Dieppe Artifact 6: Veteran Recollections

  This photo is of Canadian veteran, Douglas J. McCalder. Found in the reference list below is a link to the full story of Douglas McCalders's time in Dieppe and then prison camps as told by his son Allan J. McCalder. Douglas spent 975 days in captivity, during which he kept a journal filled with sketches, poems, and letters from home that sustained him.

  This story highlights the importance of letter writing during wartime, as it provides a vital connection between soldiers and their families. The story also touches on the broader impact of the Dieppe Raid, noting the heavy casualties suffered by Canadian forces as well as the mental effect of witnessing it. Allan McCalder's account is a tribute to his father's resilience and the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers during the war

  Stories like McCalders’s are found among many Canadian families who lost loved ones to the war. Reminiscing on our history and passing stories down is vital to the preservation of Canadian nationalism and family pride.

References

McCalder, Allan J. “Prisoner of War: A Story from Dieppe.” Juno Beach Centre. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://www.junobeach.org/prisoner-of-war-a-story-from-dieppe/.