August 13 2014.


The commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the Dieppe Raid took place in Newhaven on Sunday in blustery, but thankfully dry conditions. Earlier in the day ex-Hurricane Bertha had passed over the town, bringing driving rain, but by 3.00pm, when the service took place, the sun had reappeared in the sky and the parade was able to take place as usual from Denton Island to the Memorial Green.

Despite the atrocious weather earlier in the day, a good crowd of local residents came out to support the event and to applaud the veterans after they had laid their wreaths.

Once again this year the service was attended by two British veterans of the Raid, Bill Mellow, who was the coxswain of a landing craft dropping Canadian troops on Dieppe beach in 1942, and Alan Saunders, a now blind member of 40 Commando, Royal Marines. Both men laid wreaths during the service in memory of their lost comrades. In addition, wreaths were laid by dignitaries including a Deputy Lieutenant on behalf of HM The Queen, the High Sheriff, the Mayor of Newhaven, representatives of the Mayor of Dieppe, the Canadian High Commissioner and the United States Ambassador, the Chairmen of ESCC and LDC and representatives from the Royal British Legion and other veterans’ organisations.