Ottawa Citizen

Dieppe deserves better, timely ceremony

Ottawa ceremony won’t be held until days after the anniversar­y

- TYLER DAWSON Tyler Dawson is deputy editorial pages editor of the Ottawa Citizen. tdawson@postmedia.com twitter.com/tylerrdaws­on

On Saturday, when Canadians pause for a moment and remember the ghastly slaughter that occurred in 1942 on the beaches of Dieppe — the single bloodiest day for Canada’s military in the Second World War — there will be no commemorat­ion at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

The government confirms there will be a ceremony on Aug. 22 — once our official delegation returns from France. But this week, there was no mention of an Ottawa event in the press releases or government documents explaining the commemorat­ions. (Plans are still being finalized, Veterans Affairs Canada said, revealing few details.)

The prime minister is expected to attend the Ottawa ceremony. The Governor General should too. And — though it sure seems a little late for this — the commemorat­ion in Ottawa should be (or, should have been) on the actual anniversar­y, not days later. Whatever reason explains the scheduling, it’s undignifie­d that national commemorat­ion, in Ottawa, of such sacrifice, should have to wait.

The Dieppe raid, of Aug. 19, 1942, was an utter disaster.

Of a fighting force around 6,000-strong (nearly 5,000 of them Canadians) the raid left more than 900 Canadians dead. All total, around 3,350 were killed, wounded or taken captive (accounts vary on the precise totals). “Total German casualties numbered at most 600, a small price to pay for gutting much of the infantry of a division, sinking ships galore, and winning the air battle,” wrote historian Jack Granatstei­n in 2012, for the 70th anniversar­y.

Yet that wasn’t how it was painted at the time. In the immediate aftermath, newspaperm­en managed to describe the assault as a success. A Citizen photo caption from Aug. 24, 1942 described it as a “victorious raid,” and said Canadian troops “helped storm through the strong Nazi coast defences to reach their objectives and return with prisoners.”

The paper also printed a communiqué from Lt.-Gen. A.G.L. McNaughton, sent to prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King: “The operation was indeed a memorable exploit and Canada can well be very proud of the courage and skill shown by her men who took part."

Canadians today, at least those who think about Dieppe, console themselves with the belief that the lessons from this military disaster contribute­d to the success, nearly two years later, of Operation Neptune, on the beaches of Normandy.

Federal planning around Dieppe feels markedly different from that for the 70th anniversar­y of D-Day, which saw a ceremony at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum with Gov. Gen. David Johnston. We’ve also seen the non-stop glorificat­ion of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. And, in 2012, there was a ceremony at the cenotaph in Ottawa on the 70th anniversar­y of Dieppe. And in 2007, for the 65th. Why not this time? There are three main locations for commemorat­ions this year marking the 75th anniversar­y of Dieppe: Calgary and Montreal on Aug. 19 and Dieppe, N.B., on Aug. 20. In part, the locations chosen make sense, as regiments from Calgary and Montreal fought in the raid. As well, there are commemorat­ions in France, with the official Canadian delegation to be led by Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr.

But not in Ottawa. Not until Tuesday.

Not at the national monument that exists specifical­ly for moments such as this, to consider, as a nation, our military accomplish­ments and tragedies and to remember that success and victory are not necessaril­y prerequisi­tes for valour and courage.

Some events simply must happen in Ottawa — and on the actual anniversar­y. We’re the seat of government and the city housing the commemorat­ive stage upon which remembranc­es are best held. The symbolism is enduring. That’s not to say there shouldn’t be other events, merely that such an important event in Canada’s history deserves more serious treatment from the national capital.

Perhaps Ottawans will take this to heart.

Residents of the city can take time to wander down to the cenotaph and take a moment to reflect, on Saturday, on how young Canadian men, 75 years ago, stormed ashore into volleys of gunfire. “Don’t worry men, it’ll be a piece of cake,” said Maj.Gen. J.H. Roberts, who led the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.

How wrong that ended up being. It’s precisely the sort of tragedy that deserves an appropriat­e remembranc­e ceremony, as we ought to have reverence for all heroism, not just those acts that ended in victory.

Some events simply must happen in Ottawa — and on the actual anniversar­y. We’re the seat of government and the city housing the commemorat­ive stage upon which remembranc­es are best held. The symbolism is enduring. Tyler Dawson

 ??  ?? The Canadian war cemetery at Dieppe, France, is the resting place for many Canadian soldiers who died during that disastrous raid on the French town in 1942.
The Canadian war cemetery at Dieppe, France, is the resting place for many Canadian soldiers who died during that disastrous raid on the French town in 1942.
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