On August 19, 1942, nearly 5,000 Canadians landed on the beaches of Dieppe, France. More than 900 Canadian soldiers died in this operation aimed at destabilizing the Germans.

Among them are a dozen Manitobans, including Corporal Eldon Hatch.

Eighty years later a postcard was sent from the JBCA at the Soldier’s formerly known address on Lincoln Avenue in the Weston area of ​​Winnipeg.

According to the association’s executive director, Alex Fitzgerald-Black, these postcards help connect the story of a soldier killed abroad in 1942 with people living at his former address today.

This is an opportunity for these people to question the identity and experience of soldiershe explains.

On the front of each card is one of the photos featured in a new exhibition at the Juno Beach Center in France. The reverse contains information about the deceased soldier: his name, age and rank.

A postcard that arouses curiosity

Kathy Fossen, a Spence Street Winnipegger, was among those who received one such postcard, which piqued her curiosity. She said she was surprised to learn that Private Nestor Parent lived in her home.

The room I sleep in might have been his bedroom. There are chills‘ she said sadly.

Company Quartermaster Nestor Parent had studied at what was then the Collège de Saint-Boniface. He was 36 when he joined the military.

Witnesses say they saw Nestor Parent crawling on Dieppe beach before he was fatally shot.

Kathy Fossen says this map made her want to learn more about this soldier’s story.

it breaks your heartShe says.

For their part, Gordon Newton and Nora Stark, nephew and niece of Corporal Eldon Hatch, are proud to know that their uncle appears on one of the postcards sent. They hope this commemoration will remind Canadians of the sacrifices some of them made during the war.

With files by Emily Brass