Archives and Special Collections
Collection F0109 - John Mellor Dieppe Raid collection.
Identity area
Reference code
CA ACU TMM F0109
Title
John Mellor Dieppe Raid collection.
Date(s)
- ca.1940-1977 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1.6 m of textual records and other material.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
On August 19, 1942, a raid across the British Channel on Dieppe (Operation Jubilee) was planned to test Hitler's defences and the capability of the Western Allies to launch large-scale amphibious assaults. It was a major disaster. The raid lasted only 9 hours but among 5000 Canadian soldiers involved more than 900 were killed and 1300 taken prisoner. The failure was primarily caused by poor and overly complex planning, inadequate training, insufficient fire support and the employment of inexperienced troops. (Summary of Brereton Greenhous's entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia. - Edmonton : Hurtig, 1985)
Repository
Archival history
Acquired from J. Mellor in 1977 and 1992. Transferred from Special Collections holdings to Military Museums Library and Archives holdings, October 2017.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Collection consists of material relating to the Dieppe raid. Includes taped interviews of veterans of the raid; transcripts of interviews; photographs and slides; war diaries of various Canadian military units participating in the raid; military reports written after the raid; German accounts; correspondence with German veterans; collection of articles, pamphlets, thesis and other published material about the raid; research material for and manuscripts of J. Mellor's book Forgotten heroes : the Canadians at Dieppe; and miscellaneous material.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Some items restricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Text in English and some text in German.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
File level inventory available at repository.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of the collection.
Note
Includes ca. 1.2 m of textual records, 59 sound recordings, ca. 320 photographs and ca. 190 slides.