August 19,1942 Dieppe

This date and place is not a particularly significant date for Americans as far as WW II is concerned.  However for Canadians it marked a major battle where they suffered more than 900 soldiers killed and over 1,900 taken prisoner. 

Most of the men had no idea about this mission until they were aboard their ships and landing crafts. No major objectives were taken and the main purpose of this amphibious assault was to probe German  defenses (this helped preparations for D-Day).   

Click on the link to listen to a firsthand report by CBC war correspondent Robert Bowman which was broadcast to that nation a day after the battle.  Fascinating.  The only thing I didn't like was the report of the chaplain reading from Ephesians 6 - a misinterpretation and misapplication of that passage.