Dieppe to Berlin: Command

Maj. Gen. J. H. Roberts

Date of Birth:

December 21, 1891

Place of Birth:

Pipestone, Manitoba

Medals:

DSO

Service History:

1941 - Commanding Officer 1st Canadian Brigade

1941 - CO Royal Artillery I Canadian Corps

1941-43 - Commanding Officer 2nd Canadian Division

1943-45 - CO Canadian Reinforcements Units

PHOTO: Major General Roberts

Major General Roberts was placed in command of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division during the disastrous Dieppe Raid. He was not responsible for the raid's planning and thus was not blame for its outcome. On the contrary, he was even awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions. In 1943, he was transferred to the Canadian Reinforcements Units after a poor showing during the preparatory exercises for the Normandy Invasion.

Summer 1940, British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France:

"There were heavy losses in equipment and vehicles but the 1st Field Regiment, through Lt. Col. J. H. Roberts' persistence, kept its guns out of German hands.

Roberts had explicit orders to destroy his guns but could not bring himself to do so while there was any chance of saving them. He swore he could load them in an hour. The military authorities ashore, thinking he would never finish, gave him two. When the deadline came Roberts had loaded all of his own 25-pounders - and a number of Bofors anti-aircraft guns that belonged to other units."