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Fred G. Spear: Photographer – PR Darkroom Technician

Published on January 27, 2018 in History by Dale Gervais

Fred G. Spear and and Lillian Roach - Photo courtesy Sheila Mitchell
Fred G. Spear : Public Relations Darkroom Technician- Photo courtesy Sheila Mitchell
Fred G. Spear : Public Relations Darkroom Technician- Photo courtesy Sheila Mitchell

So much time has passed since the end of the war, that it has made locating information about some of the veterans extremely challenging. Oftentimes, I rely on visitors to the website for additional information about former members of the CFPU. In this recent post, I want to share an email that I received from Sheila Mitchell, who is searching for additional information about her father, Fred G. Spear. As Sheila would explain, “As far as my father goes, his full name was Fred or Frederick George Spear. My mother at the time was Lillian Phylis Roach, I believe.” As it turns out, Sgt. Fred G. Spear, B112922, was a Darkroom Technician with…

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Glory of the Innocents: Dieppe Decoded by Richard Tomkies

Published on November 7, 2017 in History by Richard Tomkies

Final exercise prior to assault landing at Dieppe. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-184211. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Library and Archives Canada. Photographer: Unknown.
Infantrymen of The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada going ashore during Operation JUBILEE, the raid on Dieppe, France, 19 August 1942. Credit: Capt. Frank Royal / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-113245. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired
Troops in landing craft preparing to go ashore during Operation JUBILEE, the raid on Dieppe. Credit: Library and Archives Canada/PA-183767. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown. Original negative is British Official A-11228.
Landing craft carrying Canadian troops ashore to Dieppe, France, 19 August 1942. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-113246. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown.
Dieppe Raid, 19 August 1942. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-183855. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Library and Archives Canada. Photographer: Unknown.
Dieppe Raid. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-183791. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Library and Archives Canada. Photographer: Unknown.
Bodies of Canadian soldiers lying among damaged landing craft and 'Churchill' tanks of the Calgary Regiment following Operation 'Jubilee'. Credit: Library and Archives Canada / C-014160. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown.
German troops examining "Churchill" tank of the Calgary Regiment abandoned during the raid on Dieppe. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/C-029878. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown.
"Buttercup", an abandoned Churchill tank of the Calgary Regiment, left on the beach at Dieppe. Copyright: Belongs to the Crown Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / ecopy. Correspondence and photographs of Dieppe Raid, between Mrs. Veuve Delabarre, Le Havre, France and Major General R. Rowley, October 1967 (RG24-G-3-1-a).
Derelict tank landing craft LC(T) 5 on the beach at Dieppe after the raid. Copyright: Belongs to the Crown Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / ecopy. Correspondence and photographs of Dieppe Raid, between Mrs. Veuve Delabarre, Le Havre, France and Major General R. Rowley, October 1967 (RG24-G-3-1-a).
Civilians recover the bodies of soldiers killed in the Dieppe Raid and prepare them for burial. Copyright: Belongs to the Crown Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / ecopy. Correspondence and photographs of Dieppe Raid, between Mrs. Veuve Delabarre, Le Havre, France and Major General R. Rowley, October 1967 (RG24-G-3-1-a).
Troops returning from Operation JUBILEE, the raid on Dieppe. Credit: Library and Archives Canada/PA-183769. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown. Original negative is British Official BH-14855.
British commandos who took part in Operation JUBILEE, the raid on Dieppe, returning to England, 19 August 1942. Credit: Library and Archives Canada / PA-183776. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown. Original negative is British Official BH-14826.
No.4 British Command (Lovat Scouts) returning after Dieppe raid to New Haven. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-141307. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Caption information provided by researcher. Imperial War Museum photograph.
British Commandos of No.3 or No.4 Commando (British Army) who took part in Operation JUBILEE, the Dieppe raid, returning to England, 19 August 1942. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-210152. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired.
German soldiers who were captured during Operation JUBILEE, the raid on Dieppe, disembarking in England, 19 August 1941. Credit: Library and Archives Canada / PA-183777. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Unknown. Original negative is British Official BH-14824.
Troops who took part in the raid on Dieppe, France, 19 August 1942. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-113250. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired. Photographer: Canada. Dept. of National Defence. Dept. of National Defence.
Dieppe Cemetery. Copyright belongs to the Government of Canada. Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / ecopy. Citation / reference note caption on envelope reads: Veteran members of a Canadian division which took part in the raid on Dieppe hold a service in the Canadian cemetery for their fellow comrades who fell in the famous Dieppe raid.
View of Dieppe Cemetery. Copyright belongs to the Government of Canada. Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / ecopy.
Major J.M. Figott and members of his company of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry kneeling at the graves of Canadian soldiers killed at Dieppe on 19 August 1942. Dieppe, France, 1 September 1944. Credit: Lieut. Ken Bell / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-176696. Restrictions on use: Nil. Copyright: Expired
Predawn that morning, 19th August, 1942, they stormed ashore on this beach - and five more not far away - and met a storm from Hell.
Canada's Military Parachute Team, The Sky Hawks, put on a spectacular display over Dieppe during 50th Anniversary Commemorations.
Canada's Military Parachute Team, The Sky Hawks, put on a spectacular display over Dieppe during 50th Anniversary Commemorations.
Cabada's Sky Hawks land very precisely on Dieppe's seafront, much to the delight of watching crowds.
Thousands of people flood across Dieppe's seafront to join in 50th Anniversary commemorations.
During Dieppe 50th Anniversary commemorations, Richard Tomkies interviews Hon. Gerald Marathieu, Canada's Defense Minister.
Richard Tomkies interviews Veteran Dan Doheny, Liason Officer, 2nd Division. Regarding the Raid's objectives, he comments: "I don't know what they were; there were very high-secret details."
Richard Tomkies interviews veteran, Jack Nissen, hero of the radar-station at Pourville.
Sheer hell blazed across the landings from cliff-side bunkers; bats and children enjoy them today.
50 years after the horror, Dieppe has long-returned to a quiet, seaside vacation-spot.
Back on parade, 50 years's later: Veterans, who survived The Raid, return to honour their fallen comrades.

On May 28th of this year I had received an email from Mr. Richard Tomkies, who had in his possession, “remarkable video material professionally recorded in Dieppe during the 50th Anniversary in 1992.” Mr. Tomkies would go on to say, “Dieppe of course, was not an error but a deliberate sacrifice, pivotal to success in Normandy and ultimately, victory in WWII.” 2017 happened to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid; 19th August, 1942. On this day, the Allies had launched the largest military raid in history. Thinking on this I began to research the involvement of the Canadian Army Film & photo Unit (CFPU) , and their preparations…

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