19 August – Dieppe Day 2 – The day of days

After a quick breakfast, we head out to the Square du Canada where the main ceremonies are to take place to commemorate the 19 August 1942. It’s 9:30 am and people are already gathering even though the ceremonies don’t begin for almost an hour. After 1.5 hrs of standing, we see activity! The Fusiliers Mont-Royal band marches in followed by other units of the Canadian forces and a small contingent of French soldiers.

Johanne’s Royal Navy boyfriend George from the night before turned up to lay a wreath.

Other veterans, legion members, dignitaries, and officials begin arriving including the Honourable Steven Blaney (Minister of Veterans’ Affairs), and David Johnston (Canada’s Governor-General).

The mayor of Dieppe gives a very touching speech acknowledging the sacrifice made by Canadians and the close bonds between Dieppe and Canada. The crowd, including many Dieppois, is now 5 to 6 rows deep,trying hard to make it through the heat since many of us have now been standing for over 2 hrs. Unfortunately some older folks collapse but the paramedics standing by take good care of them. As the commemorations are ending, we walk to the Fusiliers Mont-Royal monument on the promenade where Fusiliers veterans will be laying a wreath. While we are waiting for the military procession, a British Spitfire makes several low passes over the beach which stirs the emotions of all. The Fusiliers’ band marches by followed by a small group of mixed Canadian military that stop to pay their respects.

Two Fusiliers veterans lay a wreath at the memorial that marks the spot where most of the Fusiliers came ashore that terrible day.

The procession with Governor-General David Johnston carries on to the next monument along the beach.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Steven Blaney stays behind for photos at the monument with the Fusiliers’ Commanding Officer Lieutenant-colonel Francis Roy, retired Commanding Officer Lieutenant-colonel Guy Gosselin and another Fusilier officer.
We then went to a large reception tent where the mayor of Dieppe presented Jacques Nadeau with a medal of honour from the city of Dieppe.
The Honourable Steven Blaney, David Johnston as well as other dignitaries from England and France were present and gave very touching speeches. I managed to get a photo of Jacques Nadeau who I met the night before.

Emotionally and physically drained from standing in the hot sun for over 5 hrs, Johanne and I decide to forego the gracious invitation to supper at 9:00 pm tonight from the Association Jubilee. We get something to eat at the only restaurant still serving and retire to our hotel. Tomorrow begins at 8:30 am with a bus tour of other landings sites – Pourville, Varangeville, Ste. Margueritte, Berneval, and to Envermeu, the town 13 km from Dieppe where the weary and battered prisoners were marched by the Germans after the battle.