HMS BLEASDALE (L 50)

From March 1942 Dad was based at HMS CALLIOPE in North Shields, awaiting the completion of HMS BLEASDALE(L50)(hunt class type 3) which joined the 1st Destroyer flotilla in May 1942. Mainly channel convoy escort duties. After hitting a mine she was repaired at Portsmouth, then nominated as a support ship for the Dieppe commando landings (Operation Jubilee) a prelude to Normandy.

The raid took place 5 am. 19th July 1942. HMS Bleasdale assisted the assault craft and remained on station to help defend the evacuation on the shore,getting slightly damaged.

I remember him saying" The Canadians were dying for some action and they certainly did ". The element of surprise was lost when the enemy spotted them coming across the English channel. Many mistakes were made on the operation by all the services. The lack of Capital ships was the Navy's failure,sending smaller ships with only 4" guns which could not deal with the onshore defenses ( i.e they did not have enough firepower to protect the troops, leaving them decimated and defenseless).

After Dieppe HMS Bleasdale joined convoy (KX 7) and (MKS.3Y) duties to Gibraltar and Algiers after the allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch). She returned to channel duties till the end of the year. In early 1943 HMS BLEASDALE was involved in cross channel sorties assisting the coastal forces in attacking axis convoys and blockade runners. Dad left the ship in July 1943 and was stationed at HMS VICTORY barracks Portsmouth.