CMHQ Reports offline?

[DITNER, S.M.]

Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on with the CMHQ Reports (Online)? All attempts to access have led me on a merry goose chase that ended without reward.......

[klambie]

I recently had the same question over at canadiansoliders.com. See this thread:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/28173...Q-CMHQ+reports

[Stefan Siverud]

Been quite a while since I was last here for various reasons, but I came across this site again now because I'm trying to finish up my final paper for history class, which happens to be about Dieppe.

I was very happy to find that there were CMHQ reports online, but not quite as happy when I realized they were taken down for some reason. Does anyone know why?

I've tried using Google's "View Cached Copy" option, but it only finds a couple of them, one of which is about Dieppe, and the cached HTML version of it seems to cut off a couple of pages down, meaning I'm stuck here with half the info I might need and a paper I should have finished more than a week ago (no worries, I can take the time I want, which I have, but I want to get it done now).

So, first question, did anyone download the CMHQ reports while they were up (Mark Tonner linked to them in some post) and if so, can I please please please have them? The one I really need is No 101, but all that are written about Dieppe 1942 would be really nice (I think No 90 or 96 is about Dieppe too, but I seem to have misplaced that note).

While I'm here, I have to ask just what the... what does the RCE Field Park Coy do, and why was it at Dieppe? The first picture popping into my head was landscapers making recreational parks, which doesn't seem quite right. I did a bit of searching, and the only reference to what they actually do is a guess that they keep the vehicle park moving. An interview with a British RE Field Park sapper indicated that they were responsible for getting supplies needed by the RE Field Regt's. So, what is it?

Also, I'd really love a detailed orbat of the Dieppe raid, including the chain-of-command an perhaps even specified how many men were in each detachment. I'm trying to compile one myself, but aside from the lack of information about detachments and supporting units, I'm finding it hard to limit myself. It looks like a family tree, with detachments standing under the command of other units, sometimes several. If I were to detail the Signals position in it, I'd have something of a spiderweb, so I wont... oh well, point is, I'd really like a chain-of-command orbat that anyone can understand.

Also, maps and airphotos of the sites raided would be helpful, so I can show the movements of various units and penetrations made. I have one map for No 4 Commando, and even that is incorrect for some reason.

Thanks for any help!

PS: Who do I talk to if I want to change my mail address? The "Edit Profile" didn't work for me.

[asbell]

hi; the dieppe raid by robin neillands has great detail about the disastrous expedition. isbn 10 1 85410 653

[Noel Burgess]

I too was wondering where they had gone, then I found this thread on the "Sergent's Mess" section - It will direct you to canadiansoldiers.com where you will find some reasons for the dissapearance of the reports and a link to a web archive on the "wayback machine" website.

R.E. Field Park Coy - "held a reserve of equipment, stores & Skilled men" more information (British 1944/45, but Canadian would be almost identical) here

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by LegalAssassin
PS: Who do I talk to if I want to change my mail address? The "Edit Profile" didn't work for me.

That's a glitch in the Forum software which will shortly be remedied. In the interim, you may email me any requests for name changes, password resets or email changes. Please include all relevant details and I will action within the day.

Thanks,

Jif

[Stefan Siverud]

Thanks a lot guys! Now I've probably got too much info even, oh well, I'll sift through it fast

One more question, in case I don't find it straight away in the reports, what unit was the Calgary Tanks under in 1942?
The way I've got figured out right now is as follows:

???
-- 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
---- 14th Canadian Tank Regiment (Calgary Regiment)

An educated guess would be that the 1st Cdn Armoured Bde was under the command of the I Cdn Corps, but it could also be under the First Cdn Army.

Mail on the way btw.

[Stefan Siverud]

While I may have missed it, as there are quite a few reports to look through, it seems I can't find the maps I need. I did find one secondary report, really an MA thesis paper "Naval Gunfire Support For The Dieppe Raid" by Brian T. Begbie under the name MQ45205 while looking, and it did include some maps, but no topographic information. In other words, they don't show even the headlands which did a lot of damage, which is the main reason I need the maps.

The CMHQ report no 130 describes the maps included, but doesn't include it as it is just a covering letter (and not really a report). Anyway, it describes the following material I might need:

Report:
The Dieppe Raid Combined Operations Report (called different things and referred to as C.B. 04244 and GB04244, but I think it's the same one)

Some maps:
"Map of Dieppe area" (1 :12,500) Home Forces No. 23, May 1942
"Dieppe (Town plan)" 1 : 5,000 (photostat as issued to force) [no reference number]
Maps, France, 1 : 50,000, First Edition:
Sheet 8 D/6 (St. Valery-En-Caux); and
Sheet 9 D/5 (Dieppe).

Overprint sheets:
"Dieppe Area Defences" (1 : 50,000) (ref 2,200/6/42/523 Coy. R.E./65)
"Dieppe Area Defences" (1 : 50,000) undated (ref 523/115).

Photos:
MOSAIC, Dieppe Area (C.I.U. No. 622) (1942)
Air Photograph, Harbour Area, Dieppe (C.I.U. No. 777) (1942)

I am currently writing a mail to the address the archives direct to, but my experience with authorities is that if they reply, they aren't very quick to do so. My impeccable timing, comming to this list on a late Friday doesn't help either but I will try to get the material for personal research.

Until then, I'd like to know, does anyone on the forum have any of these documents (in digital form)? The most important thing is topographic maps of the Canadian beaches at Puys, Pourville and Dieppe itself. I could use modern ones, but at least for Dieppe, there's a lot of new houses and the casino is of course missing.

Thanks for any help!

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

copies of CMH015 and 046, in pdf form.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Have merged both CMHQ Reports threads.

[bird_dog36]

Hi, I'm currently doing research about my grandfather who was part of the 4th Medium Regt. RCA during WWII. And by reading his letters I discovered he arrived in England on November 21th 1941, probably within the 7 LAA/57 Bty RCA at this time. He probably crossed from Canada to England with Convoy TC-15. That's the reason why I would like to get CHMQ Report No. 59 in which I'll find informations about this convoy and continue farther researches.

So if somebody have a PDF copy of it, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Daniel

Type:
CMHQ Report

Title:
Situation of the Canadian Forces in the United Kingdom, Winter, 1941-42. Part III: Growth of Canadian Military Force in the United Kingdom, September 1941 - January 1942.

Report #: 59
Date of Publication: Jan 29 1942
Author: Stacey, C.P.

[Louisg]

Try this link...

http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/re...hq_e.asp?cat=7

[bird_dog36]

Thank you, but 59 is not online!

[servicepub (RIP)]

Contact DHH using the link provided on their web-site and request a photocopy of the report. They will send it to you at no charge.

[bird_dog36]

Thank you, I'll write a letter to DHH.