My name is Ross Mahoney and I am a Further Education College lecturer in Cornwall, England. I teach both History and Politics and I am in the process of looking into the possibility of running a foundation degree in War Studies in the area.
I was educated at the University of Wolverhampton completing both a BA (Hons) in History and War Studies and a PGCE in Post – Compulsory Education.
In October 2007 I began an MPhil in Modern History at the Centre for Second World War Studies at the University of Birmingham.
My thesis will be examining the role of RAF Air Power during the Raid on Dieppe in August 1942. The thesis hopes to begin a re-evaluation of the raid at both an operational and tactical level by considering the effectiveness of air power during the raid and how their performance fitted into their doctrinal context with respect to Combined Operations Doctrine. Thus, it is an attempt to re-evaluate the assumption that the RAF failed to adequately support the raid.
My research interests include Air Power, British Military History of the 19th and 20th Centuries, Military Thought and the Development of Military Technology. In my spare time I am a keen military modeller and spend much of my spare time going round the country to shows.
February 28, 2008 at 12:47 am
Cheers from Canada!
Stumbled over your website. I did my MA thesis on the development of British tactical air power and the Normandy campaign. Its deposited with the library at the Royal Military College in Kingston, but you can see an outline on my website at http://tactical-airpower.tripod.com/
I have a few publications on the subject you might be interested in, which you can find on my personal homepage at http://pauldjohnston.tripod.com/
(That page is sadly out of date, but you can still see the two articles I’m talking about)
Cheers,
Paul Johnston
February 29, 2008 at 11:16 am
Paul
Thank you for that. Had a look at your site. Some very interesting stuff there. The articles are very interest and are downloaded and saved for future reference!
Ross
May 19, 2008 at 11:57 am
Hello,
I thought you are your readers might be interested in my new book, Borrowed Soldiers: Americans Under British Command, 1918 (University of Oklahoma Press, 2008). It is the story of two American Army divisions that trained and fought with the BEF in the summer and autumn 1918, including the breaking of the Hindenburg Line. It was originally a UK dissertation directed by Richard Holmes.
Cheers,
Mitch Yockelson
May 23, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Just come across your website. Spotted a minor faux pax. You say only four tanks got off the beach. My records show more than 14.
Al Judson
Archivist
The King’s Own Calgary Regiment (we were there)
May 27, 2008 at 8:55 am
Al – Thanks for that. The four I refer to comes from the report of the German 81st Corps and are the ones left on the promenade. You are quite right that 15 make it off the beach.
Ross
June 6, 2008 at 3:00 pm
My uncle William McMullen was in the Calgary Tanks and was in this raid. Also from Cape Breton NS, My father was was in the West Nova Scotia Regment and was on guard duty during the time the Calagy Tanks were travelling to port before embarking the ships. My father told me he saw the name “Calgary Tanks” on the side of the Churchills and asked if the men knew where Billy was. The response was yes right there. They had a conversation after not seeing each other of months. After the raid my father was brought to investigation about the nature of his discussion. My uncle was on the ship and his tank was in a landing craft when the raid was called off.
I have read some short histories of the regiment which do not include the Calgary Tanks outside of Caen. My father told me that my uncle was in a good tank position outside Caen and had a good gunner. If my memory (40 years ago) serves me correct, they hit the German tank 6 times. When the German located my uncle’s Sherman he was burned badly and all other crew members died. He returned to Canada in 1947 after much medical care for his burns.
I continue to look for information about my father (wounded 3 times in Italy) and my Uncle. The Typhon at the French Caen Memorial is stirring.
June 6, 2008 at 3:26 pm
The I think your uncle was very lucky to still be on the landing craft as they did not fare well during the raid. You might want to keep an eye for the term 14 CATR (Canadian Army Trank Regiment) when reading histories as this was the Calgary’s other name.
Ross
December 29, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Hi,
Great webpage you have here! I see you went to UoB too. I’m doing an MA in Strategic Studies there, and I have to say it’s a really thorough course, nothing is missed out. I have a career related question for you: Is a PGCE compulsory for working in further education? I’ve been told many different things by the University career service, none of which have shed any light on the matter!
Cheers
James
December 29, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Cheers James.
In answer to your question the answer is yes. However, you can, at the moment do it in service. That means starting off unqualified i.e. less money. There are new regulation coming in that states that all lecturers should have a PGCE and be a member of the Institure for Learning. This is certainly going to be the case. Best bet is have a read of the institute’s website.
Ross
March 7, 2009 at 7:37 pm
The term CATR is not correct. It was CTR (Canadian Tank Regiment) later changed to CAR (Canadian Armoured Regiment)
If Craig McMullen has an email address could I please get it or give him mine.
June 9, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Mr Al Judson. My apology for the delay I an be reached at
CMcMullen@eastlink.ca
My father John who was three times wounded with the West Nova Scotia Regiment. Ortona, Hitler Line and Lamone River, told me that my Uncle William landed in France on day plus 18 according to my memory. When the Calgary Tanks left Italy is unknown?
September 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Ross,
I stumbled over your website whilst trawling for any and all information I can gather on Operation Jubilee. I hope you don’t mind, but despite the excellence of your work thus far I have a slightly ulterior motive for writing.
I was a medical historian (PhD thesis on c.18th British Military Medicine), but moved from academia to banking about 9 years ago. However, I recently started researching the Dieppe Raid as a personal project. My principal interest is in the main assault, and particularly the activities and events taking place on White Beach. My Grandfather was a coxswain on LCT5 (no.121) – often seen burning brightly on the cover of many a Dieppe publication. Unfortunately, despite surviving Dieppe and D-Day unscathed he passed away in the early 50s long before I was born. There are many family legends about his 7 hour experience on the beach before he managed to get picked-up and return to Newhaven, and even after 6 months (sporadic research) there is still much I would like to find out and verify. As such I would love to hear from any Canadian veterans, especially any Hamilton Regiment (HRLI), or Calgary Tank crew survivors who were in and around the Casino area. I know LCT5 was knocked out as it disembarked its load of tanks and a detachment of HRLI c.05:30. Could there be anyone left who was actually on LCT5 (anyone in Churchills Blossom, or Buttercup, for example? – perhaps Al Judson can help out me there ?), or sheltered in the ship, or under the ramp once it was disabled? The family story goes that my granddad spent a number of hours under the ramp with a small number of Canadian troops. It’s a long shot, but perhaps someone remembers such a group, or was even part of it. Perhaps, someone may remember a sailor helping wounded troops on and off the stricken craft after it had become an impromptu first aid post? Or if there are any Naval veterans out there (especially LCT crews), I’d love to hear first hand accounts on life on board LCTs, the landings, training, etc.
Obviously, I’m also happy to join in wider ranging historical debate and share research findings on Operation Jubilee with academics and all interested parties.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you: philip.mills@rbs.com
Good luck with the establishment of a War Studies course, its sounds like a very exciting project.
Thanks
Phil