Spring, 1942

By the Spring of 1942 there were three Canadian divisions based in Britain. The 3rd Canadian Division arrived between July and September, 1941. Through the winter and spring of 1942 soldiers from all three divisions were kept busy with garrison duties and continual training. In May, 1942 units of the 2nd Division began specialized training on the Isle of Wight in amphibious operations.

What they did not know was that they were to become the "bait" in a Royal Air Force plan. The RAF wanted to lure a large number of German aircraft into combat along the coast of France - somewhere where British planes could operate without the danger of running out of fuel. RAF command reasoned that a large scale amphibious raid on a French coastal town would force the Luftwaffe to commit its fighters in a situation that favoured the RAF.

The Canadian government desperately wanted to have Canadian forces involved in something more important than continual training so they were eager to volunteer Canadian soldiers for the raid. From May until August 5,000 Canadian troops practised amphibious landings along the coast of the Isle of Wight.The original raid was scheduled for July 7th, but it was postponed due to poor weather and rough seas. It was rescheduled for August 18, 1942.