Samuel Bernard Northern

Operation Jubilee, the ill-fated attack on Dieppe. On the 19th August over 6000 troops were landed to take the port of Dieppe. After 6 hours the RAF had lost 106 aircraft and the Royal Navy had lost a destroyer and 33 landing craft. After 10 hours over half the land force had been either killed, wounded or taken prisoner and a retreat had been ordered.
5,000 Canadian troops, 1,000 British troops inc 370 men of the Royal Marines 40 Commando and 50 USA Rangers. Out of the 6,086 men involved in the landings 3,623 were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner, which was 60% of the force.
The objective of Operation Jubilee was to seize and hold a major port for a short period both to prove that it was possible and to gather information. Also on the retreat they would destroy coastal defences, port structures and buildings.
Royal Marine 40 Commando was to destroy port facilities at Dieppe and to form a reserve. They crossed the Channel in the river gunboat Locust and arrived off Dieppe at 05:30 hrs before disembarking in several LCA (Landing Craft Assault). The Locust attempted to force the harbour entrance but she came under heavy fire and she was repeatedly hit and was forced to withdraw. The Canadians, who were the main attack force, were pinned down on the beaches and 40 Commando were ordered to land at the eastern end of the beach. However the LCA came under heavy machine gun and mortar fire. Their Commanding Officer, Lt-Col Phillips ordered them to retreat back out sea, however Mjr-Gen Houghton continued to shore and on landing his LCA was blown up. They suffered several casualties, the first one being their doctor. Trapped by the promanade wall, unable to advance or to retreat they fought on.
Of the 370 Royal Marines 76, including Lt-Col Phillips were killed. Mjr-Gen Houghton was captured and endured great hardship including being shackled for 411 days whilst a POW in Germany. He survived and died aged 98 in 2011.

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