Corps on 11 July after 2nd and to produce important case de Gaulle took matters into his Canadian Infantry Division arrived studies.8 own hands, reaching Normandy in France. The Corps remained under In 1944, attacks on the French rail on 14 June and claiming authority British command as part of 2nd Army system as part of the “Transportation for his National Committee of until the end of July, taking over the Plan” inflicted considerable collateral Liberation. He appointed a close city of Caen and responsibility for damage to town and cities and their associate, François Coulet, as Civil civil affairs in a city devastated by French inhabitants. At the time, the Commissioner and Colonel P. de Allied bombing. The issue of civilian policy was explained in terms of Chevigne as Military Commander for casualties from air raids on France preventing German reinforcements Normandy. Although full recognition has attracted considerable attention and supplies from reaching the of de Gaulle and his provisional from historians in recent years. The battle area. Churchill’s protests led government was postponed until publication of Eddy Florentin’s 1997 to a decision to abort the operation
Allied bombers reguarly attacked transportation targets in French towns and cities in the days and weeks before D-Day as a way of preventing the movement of German supplies and reinforcements to the front. This photo of Argentan shows how the railway marshalling yard and engine sheds have been effectively destroyed by aerial bombing, but there has also been significant damage to the residential areas of the the town. US Air Force Photo AC53626 Photo US Air Force
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol22/iss2/2 7 4 and : Heavy Bombers and Civil Affairs First Canadian Army in France, July-September 1944 US Air Force Photo AC61321 Photo US Air Force US Air Force Photo AC52676 Photo US Air Force
Left: St. Lô was heavily targeted by Allied bombers in June 1944 in an effort to interdict German movements towards the battle area. However, it is clear from this air photo of a raid in progress that along with bridges, roads, railways and other transportation targets, significant residential areas of the town were also hit. Opposite: This photo shows the destruction of St. Lô following its liberation by US Forces in late July 1944.
if civilian deaths exceeded 10,000. ring of fortified villages the British wounded, proved to be a daunting No such reservations were in place and Canadian troops would have task, further complicated by the for raids in direct support of the to overcome. The bombing added irony, presumably not lost on the D-Day landings and the destruction exceptionally to the destruction that population of Caen, that the same of towns like Lisieux and St. Lô rendered 80 percent of the city’s forces which had brought down on the eve of the invasion was housing inhabitable and killed more such destruction on their town accepted as an operational necessity.9 than 2,000 civilians.10 The soldiers were now sending in CA teams to Caen had also been bombed on waiting to begin their advance were prevent unrest. The official history D-Day and afterwards, but these greatly impressed with this display describes the Senior Civil Affairs events were soon overshadowed of raw power but none of the enemy Officer (SCAO) in Caen, Colonel by the decision to use the heavy defensive positions were struck. Charles Milne Usher, attached to bombers to support the land battle F.S.V. Donnison, the official a detachment under the command and break the stalemate in front of British historian for civil affairs and of Second British Army, as being Caen. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris military government, described the consumed by guilt and running “here accepted Montgomery’s request fall of Caen on 9 July 1944, “as the there and everywhere in his kilt” to to employ Bomber Command in most formidable civil affairs task calm the population.12 The 52-year- Operation Charnwood, the assault yet encountered,”11 emphasized by old former captain of the Scottish on Caen, 8 July 1944, but on his the arrival in town of the first CA rugby side, taken prisoner at the own terms. For Charnwood Harris detachment in the early afternoon Battle of Mons during the Great War, insisted on a “bomb line” 6,000 of 9 July. The massive Allied educated at Royal Military College yards from the nearest Allied troops bombardment of Caen presented (Sandhurst), and fluent in French, and selected four map squares (four CA with many challenges. The was not an atypical CA officer.13 square kilometers) in the northeast immediate need to evacuate 9,700 The immediate needs in Caen section of Caen, well beyond the people, including upwards of 800 were dealt with by the formation
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of joint CA and French committees, electricity or gas; that of a normal other prison was badly damaged; which also worked together to plan population of 65,000 the estimated the courts were partially destroyed; for rehabilitation. Although there number remaining was between the fire and civil defence services was considerable concern about the 20,000 and 25,000, of whom 13,000 were without water and lacked overzealous behaviour of the French homeless were concentrated in fire-fighting equipment… Forces of the Interior (FFI), it was three public buildings, the Lycée widely recognized that French liaison Malherbe, the Eglise St. Etienne Words fail to describe the anguish officers, under the direct control of and the Hospice du Bon Sauveur… of Caen. It had indeed paid a the French civil authority, provided One prison was destroyed and the fearful price for its liberation. reliable mediators between local prison staff had disappeared; the However, the civilian morale officials and army CA. Although unexpected, rapid intervention by the local authorities to advance the welfare of French citizens set a precedent for CA in France for the remainder of the war. Reports from Civil Affairs officers provided a detailed description of the “agony of Caen” which ascertained that:
…most of the streets were so badly
cratered or blocked with debris Canada PA-138268 Library and Archives that they were impassable; that shortage of water was acute and that it was suspected that available supplies were contaminated; that the sewage disposal system had failed; that there was neither
French rescue workers removing bodies from destroyed buildings following an air raid, Caen, 10 July 1944.
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This air photo taken on 13 June 1944 shows that the centre of Caen has been largely destroyed by Allied bomber attacks prior to the heavy attacks carried out as part of Operation Charnwood on the night of 8 July 1944.
additional collateral damage from German artillery fire. “Within a week over 9,700 refugees had been LCMSDS Air Photo Collection Air Photo LCMSDS evacuated including 800 wounded and many hundreds sick and infirm people.”15 Joint French and Canadian committees were established to oversee this and other urgent matters. The Canadian Civil Affairs experience in Caen established a template for co- operation with French authorities which proved invaluable throughout the summer. When the Canadians advanced towards Falaise in August, the refugee problem continued to challenge CA officers as thousands of civilians had fled south seeking refuge in what was to become the battle zone between Caen and Falaise. First Canadian Army was finally made operational on 23 July. Brigadier W.B. Wedd, the Senior Civil Affairs Officer at Crerar’s headquarters, worked easily with his French was high even through most Water points had been provided counterpart Lieutenant-Colonel inhabitants could not understand for both military and civilian use. P.H. Pierrené, delegating authority the reason for the severe Allied Civil labour had been directed to to “spearhead detachments” and bombardment of the city. A assist the bulldozers in clearing establishing a special section skeleton civilian administration the principal streets so as to for refugees.16 Canadian Army was available. The refugees were permit military traffic. It had been Headquarters played no part in well organized and well cared ascertained that damage to water the decisions to bomb Caen or its for. Arrangements for the care mains was not severe and that industrial suburbs, but Crerar and of civilian casualties were good if enough pumps were obtained his senior advisors were determined despite the customary shortage from the military sources the to use the “heavies” to break the of medical supplies. Health was water supply could be restored. German defences south of the city. extremely good; 20 cases of typhoid Arrangements were made to Operation Totalize began on the and four cases of diphtheria were supply these pumps.14 night of 7 August when 641 bombers the only known cases of epidemic targeted villages that were part of disease. Although bread was This was the situation facing the an interlocking defensive position in short supply and there were Civil Affairs officers of 2nd Canadian manned by soldiers of two German certain other deficiencies, food Corps on 11 July when the city divisions. Almost all civilians had was adequate. came under Canadian control. With been evacuated by the Germans and By the evening of the 10th, Civil the Orne River in the centre of the most of the bombs fell in open fields, Affairs rations for 20,000 persons, urbanized area as the front line, but the bombing was seen as an supplies of soap, anti-louse the most pressing tasks were to important contribution to the success powder, creosote and chloride bury the dead, clear roads, and of the first phase of Totalize so the of lime had reached the town. remove refugees who now suffered plan to employ the Eighth Air Force
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against a second line of defences went such operations, was persuaded to The refugee detachments ahead. All but 24 of the 292 American continue supporting First Canadian assigned to 2nd Canadian Corps aircraft bombed accurately but short Army. was responsible for the initial care bombing killed 65 Canadian and Civil Affairs officers dealt with of the displaced, providing food, Polish soldiers while injuring 250 the aftermath of the August battles water, and medical assistance. As more.17 that resulted in “a great deal of the army advanced towards the Despite this, Crerar insisted on damage to civilian property.”20 The Seine River, “Friends Ambulance a further bombing effort in support population had largely been evicted units, French enlisted personnel of Tractable, the second attempt to by the Germans and had found and members of the Corps Feminin reach Falaise. This time 77 of the 811 shelter in mines, quarries, and open (Volontaires Françaises)” took over bombers, including aircraft from fields. As the spearhead detachments responsibility.22 RCAF squadrons, misidentified advanced behind the frontline: Crerar’s headquarters their targets and wrecked havoc was directly responsible for the among troops in the rear areas. More …French Liaison officers proved of operational decisions to employ than 150 Allied soldiers were killed the greatest value. Between Caen and heavy bombers on the battlefield and and 241 wounded in four separate Falaise, many villages were razed to for Civil Affairs in the Caen-Falaise incidents.18 This second tragic event the ground and farm buildings… plain. On the Army’s left flank a might have put an end to the use were in ruins. Livestock were left very different situation developed. of heavy bombers on the battlefield unattended and rounding them up Lieutenant-General Sir John Crocker were it not for the intervention of placed an additional burden on the and his staff officers at 1st British General Crerar. Immediately after spearhead detachments who, in the Corps headquarters resented their “Tractable” he wrote to Air Marshal depopulated areas, were sometimes subordination to Crerar and their Harris thanking him for his willing forced to do the work themselves. exclusion from a major operational co-operation stating that he remained Carcasses of horses and cattle littered role.23 Crocker, an experienced “a very strong advocate of the rise of the fields and roadsides…Falaise fell professional, had commanded his heavy bombers in closely integrated on 17 Aug. It was a smoking shell of corps in the D-Day landings and support of the army.”19 Harris, who a town.21 planned Charnwood, the battle for clearly would have preferred to end Caen, but after 9 July the corps’
Two French women walk through the ruined streets of Falaise, 17 August 1944. Library and Archives Canada PA-132820 Library and Archives
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Will Ogilvie – Convoy in Caen.
task was simply to protect the left that allowed him to be free of Canadian with fewer incendiaries) than flank and conform to the Canadian Army control.24 His staff drew upon Hamburg in July 1943…the human advance. intelligence from the Army Air Photo toll of the September bombings There was no reason to employ air Interpretation Section but Crerar was 1536 dead and 517 missing… power in support of such operations was content to send his senior staff Le Havre ended the war ranked as and most of the towns between officer, Brigadier Churchill Mann, France’s most damaged city, with an the Dives and Seine Rivers were to the planning conference. Mann estimated 82% rate of destruction.”26 liberated without major destruction took notes but did not intervene. No good explanation has been or civilian losses. The corps’ Civil Crocker was also authorized to offered for the decision to target Affairs detachment did not have communicate directly with 84 Group, sections of the old city which were to deal with the aftermath of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, and RAF not related to the coastal gun bombing of Caen and this may have Bomber Command - normally Army- batteries or the forward defences contributed to their approach to level responsibilities.25 but Crocker may have hoped to shock planning Operation Astonia, the Operation Astonia has become the German garrison into surrender battle for Le Havre. Montgomery’s the most controversial battle fought by a demonstration of raw power. directive of 20 August emphasized by 21 Army Group in France Arrangements to target the city on the need “to secure the port of because Crocker’s plans included 5 September included a follow-up Havre very early” as the harbour the employment of heavy bombers leaflet raid urging German troops to and railways “will be required for without any apparent concern for surrender. Crocker did meet with the the maintenance of the armies.” civilian casualties. The most recent German garrison commander before Crocker, according to his biographer, study of the tragedy notes that “Le the bombing to explain the scale welcomed Operation Astonia, “as the Havre took a greater tonnage of of the Allied attack. The battleship sort of semi-independent operation” bombs in September 1944 (though Warspite, RAF bombers, and two
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full divisions supported by two of the bombing that proceeded without bombing or a battle, for armoured brigades, the specialized the actual attack. He returned to Dunkirk the same day. armour of 79th Armoured Division Bomber Command and produced an The Channel Ports were heavily and the “Kangaroos” of 1st Canadian article on “the effect of our bombers fortified for all around defence Armoured Personnel regiment were on the outskirts and docks” plus presenting a formidable challenge, preparing an assault.27 Colonel a confidential report which was but the newly promoted Field Eberhard Wildermath refused to restricted to senior officers of Bomber Marshal Bernard Montgomery was surrender or to evacuate civilians Command.31 Delderfield’s report, impatient. His conflict with Supreme and on the afternoon of 5 September, which influenced Harris to oppose Commander General Eisenhower 348 aircraft attacked the city with a similar attack on Flushing in over the “single thrust” versus 1,880 tons of bombs. A second attack October and to resist further efforts “broad front” strategy had not yet on the night of 6-7 September and to employ his bombers against targets been resolved and he told General a third on 8 September brought the in occupied Europe, was not a factor Crerar that with “one good Pas de total to 4,000 tons dropped on the in the very different plans developed Calais port,” additional transport and city before the ground attack with for Operation “Wellhit,” the attack an increased airlift he could sustain heavy bomber support on the outer on Boulogne. the advance to the Ruhr that he defences began. 28 While 1st British Corps was hoped to accomplish using the Allied Enemy resistance ended in less preparing for the assault on Le Havre, Airborne Army in what became than 48 hours with mass surrender 2nd Canadian Corps’ armoured Operation “Market Garden.”32 Crerar of more than 11,000 German troops. divisions raced north into Belgium. told Montgomery that the Canadians Crocker offered his thanks to Air The corps’ infantry divisions, were going “to button things up Marshal Harris in a note praising however, were assigned the much properly, taking a little more time “the absolute accuracy of bombing less glamorous task of clearing the if necessary, in order to assure a and timing on every occasion”29 enemy from the Channel Ports: decisive assault.”33 Canadian caution and General Crerar, anxious to Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk. The was influenced by the fact that Major- have Harris’ support in the capture 3rd Canadian Infantry Division General Dan Spry’s 3rd Canadian of Boulogne and Calais, sent a reached the outskirts of Boulogne Infantry Division was to attack congratulatory message to him a few and Calais on 5 September and Boulogne with two infantry brigades, days later. These messages led Harris, 2nd Division left Dieppe, liberated not the two divisions that were used or his public affairs officers, to send Flight Lieutenant R.F. Delderfield to write a story on this successful example of close support of army operations. Delderfield, who would become one of Britain’s leading postwar novelists, was shocked by what he found. The Civil Affairs officer Delderfield consulted “stated bluntly
that…an entire residential area of the Collection Air Photo LCMSDS town had been razed to the ground” in the raid of 5 September and “other residential areas were hit on successive days.”30 Delderfield later met with French civilian officials and British army officers, the latter praising the accuracy and effect
An RAF Halifax bombs Le Havre on 10 September 1944.
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at Le Havre. Spry’s other brigade was in 1903. He was educated at College Boulogne. As a result, CA staff and probing the Calais defences. St. François Xavier and the University members of the 219 CA Refugee (R) Civil Affairs planning for of Alberta. Bilingual but very much detachment, working in conjunction operations in Boulogne began in a Franco-Albertan, Coté worked for with the mayor of Montreuil-sur- earnest on 7 September, when the CA the French language service of Radio Mer, his staff and members of the staff at 2nd Canadian Corps moved Canada until 1939 when he joined the Secours National, developed an to the town of Colembert about Royal 22e Régiment. Appointed AA & evacuation plan, and presented it 16 kilometres east of Boulogne. A QMG 3rd Canadian Division in early to 3rd Canadian Division.36 The detachment organized specifically to 1943 he was involved in planning the scheme envisioned close cooperation deal with refugees, and augmented administrative and logistical aspects between several French civil by Volontaires Francaise, moved of the division’s role in Operation representatives including the mayors into the vicinity.34 Working closely “Overlord.” After the war Coté of neighbouring municipalities, the with Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Coté, served in a number of diplomatic resources of the Secours National 3rd Canadian Division’s Assistant posts including Ambassador to and CA. The plan called for the Adjutant and Quartermaster General Finland.35 direction of the population to (AA & QMG), the staff at CA, 2nd Of immediate concern to Coté evacuation zone collection points, Canadian Corps developed plans for and the CA officers were fears of a followed by processing by a CA both Boulogne and Calais. Lieutenant- security leak which precipitated the officer, members of the gendarme Colonel Coté was born in Edmonton evacuation of a ring of villages around and a representative of the Secours Nationale. At that time, the refugees became the responsibility of French civil authorities. Food would come from CA rations and captured German foodstuffs. The mayor of Montreuil and a CA officer selected a number of evacuees to return to their respective municipalities to act as security guards. At this point, the 219 (R) CA detachment received
LCMSDS Air Photo Collection Air Photo LCMSDS instructions that the welfare of refugees was the sole responsibility of French authorities, but the unit should be at the mayor’s disposal and meet with civil authorities daily to keep abreast of the situation. This prompted the CA diarist to claim, “it is a first-rate example of the French looking after themselves and we assisted them.”37 A much more difficult task soon confronted CA and the French authorities when the German garrison commander Lieutenant- General Ferdinand Heim ordered the evacuation of the civilian population. More than 8,000 civilians left the city. Captain J.S. Martin, 3rd Division’s Historical Officer, described the stream of refugees:
they glanced at our uniforms and murmured “Canadiens.” Moving slowly their brightly coloured clothes in sharp contrast to their unhappy
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expressions, these people bore aircraft obeyed the instructions of in an FFI prison. Canadian CA enormous burdens… Small dogs, an RAF group captain “who was in officers specializing in public safety some in baskets and some peering radio communication with master and a Canadian officer fluent in from brief-cases and others straining bomber overhead.”41 While some Polish assigned to the prison for eagerly at leashes were plentiful. Few “creepback” inevitably occurred, vetting purposes had to distinguish if any of these people realized that the bombing patterns were tight and between Red Poles loyal to the USSR, food, shelter, and transport is to be accurately placed. When prisoners and Blue Poles loyal to the London provided for them…38 were interrogated they reported that government.44 while little damage to the concrete Once in Boulogne, CA called on Several thousand civilians had defences was done, morale was the FFI to assist in some mopping up refused the order to evacuate the strongly affected.42 The battle for operations and to act as an auxiliary city. When a French Liaison Officer Boulogne lasted for six days and police force. Close cooperation with (LO) provided Lieutenant-Colonel considerable damage to the city was the resistance group proved to be Coté with information suggesting done by artillery and the tactical air “mostly useful to CA and the army,”45 an acute food and medical supply force but civilian casualties were but working with resistance groups shortage, especially for children, Coté limited. and other French civil authorities arranged to have the CA spearhead Although the evacuation and was not without its challenges for detachment enter Boulogne with the refugee situation in the Channel Ports First Canadian Army. French LOs lead troops as a way of informing was by far the largest CA concern, had their hands full in their role as civil authorities that food and CA staff found themselves working intermediaries. Events challenged medical support would be available with French authorities on other non- civil-military cooperation, such as to them on the day of liberation.39 refugee matters every day. Much of the discovery of a German weapons An additional CA detachment was the work took place in the communes cache in Boulogne. More than 50 to enter Boulogne to look after and towns surrounding Boulogne, French Naval firemen with unclear non-welfare work. Coté insisted and in addition to Montreuil, CA credentials announced they were on meeting with the individual CA was active in Samer, St. Omer and in Boulogne to remove all German detachments to personally explain the Desvres. By 12 September, 2nd weapons. Coté immediately ordered division’s expectations, suggesting Canadian Corps CA, working the weapons’ destruction. Questions the importance of this exercise from with their attached French LO, arose about the viability of supplying both a humanitarian and goodwill Commandant Mengin, established some of the weapons to FFI personnel, perspective. Since CA detachments civilian medical teams as well as but that met resistance from some travelled with minimum rations and police and work teams selected from French officials. With disagreement not sufficient equipment to cook for members of the French Forces of the on all sides, the French LOs tried their everyone, suggestions arose that Interior (FFI). Meanwhile 150 French best to come up with a compromise. branches of the Secours National trucks were awaiting instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel Coté expressed should form teams to cook and serve take food into the besieged city. It is dismay that French LOs spent far food. The plan called for civilian little wonder the 2nd Canadian Corps too much time on matters such as teams, transport and the 219 CA CA diarist was deeply impressed these which, in his opinion, were (R) detachment to withdraw from with the French volunteers: “they clearly under divisional control.46 Boulogne after addressing immediate are prepared to look after very large But, in the spirit of cooperation, staff concerns there and go into reserve numbers and throw themselves at 2nd Canadian Corps reminded for use in Calais; one CA detachment into the task of organizing their Division that the liaison officers would remain as the only CA presence reception with enthusiasm and little “rendered excellent service in the left in Boulogne. By 17 September, reservation.”43 Displaced persons past, they had a duty to both 21st reports suggested that 3,000 refugees were also an issue. While front line Army Group and their government from Boulogne were staying in the troops battled for Boulogne, CA and and it was not possible to order surrounding communes, cared for by local French authorities spent much them not to concern themselves local authorities, using 9,000 rations of the week in which Boulogne was with French matters.”47 Nor did per week from the army, in addition being liberated dealing with displaced Commandant Mengin complain to their own stocks.40 Belgians in Desvres; a colony of 100 about working with First Canadian Operation “Wellhit” began Jews in Samer that had survived a Army despite the loss due to theft on 17 September when Bomber concentration camp arrived alongside of his car and equipment by two Command aircraft struck at the Polish persons seeking to join Polish Canadian soldiers.48 Instead, Mengin outer ring of defences. Almost 800 forces. Other Poles remained captive went about his business assessing the https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol22/iss2/2 15 12 and : Heavy Bombers and Civil Affairs First Canadian Army in France, July-September 1944 LCMSDS Photo Collection Photo LCMSDS
Above: The original Canadian Army Overseas Photo caption for this image read: “CANADIANS FEED CHILD REFUGEES – These hungry children, refugees from Dunkirk, are being fed by Canadians who provided soup, vegetables, bread and meat. Food for these youngsters was given top priority when Canadians liberated their city.” Below: French civilians flee the pending Allied attack on Dunkirk. LCMSDS Photo Collection Photo LCMSDS
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situation in Boulogne, and assigning – the attack on Calais and Cap Gris abandon the city. More than 12,000 local government officials to their Nez.50 refugees fled Calais during the new posts in the newly liberated city. The approaches to Calais truce. Civil Affairs detachments Mengin then rejoined CA and 3rd provided a sharp contrast to the working closely with “local and sous- Canadian Division to plan the Calais hills and forests of the Boulanais prefectural authorities”52 managed operation. Only six days earlier, region. The countryside was open the exodus without serious incident. Mengin had prevented a FFI group and flat, crisscrossed with canals and On 30 September, 3rd Canadian in Ardres from attacking a canal drainage ditches. The 36-kilometre Division was ordered to move north bridge near Calais held by Germans, long Calais-Cap Gris Nez sector into Belgium to prepare for an assault emphasizing that FFI should only do of the Atlantic Wall contained six crossing of the Leopold Canal part such operations under instruction major fortified zones including new of the battle to clear the approaches from First Canadian Army. Several concrete defences and strengthened to Antwerp. The Canadian Civil incidents proved frustrating, but Vauban fortresses from previous Aid Detachments moved with their failed to quash the cooperative wars. Pressure from Montgomery formations and within 48 hours nature of civil-military relations. who wanted the Canadians to begin the Canadian role in the liberation However, the First Canadian Army operations to clear the approaches to of France was over. There were no war diarist did make note that a Antwerp meant that the troops who ceremonies to mark the moment and strong central civil authority was of fought at Boulogne had no time for no subsequent attempts to tell the great importance as “over-zealous rest. On 25 September, both 7th and story of their interaction with French activities of resistance groups in 8th Brigades began to advance as the civilian authority. France continue.”49 last of the heavy bombers struck the It is difficult to ascertain with any On 12 September the outer defences. Reports of the limited authority the failure to tell the story headquarters of 2nd Canadian effect of bombing on the defences of Canadian civil affairs in Northwest Corps CA moved to Landrethun-lès- of Boulogne led to an exceptionally Europe. Certainly there was a history Ardres, approximately 15 kilometers large bomber mission with over 900 written by Major A.K. Reid, of the southeast of Calais. Even based from aircraft committed to the attack. Historical Section, but it remained this location, Boulogne was still more Weather conditions forced two-thirds a Canadian Military HQ report, it important, but plans for Calais pushed of the crews to abort their attack. 51 was not included in C.P. Stacey’s forward, using the Boulogne CA plan Neither bombs nor shells did official history and was only briefly as a model. Lieutenant-Colonel Coté much material damage and the referenced in F.S.V. Donnison’s insisted on some changes to the battle for Calais required the same official volume on civil affairs in CA plan. Unhappy with the 219th deliberate infantry-armour tactics Northwest Europe. Concerns did Detachment’s indecisiveness on the employed at Boulogne. Flame arise that Reid’s narrative, based on distribution of foodstuffs, Coté chose throwers again proved their worth the experiences of three formations, other CA detachments to take on by helping to clear houses, slit- excluded much of the CA work the responsibility for refugees in the trenches, and especially pill boxes. done in the European theatre. Major evacuation of Calais and supervised The first burst of flame invariably led A.S. O’Hara, a Canadian civil affairs the entire CA operation himself. By to white flags so the key was getting officer, expressed these concerns to 21 September, the 318 CA detachment the vulnerable weapons into position. Reid. “If your history confines itself to was at Ardres and had at its disposal The civilian population of Calais, First Canadian Army, 2nd Canadian Commandant Mengin and Voluntaires estimated at 20,000, had according to Corps and 1st British Corps it will be Francaises for the Calais operation. German sources refused to evacuate rather incomplete.” It would exclude The collapse of enemy the city in the two weeks before the “those (officers) attached to 2nd Army resistance in Boulogne allowed assault began. On the afternoon of 28 and 30 Corps. In addition, probably Civil Aid detachments to open September, word that the “German all the outstanding rehabilitative medical facilities, soup kitchens and Commander was about ready to CA work was done by detachments waterpoints. Within days, many surrender” reached Civil Affairs and individuals operating under L refugees returned and the city was staff and General Spry agreed to of C. [Line of Communications]”53 alive again on the road to recovery. suspend operations while a meeting Also, civil affairs archival documents British Army engineers of a Port was arranged. Lieutenant-Colonel reveal that Major Arthur Reid, based Construction and Repair Group Ludwig Schroeder was stalling for at the historical section in London began work the next day as the time but an agreement was reached after the war, considered himself to Canadians left to get ready for on a 24-hour truce to allow the be an amateur playwright, taken by another siege, Operation Undergo civilians, now anxious to leave, to the London theatre scene, possibly https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol22/iss2/2 17 14 and : Heavy Bombers and Civil Affairs First Canadian Army in France, July-September 1944
at the expense of the Canadian CA Charnwood,” Report No.5, printed in 37. War Diary, Headquarters 2nd Canadian narrative. Civil Affairs files reveal Terry Copp, ed., Montgomery’s Scientists: Corps Civil Affairs, September 1944, LAC Operational Research in 21 Army Group RG 24, vol.16633, App.4. the following quote from Major A.K. (Waterloo: LCMSDS, 2000), pp.71-77. 38. War Diary, J.S. Martin, Historical Officer Reid on 13 November 1945, “This 11. F.S.V. Donnison, Civil Affairs and Military 3rd Division, LAC RG 24, vol.17506. Government Northwest Europe 1944-1946 39. War Diary, Headquarters 2nd Canadian job seems to be taking much longer (London: Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, Corps Civil Affairs, September 1944, than I had anticipated and I do not 1961) p.86. App.4. know when I will be finished. I will 12. Donnison, Civil Affairs and Military 40. War Diary, Headquarters 2nd Canadian Government Northwest Europe, p.86. Corps Civil Affairs, September 1944, not really mind staying in England 13. “Col. Charles Milne USHER D.S.O., App.5. until next March or so as I have just O.B.E., Hon. M.A. (Edin),”
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