Brigadier Churchill Mann
8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Hussars)
7th Infantry Brigade

It was like watching a demonstration of tracer firing punctuated with the flash and crash of guns from both sides and although it was a thrilling and spectacular display, it filled us with foreboding as we all realized that the chance of our effecting surprise was greatly diminished.

(Mann, “Notes on Dieppe,” 1942)

Born on 6 September 1904 in Nutley, New Jersey and raised in Toronto, Clarence Churchill Mann was an RMC graduate, horseman and captain in the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He was attached to the headquarters staff of 1st Division and acted an instructor at the first Canadian staff college in England before being appointed commanding officer the newly formed 8th Reconnaissance Battalion in March 1941.

The 8th Reece comprised several different squadrons and units in England, and adopted the name of the 14th Canadian Hussars, formerly under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. Hopkins. Mann commanded until his appointment to general staff officer of 2nd Canadian Division in October 1941. The 8th Recee war diary lamented his transfer:

This is not good news, for the Colonel has been the driving force in our lives since the unit was formed 10 months ago and has taught us all, Officers and men alike, the principles of modern warfare. He has instilled into us the will to fight and to win. While it would be idle to deny that we shall sincerely miss his inspiration and leadership and his kindness, we are much hearted to know that Maj. Vokes is to command us.

With 2nd Division, Mann helped to plan Operation Jubilee and acted as deputy commanding officer to Major-General J.H. Roberts during the Dieppe Raid. Although he had been promoted to brigadier with I Canadian Corps headquarters a month before, he had returned to Dieppe planning when the operation had been rescheduled for 19 August 1942. Mann’s lengthy and overly detailed plan proved unsuitable for the conditions on the beach. Denis Whitaker of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry wrote: “The plan’s inflexibility and unrealistic objectives didn’t allow the troops an iota of manoeuvrability or initiative when the battle turned against them.”

Despite the failure, Mann received the Distinguished Service Order, to which he stated, “I am one of the backroom boys and I feel my honor is on behalf of a lot of other men.” Some of those to return from the raid felt Mann exemplified the official spin that the operation had in fact been a success.

“Sorry we failed to achieve out hopes … We want to go again some time too!” Mann confined to General Harry Crerar. He resumed duty with I Canadian Corps and commanded 7th Infantry Brigade from June 1943 to January 1944. He then served as chief of staff to Crerar of First Canadian Army through the Normandy landings until the end of the war. He lost a £5 bet to General Bernard Montgomery that the war in Europe would not end before September 1945.

Postwar, Mann served as Vice Chief of the General Staff from 1946 until his retirement as a major general in 1949. He was involved in many civic and philanthropic enterprises. He notably founded the Canadian Equestrian Team and with his wife was one of the most prominent leaders in the horse industry.

He died on 14 January 1989 Toronto.