The Dieppe Raid: August 19, 1942

Green Beach - Pourville

Two miles west of Dieppe - and four miles from the slaughter at Puys - two other battalions had better luck. The navy put the Saskatchewans ashore at Pourville on time and they weren't fired on until they landed. But in the semi-darkness the landing craft had not beached on target: instead of being astride the River Scie, most of the unit landed west of it. The companies assigned to take high ground to the east had first to work through the village and cross the main highway bridge.

The company west of Pourville occupied all of its objectives and killed or captured many Germans. But the companies trying to cross the bridge came under heavy fire from the heights.

South Saskatchewan Regiment

MEN:                             523

CASUALTIES:              68%

COMMANDER:            LT. COL. CECIL MERRITT, VC

The bridge was about 200 yards long, really a kind of causeway. It was wide and had no balustrades. That made it very exposed. On the hill across the river was a huge concrete fort, its guns all trained on the bridge. The river was in flood and the bridge was the only way to get across apart from swimming.

I saw the first men try to cross. Great chunks of concrete flew in the air - mortar shells exploding. Bullets pinged off the road. In a minute or two, what had been a smooth concrete road was gashed with craters and pockmarked with bullet holes. Our men were mowed down.

Striding up the road unhurried, revolver dangling from his hip, came Lt. Col. Cecil Merritt, the Saskatchewans' CO. As he reached us he took off and wiped sweat from his forehead. It was a hot, steamy day. He asked what the trouble was. Someone said: "This bridge is a hot spot, sir. We're trying to get across it."

"Now men," he said, "we're going to get across. Follow me. Don't bunch up together, spread out. Here we go!" Erect and bareheaded, he strode forward onto the bridge. His helmet hung from his wrist as he walked. As I watched him lead his men through that thundering barrage, I felt a quiver run up and down my spine. I'd never seen anything like it.

---------------------------

Merritt led a series of attacks which took several of the positions commanding the bridge and the village. But in spite of his bravery - for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross - and efforts of his own men and Cameron Highlanders now mingled with them, the high ground could not be cleared.

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

MEN:                             503

RETURNED:                 53%

COMMANDER:            LT. COL. A. C. GOSTLING,

                                      LATER MAJOR A. T. LAW

The enemy had every approach covered by mortar and machine-gun fire and our thrusts were all beaten back, although small parties got close to a heavily wired radar station and one reached the edge of the Four Winds Farm trench system.

The Camerons were to pass through the Pourville bridgehead and operate against the airdrome in conjunction with tanks from Dieppe. They were landed late. As the landing craft drove into the shallows, the Camerons' bagpipes answered the whine of shells and the rattle of machine guns.

Lt. Col. A. C. Gostling leaped onto the beach. There was a burst of fire and he fell dead. Maj. A. T. Law led the Cameron column inland two miles, destroying small parties of Germans. It reached Petit Appeville, overlooking the bridge across the Scie, which it must pass to reach the airdrome. But no tanks were to be seen. The Scie crossings were held in strength by enemy troops and time was getting short. The unit withdrew, suffering and inflicting casualties on the way. It had penetrated farther inland than any other battalion that day.

---------------------------

The Saskatchewans and Camerons lost heavily during the evacuation. The Germans raked the beach from lofty positions east of Pourville and from high ground to the west - from which as a Saskatchewan company had retired due to a misunderstanding of orders. Naval craft came in through a storm of steel; the Germans, who showed little stomach for close fighting, were held off by a courageous rearguard under Colonel Merritt. The greater part of both units was re-embarked, though many men were wounded. The rearguard surrendered when ammunition was running low and it was clear there was no possibility of evacuation or of doing any further harm to the enemy.

Back to List of Dieppe Beaches

Or Select a Beach Below:

 WHITE     RED     BLUE