70th Anniversary of Dieppe

Today was the 70^th Anniversary of the raid on Dieppe by the Second Canadian Division in 1942.  A good overview of the raid can be found here. Dieppe Raid at Flames of War  The raid is not very well remembered  in Canada although it does get the odd mention in the media around anniversaries.  I was lucky enough to visit there this last winter with my dad and brother. 

The most noticeable thing on visiting Dieppe is how difficult the task would have been for the attacking force.  The beach is steep and rocky and fronted fully by the town.  In turn the town is surrounded by high impassable cliffs with a very limit number of egress points.  All in all it seems to even the untrained eye like a ridiculous place to mount an attack but regardless thousands of young Canadians were sent there to attempt it.  In a personal connection my mother’s uncle served with the Essex Scottish regiment who were badly mauled at Dieppe although he had not yet joined the regiment at the time of the raid.

Castle overlooking the beach.

My brother walking on the pebble beach.

Gun ports cut into the castle.

More gun ports.

Essex Scottish Regiment memorial.

View from bunker overlooking the town.

Beach

I think this is Green Beach at Pourville.