The City of Toronto is marking the 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid with commemorative ceremonies and the launch of outdoor and online exhibits to honour and tell the stories of Torontonians who were killed, taken prisoner or injured during the Raid, as well as the stories of survivors.
This morning, in a ceremony at the Old City Hall Cenotaph, Toronto’s Mayor was joined by representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion, the Royal Regiment of Canada and Consuls General representing those nations involved in Dieppe, in laying wreaths in memory of those Torontonians who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This evening, starting at 6 p.m., the Royal Canadian Legion will host a ceremony at the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave., followed by a march to Dieppe Park, 455 Cosburn Ave.
The City will then host a ceremony at Dieppe Park beginning at 7 p.m. Stories from Dieppe will be told from the perspectives of family members of a survivor, a prisoner of war and a soldier killed in action.
At the ceremony, the City will unveil an informational display at Dieppe Park that shares the history of the Dieppe Raid and the stories of Torontonians who fought – those who were captured, survived, injured or lost their lives. Over the fall, this display will be featured at:
In ceremonies in Commonwealth War cemeteries near Dieppe, a wreath was placed on behalf of the City earlier this morning. The Toronto Sign will also feature the poppy and be dimmed for the day.
On August 19, 1942, Allied forces undertook a raid on enemy forces at the French coastal town of Dieppe. Almost 5,000 of the 6,000 troops at Dieppe were Canadians, with almost 10 per cent drawn from Toronto residents. Dieppe had the highest number of Canadian casualties in a single day during World War II.
Here are some statistics relevant to the participation of Toronto-based soldiers in the Dieppe Raid:
The average age of Toronto soldiers who died at Dieppe was 27 years, with some only 18 – a significant loss of young life, and the deadliest day in Toronto’s wartime history.
Many historians believe that the Dieppe Raid offered invaluable lessons to war leaders and significantly informed D-Day preparations in 1944, which led to success on D-Day.
More information about the historic Dieppe Raid, including the stories of the brave Torontonians who witnessed the event and lost their lives, is available on the City’s website.
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