"Don't call it a raid, call it a reconnaissance in force." (WINSTON CHURCHILL)
In August 1942, 5,000 Canadian troops, with support from the British Commandos, the Royal Navy and the RAF, crossed the English Channel to raid the German-occupied town of Dieppe. Over 3,000 Canadians were killed, wounded or taken prisoner during nine hours of intensive fighting. It was one of the bloodiest and most controversial episodes of the Second World War. Frank Gillard, who was the BBC War Correspondent assigned to report the operation, recalls the events of the Dieppe raid which took place 40 years ago today.
Producer Roy Hayward BBC Bristol