Dieppe august 19 1942

No pictures of the Calgary Tanks plaque? I still find it a disgrace that there is no actual monument, just a small plaque in a piss stained corner. Many of the boys would never have made it off the beach if it wasn't for the tanks providing fire and cover. My best buddies great grandfather was SSM of B Squadron at Dieppe.

I also have talked to numerous 14 CAR vets about the Dieppe Raid. One told me that once they realized they couldn't make it off the beach, they started to line the tanks up broadside so that the Infantry could hide behind them. Hence why most of the tanks in the Dieppe photos are lined up parallel with the sea wall. He said because the German's didn't have any anti armour weapons strong enough to K-Kill the tanks, the 14 CAR boys just kept firing until they ran out of ammo. He said they took so many mortor hits that the paint inside the tank was melting and his crew was all throwing up from the fumes.
 
No pictures of the Calgary Tanks plaque?

Yes Sir, I do.

I have so many pics, I have misplaced it. :redface:

If I can find it I will post it.

just a small plaque in a piss stained corner

There seems to be allot of this around - piss stained.
One thing lacking as I travel around (washrooms for the public)
 
... the French National Gendarmerie.
...
They where marching off onto the street as we approached.
I was carrying my Canadian Flag.

They gave a General Salute to our Canadian Flag as they marched by.

It put the chills up the backs of the girlfriend and I.

...

The French have their good points and bad points, like any nation. One of their good ones, I think, is that their military - and the National Gendarmerie has a pretty military ethos, for a police force - still takes that stuff seriously.
 
Here's some more then/now pics. I was there with my son in 2004 and found it quite moving (as an ex-Royal). What I remember most is the sound of the cobbles clattering in the waves. I brought back a bag of them from each beach and had some 'splaining' to do at the airport on the way home.


Dieppe beach, looking souuth, 1942:

1old.jpg


2004:

1new.jpg


West headland, looking north, 1942:

2old.jpg


2004:

2new.jpg


Pourville, and Lt. Col. Cecil Merritt VC bridge, 2004

Pourvillle.jpg


And the most moving, Puys, looking to the north, 1942:

Puys1942.jpg


2004 (looking south, then north):

Puys.jpg
 
Years ago, I met a friend (Canadian Vet) of my uncles that was at Dieppe.
He said the most disturbing thing he remembered there was a pig running down the street with a human arm in it's mouth...
 
A BTT, for the 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.
I know another thread exists here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7588994#post7588994
...but I thought I would post here as well. I encourage guys to post your pictures and tell your stories.
I grew up with a guy, his Uncle served with the South Saskatchewan Regiment. Died at Dieppe, best they can tell is he was killed in the first few minutes just off shore. Private Leonard Davies.
 
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Great article on the dieppe raid

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=PAU20120818&articleId=32403
 
Dad was on the other side :D, but none the less I hate historical revisionism. Program coming up on the History channel and the producer came up with the mind boggling revelation, object of the raid was to secure an Enigma machine. The Brits got an original machine from the Poles, during the early days of the war, as well a capturing a couple of others along the way. Lot of questions if the raid was justified or simply one of Mountbatten's whims. Now, THAT should start an argument. :)

Grizz
 
Recce21
"There in '08. Canada Park smelled like piss which I had been warned about."


I'm not sure I want to know the answer but...
Why does it smell like piss?

SRSA311
 
Was on parade for the Dieppe Ceremony today in Calgary. Found out from the local historian at The Military Museum that a relative of mine was killed at Dieppe, Trooper Peter Friesen.
 
I was there about 6 years ago with my wife touring Belgium and Normandy. What struck me most (as others have mentioned) were the stones on the beach...every one seemingly the size and shape of a golf ball. It was challenging to walk up those stones, so one can only imagine how desperately difficult it must have been to try to assault that beach over those stones, laden down with kit, under withering fire. Lest we forget.
 
Try running in boots with steel horse shoes on the heels and metal cleats on the soles.. Only one or two of the tanks made it more than a few yards onto the beach.
Had an acquaintance make it back alive but his brother paid the ultimate sacrifice on the beach.
But now, 70 years later, the story appears to have be told for the real reason for the raid on Dieppe .
 
My Father was there in 1942.

I walked on the beaches, and attended the Dieppe 1947 Ceremonies of Remembrance, with my Father.

New information about the hidden purpose for the raid, make the raid more palatable.

19Aug1942.jpg


This poster is from the "Men of Valor" series issued in 1943.

Cheers Eh!:cheers::canadaFlag:
 
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