The First Canadian Army was assigned the task of clearing the coastal areas and opening the channel ports for vital supplies. On the left flank of the Allied forces, the Canadians pushed rapidly eastward through France towards Belgium. September began with the 2nd Canadian Division being welcomed to Dieppe. Boulogne, Calais, and Cap Gris Nez followed, and by the end of September the Channel coast, with the exception of Dunkirk, had been cleared and southern England freed of the harassing fire of Hitler's weapons which had been launched from these sites. Farther north, the Second British Army seized the port of Antwerp with its installations virtually intact. " It was a gala day for the French, and the Canadians as well. People in the thousands thronging the road all dressed in their best. At 3 p.m. we entered Dieppe — a large sign with the name Dieppe in the center, on one side — the tri color of France, and on the other, the Canadian flag. I met Chester McDonald here and a Press reporter took our photo. We were both here with the Calgarys. I looked over the harbour and all the familiar land marks, then went to visit the Canadian Cemetery. It is beautifully located and beautifully laid out in rows of green grass frowing over the graves and a cross at the head of each grave. Each is numbered and a record is kept in a little office naming each number. The landing place was plainly visible and certainly brought back a lot of memories."
Thanks for reminding us of the Canadian commitment to drive northwards up the coast and relieve the coastal strip of North East France. Dieppe has its own recollections of the Canadians by the naming of the main street as Avenue des Canadiens and the Square du Canada which is situated just off the beach.I think the Dieppe photograph would have been taken here although this road as I see it was not seen as the main road of the town until after the war when it was renamed as the Avenue des Canadiens....note what looks like a Free French soldier on the left. I think the pipe parade photograph was taken at the bottom end of the Avenue des Canadiens when the street widens as the Rue de la Rupublique converges on to it from the right. There is another reminder of the part played by the Canadian Army freeing the coastal strip by the Calais Canadian Cemetery located at Leubringhen,on higher ground, mid between Boulogne and Calais just off the A16....visited this quiet cemetery a number of times when having slack time travelling up to Calais for the ferry. Dieppe.we have had two holidays centred on Dieppe where I was able to visit the sites associated with August 1942 raid and do my own Then and Now.Apart from that it's a town that is ideal for a holiday....seafood restaurants and the shingle beach.Its surprising how easily the town is to navigate having its own bypass and it's ideally situated for days out to visit military historical locations such as Bruneval and Fecamp where ATB gave a good account of the defences overlooking the wide beach for an anticipated invasion which never came from the sea.
Harry, The pipers are shown near the monument to Abraham Duquesne which is on place Nationale, quite a distance away. https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.9265...4!1si7R_A0Y7AYjgbTYrONqIBg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 However, you may be right about the parade as it was listed as travelling on Rue Claude Groulard, where Crerar took the salute. Not far from the location you mentioned at Place des Martyrs. Many more great photos of that day to be found. View attachment 180478
