The mayor of Brighton & Hove recently visited France to take part in commemorations marking 82 years since the Raid on Dieppe.
Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman, spent two days in northern France after being invited by his counterpart in Dieppe, Mayor Nicolas Langlois.
Part of the trip involved taking part in a vigil at the Canadian war cemetery at Les Vertus. Councillor Asaduzzaman also laid a wreath at the monument of the Royal Regiment of Canada on Puys Beach.
The Raid on Dieppe took place on 19 August 1942 and saw Allied soldiers, mainly drawn from the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, land at Dieppe with the aim of occupying the town for a short time to gather vital intelligence and engage the Luftwaffe in open combat.
Allies suffered heavy losses
However, the Allies suffered more than 1,400 deaths, including 907 Canadians. A further 1,946 Canadian soldiers were captured.
More recent research suggests the raid was a massive cover for an intelligence operation to capture German code machine components.
A city in New Brunswick, Canada, was subsequently renamed as Dieppe in 1946 in honour of the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the Raid on Dieppe.
On-going bond with friends in Dieppe
Each year dignitaries also gather in Dieppe in France to commemorate the anniversary and remember the fallen, including the mayor of Brighton & Hove.
Speaking shortly after returning from Dieppe, Councillor Asaduzzaman said: “It is incredibly important we take the time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our freedoms and it was an honour to represent Brighton & Hove at the recent commemoration events in Dieppe.
“I am grateful to Mayor Langlois for his invitation. As a city we have on-going bond with our friends in Dieppe and it was a privilege to continue strengthen those ties.”