Canadian Navy
Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Navy, Commando-Beachmaster Kiska 1942:
I really need to shoot more pictures of this uniform.
Early Allied amphibious operations during the war were hampered by poor organization and control of their landing beaches. In 1941 the Royal Navy beach party, which was the forerunners to the Royal Navy Commandos, was raised.
The first Royal Navy Commandos were formed from these ‘Beach Party’ groups shortly after Operation Ironclad, the initial allied landings on Madagascar to capture the ‘Vichy French’ held port of Diego Suarez in early May 1942. During this operation specifically trained Royal Navy Beach Parties were landed along with the first wave of the landing force assault troops in order to bring organization to the beach landings, and get gain control of the beach-head operation.
The Aleutian Island Operations was largely an American one. But they were Islands that spun-off in a line from its mainland of Alaska, was the Alaska Territories then, and very much was of interest to Canada, as it was the bridge to North America, through Canada, and that would have been a long way to go to.
A nearly un-told story was the development of the Royal Canadian Navy Commando contingent which would lead the way in another nearly un-told story, forgotten, one of the campaigns in the Pacific Theater operations, of the World War. While Royal Navy Commando Group “W”, made of Canadian Sailors, trained in Scottland, for “Operation Overlord”; little is remembered, except for a few photos and the like of the Commander that lead the way, onto the beach of Kiska Island in August of 1943, with the joint Canadian and US Force that assaulted the island of Kiska, almost a year before the Normandy Invasion.
In June 1942 the United States requested Canadian assistance when the Japanese seized the Islands of Attu and Kiska and bombed the nearest United States Military Base in Dutch Harbor. The Canadian Ships Prince David and Prince Robert performed convoy escort duty and helped concentrate the troops for the attack on Attu, which they regained in May. The Canadian Corvette Dawson made a final trip to Alaska in July when escorted a troop convoy for the assault on Kiska.
On the 15th of August 1943, an invasion force of 34,426 Canadian and American Troops landed on Kiska. The invasion force consisted of the US. 7th Infantry Division, the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and the 1st Special Service “Devils Brigade” a 200 man joint Canadian and American Commando type unit that had formed up in 1942 in Montana, and trained in winter warfare and mountainous terrain. The Brigade included 3 Regiments; the first was to go ashore with the first wave at Kiska Harbor, the second was to be held in reserve to parachute in wherever needed, and the third was to land on the North-side of Kiska on the second day of the assault. The 87th Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division, the only major US. part of the landing force specifically trained for mountain warfare was also used in the operation.
Due to the heavy casualties suffered on Attu Island, planners were expecting another costly operation. The Japanese tactical planners had, however, realized the isolated island was no longer defendable and planned for an evacuation. Although small there were signs of Japanese retreat. once active were silent when Allied planes flew over in the days leading up to the invasion.
The Canadian Forces landed on the Northern part of the island under the direction of the Canadian Royal Navy Commando “Beach Party”. But Kiska had already been evacuated in the cold foggy nights beforehand. But the US. and Canadian Forces mistook each other for the Japanese! And with the tenseness of expected battle, twitchy fingers, and lots of fire-power, the resulting fire-fight led to 28 Americans and 4 Canadians killed, with many wounded as well.
During the Campaign, the Canadians had been issued U.S. cold-weather equipment (Kit), and helmets, and both Canadians and American Forces had been issued the same patches of a large ‘Bowie Knife’ on a blue round background, to be worn on both sleeves replacing normal insignia.
To note on the Royal Canadian Beach Commando “W” Following their involvement in the Western Aleutians, the group increased in preparation for operations in the European Area, where they would be greatly needed in the huge-cross channel operation, landing at Normandy on the French Coast, at ‘Juno Beach’ on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Over 100 Canadian warships and some 10,000 Canadian sailors helped protect the invasion fleet during the Normandy Invasion. They cleared German land minefields, carried troops across the channel, and did fire support. The Royal Canadian Navy Commando “W”, had been created in early 1944, went into France nearly in July, and conducted overseeing operation on the Juno-Beach.
The Lieutenant’s standard duty uniform is the Canadian battle dress and trousers, worn with shirt and tie, along with canvas gaiters on his over his boots. Much like the British Battle Dress of WWI and WWII, it was generally greener in color and went through small changes, but insignia very similar, eventually they adopted U.S. uniform and kit-bits too from time to time.
The Lieutenant’s regular shoulder boards have been applied to the battle dress jacket along with the Royal Navy’s Canadian Commando and Combined Operations shoulder flashes. He will wear Royal Navy Service Cap with bullion embroidered insignia with the high topped King’s style Crown on it used during the Conflict. While on duty he wears a standard web belt with Webbly Pistol on it. Sometimes a winter overcoat over the lot.
