Canadian Genealogy News 20 August 2015

Here are some news items which have come across my desk this morning - 

Canada remember the Dieppe Raid 

Seventy-three years ago, on August 19, 1942, one of the most tragic days for Canada during the Second World War and in all of Canadian military history took place on the beaches of Dieppe, France. 

The numbers are astounding! Nearly 5,000 of the 6,100 Allied troops who fought in the Dieppe Raid were Canadian. The sacrifices made were tremendous as only 2,210 returned to England, and many of them were terribly wounded. Casualties totaled 3,367, including 916 men who lost their lives and almost 1,950 who were taken as prisoners of war and forced to endure harsh treatment. 

You can read the full articles, you can go to http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/dieppe-raid

A Day in the Life of Oakville (Ontario) 

On Tuesday, July 28th, 2015, residents and visitors of Oakville took photos for Oakville Public Library's inaugural A Day in the Life of Oakville project. The library wanted to capture a moment in Oakville's history to preserve for future generations and they received over 100 submissions. 

All the photos have been assembled in a digital gallery here, which will remain online indefinitely. They would like to thank everyone who took the time to take a photo of their day for this digital heritage project. 

If you didn't get a chance to participate this year, the library plans on making this an annual event. 

You can follow the Oakville Public Library at http://images.oakville.halinet.on.ca/369/Exhibit  to keep posted on A Day in the Life of Oakville 2016. 

Meanwhile, happy researching!

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If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/08/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-17-august.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

More Photos of the Dieppe Raid on Flickr

The Library and Archives Canada has put on more images of the Dieppe Raid on Flickr. 

I didn’t know that the Dieppe Raid was also called “Operation Jubilee” and it was supported by over 5000 Canadian troops.

There are photos showing advertisements in newspaper about Victory Bonds, a striking photo showing men from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry kneeling at the graves of Canadian soldiers killed at Dieppe, and an unidentified infantrymen of the Essex Scottish Regiment.

The images are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157630512532280/with/7556117254


You can also see other photos at Through a Lens: Dieppe in Photographs and Film at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/dieppe/index-e.html

70 Years Since the Dieppe Raid

It has been 70 years since the Dieppe Raid of the Second World War, and Canadians are taking part in the ceremonies -

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, will attend ceremonies in Dieppe, France, from August 19 to 20, to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.

The Governor General will join the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, who will lead an official delegation to France from August 17 to 21, which includes Veterans who participated in the Dieppe Raid.

While in France, the Governor General, Minister Blaney and the Canadian delegation will attend a number of commemorative ceremonies including the Government of Canada’s signature event at Canada Memorial Square on August 19 and a ceremony at the Pourville Memorial on August 20.

In addition to the ceremonies taking place in France, there will also be a ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, as well as a number of events in communities across the country.

The raid on Dieppe, France, on August 19, 1942, was a pivotal moment in the Second World War. With virtually all of continental Europe under German occupation, the Allied forces faced a well-entrenched enemy. A method had to be found to create a foothold on the continent, and the raid on Dieppe offered invaluable lessons for the successful D-Day invasion in 1944, saving countless lives in that momentous offensive.

The Dieppe Raid was particularly devastating to the Canadian military. Of the nearly 5,000 Canadians who embarked on the operation, less than half returned to England, many of whom were wounded. There were 1,946 prisoners of war and 913 who lost their lives.

The Canadians who fought in the Dieppe Raid sacrificed much in their efforts to help bring freedom and democracy to the people of France and Europe. Their task was a difficult and costly one, but their effort was not in vain.

Lest we forget”

To read more about Canada and the Dieppe Raid, go to www.canadaatwar.ca/page53.html