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A Provost's Experience On The Dieppe Raid
As Related By
Captain (retired) Lloyd Saunders

spacer. Captain (retired) Lloyd Saunders of Alberta submitted the following information about WWII Provost Veteran, LCpl S.W. (Stan) Gouldie experience on being deployed by landing craft on the shores of Dieppe during that invasion in August 1942. Stan was a family friend of Lloyd's Father and had related the story to him back in the 1950's when as a teenager, Lloyd used to baby sit Stan's children. Sadly; Stan passed away in the late-sixties.

Post Script:
Though Lloyd's military career was as an Air Force policeman, he did serve as a member of the 22nd Provost Platoon (Militia) in Calgary and with 15 Provost Company in Edmonton prior to joining the regular force.

Lance Corporal S.W. (Stan) Gouldie On The Dieppe Raid - 1942
spacer. Stan said; that when approaching the beach in the landing craft there was heavy gunfire and everyone was hunkered down. The Provost were in the rear of the craft and when the gate opened the troops started off and came under heavy and accurate gunfire, so much so, that they were all being killed or wounded as they came off the landing craft. Whether an order was given or by survival instincts, the ones near the rear of the craft did not disembark and remained huddled in the rear. He said that the craft became adrift and was kind of bobbing around aimlessly just off the beach and each time the open front end was exposed to the beach, it would be hit by gunfire again. He couldn't remember how long they were under siege on the craft however; when things started to quiet down a bit, the remainder disembarked and made it to the beach. They noticed that an evacuation was underway and a boat further down the beach was picking up survivors. As they were running towards this boat, he stopped to pick up a wounded soldier (Stan was a big man) and threw the soldier over his shoulder and continued towards the rescue boat. He said that he felt two thumps on his back while running to the boat and when he arrived, it turned out the soldier he was carrying was hit twice in the back. He stated that when they arrived back in England he was shaking so uncontrollably, a nursing sister had to hold the cup of coffee for him.

spacer. At some point during WWII Stan was awarded the M.I.D. however; I'm not sure which engagement that was for.

spacer. Stan was originally from Carbon, Alberta and after the War he joined the Calgary Police Service until about 1960 when he went with what was called then, the Alberta Highway Inspection Board; now called Alberta Motor Transport (weigh scales and trucks). He was married and had a son and daughter.

Lloyd Saunders


Mapleleafs.