A week ago, I had the opportunity to visit Dieppe, France, the site of the disastrous WWII raid that took place on August 19, 1942. The monument above, also has a twin that sits in Dieppe Park in downtown Windsor.
Red Beach was the landing site of the Essex Scottish Regiment, and it is located directly in front of the monument in Dieppe.
Of the 553 member of the Essex Scottish Regiment who landed on the morning of August 19, 1942, only 51 were evacuated to England later that day, and of the 51, 2 of them died from their injuries. The Essex Scottish sustained the highest losses of any regiment that took part in the Dieppe Raid.
A view of the beach following the raid in 1942.
A view from a similar spot in 2014.
Given the link to Windsor’s History, it was a very moving place to visit.
Thank you for posting this (although I believe it’s properly “Dieppe Gardens”). It’s important to remember. I too have been to Red Beach, on the 50th anniversary in 1992. The raid, which took the life of my cousin, devastated Windsor and surrounding areas. It’s in the back of my mind that the Essex Scottish were the hardest luck Canadian regiment in the Second War, losing almost as many men in the breakout from Caen and the Falaise Gap as they did at Dieppe.
I was very young when my father took me downtown to watch the Essex Scottish march down Ouellette Ave off to the war. And, at age 10, I remember vividly that page of the Star, and later the ceremonies when they came home.
WWII is an entrenched memory for me.
Lest We Forget
I was at the unveiling and dedication of this monument in France in 2006 — such an incredible experience to be there and stand on that beach.
This is so nice to see. My Uncle died at Dieppe. I would love to visit this site someday.