Uckfield's Chris Dowling remembers war dead in Dieppe
Uckfield resident and chairman of East Sussex County Council, Chris Dowling, was among dignitaries who went to Dieppe last week to commemorate a World War 2 raid.
The attack, described officially as a ‘reconnaissance in force’ was a disaster.
German defences were stronger than expected and of 5,000 troops, 1,000 were killed and 2,000 taken prisoner.
Troops and tanks had embarked at Newhaven and most of the survivors returned to the port.
The raid took place on August 19, 1942, and Cllr Dowling was pleased to attend commemoration events on behalf of the county council and people of East Sussex.
He said: “It was moving. We went to a number of memorials around Dieppe and I was moved both by the occasion and by the response of the population of Dieppe. This is a very important commemoration for them.”
Cllr Dowling is pictured above with bowed head at a memorial. Below he can be seen right with, from the left, Cllr Steve Saunders, Mayor of Newhaven; Cllr Eileen Russell, chairman of Lewes District Council; Mr David Allum, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mrs Kathy Gore, High Sheriff of East Sussex.
See also:
Operation Jubilee: The Disaster at Dieppe
New plans for St Michael's Convent, Uckfield
(Added to site Tuesday, August 30th, 2011)
.jpg "Chance to raise planning queries with council officer in Uckfield")
