10 Platoon, X Coy, The RM Commando - The Pinch Operation at Dieppe
It has been suggested that the Dieppe raid in August 1942 (amongst other things) was a diversionary activity for a pinch operation mounted by an elite commando unit assigned as 30 Commando Assault Unit (30AU) to target a number of key locations in and around Dieppe.
These included the Hotel Moderne by the port housing the German Naval HQ and allied intelligence had also convinced themselves that trawlers moored in Dieppe harbour were acting as secret German signals intelligence collection platforms. It has been suggested that 30AU’s main target was to obtain spare parts for the new 4-rotor wheel version of the Enigma cipher machine and associated code books, to aid the work being done by GC & CS at Bletchley Park.
The team was put ashore acting as No. 40 Royal Marines Commando on HMS LOCUST, which failed to breach the inner channel in Dieppe harbour so the 30AU troops had to go ashore aboard a landing craft.
Strategically, the Dieppe raid was a disaster. Over 900 Canadian soldiers were killed, 586 injured and 2000 captured. The 30AU team returned to England empty handed.[https://www.rmhistoricalsociety.org/history/commandos-and-codes]
Despite failing to capture their primary intelligence targets at Dieppe, the unit's surviving members formed the core nucleus of what became 30 Commando - 30AU (Special Service/Assault Unit).
[Photo courtesy of Susan Sadler, daughter of George Sadler RM*].1st (Top) row (7 men): 2nd left: belvd to be Mne Samuel Bernard Northern kia Dieppe.2nd row down (10 men): 5th left: Cpl.George Sadler*.3rd row down (11 sitting or kneeling): 5th left: Sgt John Kruthoffer, Platoon Sgt; 6th left: Lt H O Huntington-Whiteley, Platoon Commander.Bottom row (4 on ground): 1. Mne Ronald Simmons*; 2. nk; 3 (with Bren). Mne Leslie Bradshaw, MM; 4. nk. [Commando Veterens.org]
Marines known to be in 10 Platoon at the time of the Dieppe Raid (19 August 1942):
Lt H O 'Peter' Huntington-Whiteley, KIA 12/9/44
Lt. I.C. McKellar (A&SH)
CH/X 10018 Sgt John F Kruthoffer,
Cpl Leslie 'Lofty' Whyman,
PLY/X 100026 Cpl George N. Sadler,
Paul McGrath,
Harry Gosling,
Jock Farmer,
EX/3726 Joseph 'killer' Kilbride, KIA, 12/7/43,
Leslie 'Brad' Bradshaw, MM, - Bren Gun,
PO/X 4237 Mne John Moir Alexander - Bren Gun, KIA 19/8/42,
'Pusser' Hill - Bren Gun,
Ken 'Jock' Finlayson,
Jack 'Spike' Watson,
CH/X2889 Mne Ronald Simmons,
Mne Rutter,
PO/X 101038 Mne Samuel B 'ginger' Northern, KIA 19/8/42,
Mne Thurman.
*Cpl George N Sadler was captured on the Dieppe Raid and spent the rest of the war as a PoW (No: 794) at Marlag & Milag Nord.
**Mne. Ronald Simmons was also captured on the Dieppe raid and spent the rest of the war as a PoW.
Related Royal Marines 'Dits":
Search 30 AU 'Dits' here
Further Reading/ References:
30 [Commando] Assault Unit - Website
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