FOG BLOG CANADA NEWS LOG: CEREMONIES HELD TO COMMEMORATE THE 80 ANN. OF DIEPPE RAID IN FRANCE!

National ceremony in Windsor, Ont., marks 80th anniversary of raid in Dieppe, France The ceremony Friday at Dieppe Gardens included historic aircraft flying over the city A national memorial Friday at Dieppe Gardens in Windsor, Ont., remembered Canadians who died 80 years ago in a bloody raid in Dieppe, France.

Ontario's lieutenant-governor, and numerous military and political officials were at the ceremony hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada. The Essex and Kent Regimental Association, which lost 121 members in the raid, also participated.

• Essex and Kent Scottish reservists off to Dieppe ceremonies in France

Among those attending the ceremony were veteran John L. Date, one of the last surviving members of the Dieppe raid. Second World War veterans David Adlington, Arthur Boon and Charles Davis also were invited.

Three members of the regiment were at ceremonies in Dieppe, France, on Friday. Theresa Sims, the Indigenous storyteller for the City of Windsor, drummed and sang a song of welcome to all those present.

Master of ceremonies Robert Löken delivered opening remarks, describing the situation in Europe at the time of the raid.

Honourary Col. Joseph Ouellette, of the Essex and Kent Regimental Association, also spoke, including remember the soldiers who paid the ultimate price.

Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens spoke. Kusmierczyk summarized the raid, and Dilkens spoke of his experience meeting with veterans he had met the previous night, and touched on conflicts currently happening around the world, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Stones that were collected by soldiers on the Dieppe beach were part of the remembrance. Löken, for instance, was handed a stone by a soldier, and said he found it difficult to hold it due its sentimental value.

The Act of Remembrance was delivered in English, French and Potawatomi. Morgan Lawrence and Alessandra Pietrangelo then delivered the Commitment to Remember in the three languages on behalf of Canadian young people.

The song The Last Post was played at 12:52 p.m. ET, and two minutes of silence followed at 12:54 p.m. The Rouse and The Reveille as well as The Lament were played. Dieppe veteran John L. Date was an honoured guest at the ceremony. He laid a wreath at the Dieppe Red Beach Memorial on behalf of all Dieppe, France, veterans.

At 12:58 p.m., wreaths were laid by Date, Kusmierczyk, Col. Bruno Heluin of the Defence Attaché of the French Embassy, Ontario MPP Andrew Dowie, Dilkens, Cmdr. Richard Hillier of the HMCS Hunter, as well as members of the Essex and Kent Regiment and Regimental Association. Lily Zitko, Faiha Alhussainawi, Emma Hennessy and Lila Ezwawi also laid a wreath on behalf of the youth of Canada. Silver Cross Mother Theresa Charbonneau laid a wreath at the Silver Cross Monument on behalf of all Silver Cross Mothers. Her son, Andrew Grenon, was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

God Save the Queen was played and the ceremony ended with Löken thanking everyone who made it possible.

"One of the most difficult and tragic days"

During the Dieppe raid on Aug. 19, 1942, the Allies initially planned to land on the shore under cover of darkness, said Veterans Affairs Canada. But the landing was delayed. As the assault forces were en route, they came across a small German convoy. The sound of the battle between the two alerted a German coastal defence force, Veterans Affairs said. As the Allies landed, the enemy was waiting.

Canadians made up the majority of the troops in the assault, and 916 of 4,963 died. There were 3,367 casualties altogether, including 1,946 prisoners of war.