Today is the 70th anniversary of the controversial raid on Dieppe. This Canadian military disaster cost 900 lives and left 3,500 prisoner. The following legacy photos are from a trip I made back in the late 80’s.
DIEPPE HARBOUR
One of the few deep water ports on the Normandy coast.
MAIN ASSAULT BEACH
Note the pebble surface which would be the undoing of the amphibious support tanks.
MAIN ASSAULT BEACH FROM ABOVE
OPEN COMMON BETWEEN SEAWALL AND TOWN
With the street entrances heavily barricaded and the lack of tank support the open area in front became a suicidal killing ground.
CHURCH AND FORTIFICATIONS ATOP CLIFFS
ST. JACQUES CHURCH
Furthest penetration into the central town. Note raid damage on the walls of the church.
ICI SONT TOMBÉS DEUX SOLDATS CANADIENS
Self-explanatory historical marker within the town.
Carnage on the beach in the aftermath of the raid.
DIEPPE MILITARY CEMETERY
The military cemetery at Dieppe is now maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission. Original graves of friends and comrades were forcibly dug by Canadian prisoners.
LEST WE FORGET