29 tanks landed, 15 got off the beach and spent the day going back and forth on the promenade until they either fell into holes or had a track shot off. Once the "vanquish" order was given the tanks that were able to we recalled to the beach and tried to line up parallel to the water. This was done to help provide cover for the withdrawal of the infantry.
No tanks were able to ever exit into the town. All of the exit roads except for one (Rue de Synagogue) had been blocked by concrete walls. The exit road had a concrete wall with a large steel gate in it. This was also covered by an anti tank gun further up the road away from the beach.
In some original source documents from the RHLI war diaries there is some mention by a couple soldiers under Cpt Hill, who encountered this gun while in the area of the Dieppe post office a few blocks into town away from the beach.
__________________
Jordan Baker
RHLI Museum,
Otter LRC
C15A-Wire3, 1944
Willys MB, 1942
10cwt Canadian trailer
|