Today is the 75th anniversary the disastrous raid on Dieppe, France. News stories reminds us it was the bloodiest day in Canada's war history. Of the 5000 soldiers who took part, 916 were killed and as many as 2000 were taken prisoner.One of those who gave the supreme sacrifice was a Milne connection, Charles Gilchrist Gunn. He was the 21 year old son of Louisa (Milne) and Donald Gunn of West Kildonan which made him a first cousin to my Grandma Kinnaird.
"Louie" as Louisa was known had immigrated from Scotland in 1911 and Donald came in 1913. They were married in Winnipeg in 1918.
Charles was born in 1921 although he puts 1918 on his attestation papers. He is an elevator operator and declares his home address as 264 Belmont Avenue in West Kildonan.Charles had an older brother Jack and a younger sister named Muriel. Their father Donald was the chief fireman in West Kildonan and was Pipe Major in a local Scotish pipe and drum band.
Charles Gunn was a member of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders regiment out of Winnipeg. He was given service number H/19405. As well as training as a soldier, he was a piper with the regiment to help keep up morale. Bagpipes and war are a historical combination as written about here. The skirl of the pipes puts fear into the enemy and fortifies the troops for the battle ahead. It is said on that day - Wednesday, August 19, 1942 - the pipers started to play from one mile out at sea and then onto the beach at Dieppe. Of the 505 Camerons who set off to capture the rocky French shore that morning, only 159 able-bodied men could be assembled afterward. Charlie was declared as missing that day and an agonizing 4 months later for his family, he was finally declared dead.
As to their mission that day, the Veterans Affairs website here says :
On that ill-fated day they were to land at Pourville, about four kilometres west of Dieppe. They were to support the South Saskatchewan Regiment. The daunting plan for the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada was that they were to land 30 minutes after the South Saskatchewan Regiment, push beyond the village of Pourville, occupy a German airfield, destroy a German Battery, and finally connect with allied tanks and raid a German Headquarters south of Pourville. These tasks would have been impossible for any troop in the Second World War. In reality, the events did not go as planned and the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada were stopped well short of the town and were faced with enemy fire. When the Dieppe Raid came to an end the Regiment had lost 76 brave soldiers.
The book Winnipeg's Ladies From Hell by Murray Burt tells the stories of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders including the following about Private Gunn:
I remembered the story of how the pipes Charlie was playing were shot from under his arm on Pourville Beach that day, and how he was killed when in a fit of anger he attacked the pillbox of the German machine-gunners that did it.
Charles Gilchrist Gunn is buried at the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery. Carved on his tombstone is the following somber verse. In most cases the sentiment on the stone was chosen by the family.
Sunshine fades
And shadows fall
But sweet remembrance
Outlasts all.
Above is a link to a Youtube version of Flower of the Forest - a bagpipe lament dedicated to the fallen. We remember your sacrifice today Charles, along with all your comrades.
