Lieutenant-Colonel Jock Runcie
Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

The officers discussed whether to fight to the last man and the last round, or to surrender in order to prevent further loss of life; and as it seemed clear that no further damage could be done to the enemy it was unanimously decided to surrender … “we chucked our weapons down and called it a day.”

(C.P. Stacey interview Runcie, 11 Dec 1942)

Born on 28 September 1907 in Cullen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, John “Jock Runcie worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Winnipeg. As captain in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, he served as “D” Company commander during the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942. He landed alongside Lieutenant-Colonel Alf Gostling, who was immediately killed on stepping ashore. Left behind on the beach after the evacuation, Runcie made a final stand with Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Merritt of the South Saskatchewan Regiment before being forced to surrender. “All around, it was quite a show,” Runcie said.

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