BG– 12.040 - August 17, 2012
From August 18 to 20, 2012, a contingent of Canadian Forces (CF) members will be travelling to France to participate in an event organized by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.
The main commemorative ceremony will be held on August 19, 2012, at the Parc du Canada, in Dieppe, France. This is a Canadian-lead event, with permission granted from the Town of Dieppe and the French Government. The event will include a 55 CF member contingent representing the units involved in the raid from all over Canada, Canadian Veterans who participated in the Dieppe Raid, Canadian cadets and scouts, and a 30-person brass and reed band from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal is a regiment that took part in the Dieppe Raid and has the “Dieppe” battle honour as one of its many Second World War honours.
Over 500 people are expected to attend this event, including His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada; the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs; The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Ambassador of Canada to France; and French dignitaries including the Mayor of Dieppe, Mr. Sébastien Jumel.
A Commemorative Event at National War Memorial in Ottawa is also being planned by VAC, with a 90 member CF-contingent, on August 19th.
The Raid on Dieppe, France, on August 19, 1942, was a pivotal moment in the Second World War. The Dieppe Raid was one of the most devastating and bloody chapters in Canadian military history. Of the 4963 Canadian soldiers who embarked from England for the operation, only 2210 returned, and many of them had never even landed in France. Over 900 Canadians were killed in action, died of wounds or died as prisoners of war. Further, the campaign saw the war’s single worst day for Allied aircraft losses, with 119 aircraft shot down as they protected the supporting ships. The Royal Navy lost a destroyer, over 30 landing craft, over 500 sailors, and 275 Royal Marine Commandos.
The Dieppe Raid was an important chapter in Canadian military history as it helped shape the Allied approach to the successful Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
(See August 20 event on Meritt Bridge)
The Dieppe Raid saw countless displays of heroism and sacrifice, including the actions of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Meritt and Honorary Captain (Padre) John Weir Foote, both of whom received the Victoria Cross the Commonwealth’s highest decoration for military valour.
Lieutenant-Colonel Meritt of the South Saskatchewan Regiment (SSR) in the attack organized and led uphill assaults on several of the concrete “pillboxes” and other enemy positions and succeeded in clearing them. Merritt energetically led his men, exposing himself recklessly to German fire. Although twice wounded, he organized the withdrawal of his battalion from the Pourville beaches, and mounted a rear guard that ensured that the greater part of the SSR and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada were re-embarked for England.
Honorary Captain John Weir Foote, Padre of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry assisted the medical officer in caring for the wounded at the regimental aid post. He frequently left the relative safety of that location for the open beach where he rendered first aid, and gave injections of morphine to alleviate the suffering of the many wounded who were there. Later, he carried wounded men from the regimental aid post to landing craft waiting to evacuate the survivors of the raiding force. He refused a final opportunity to leave the shore, preferring to continue to minister to those left behind, and to share their fate as prisoners of war.
While overseas, the CF contingent will participate in the following events:
- August 18, 2012:
- Morning: Battlefield tour;
- Afternoon: Main contingent—History Television World Premiere (Dieppe)
- Air Force—Ceremony at Saint-Aubin-le CaufCemetery & Canadian Cemetery des Vertus, followed by reception; and
- Evening: All—Vigil of Remembrance at the Dieppe Canadian Cemetery.
- August 19, 2012:
- Morning: Ceremony of Remembrance at Square du Canada and March Pass;
- Lunch: Reception hosted by the City of Dieppe; and
- Afternoon: Wreath-laying at Puys & unveiling of commemorative plaque.
- August 20, 2012:
- Morning: Ceremonies of Remembrance at Pourville & Merritt Bridge; and
- Mid-morning: Wreath-laying at Memorial des Marins, Dieppe.
- A Commemorative Event at the National War Memorial in Ottawa is also being planned by VAC on August 19th. The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk, will lay a wreath at the event and there will be a 90-CF contingent at the ceremony. A CF bugler and piper will play the Last Post, Rouse and Lament.
