On the morning of the 19th of August, 1942, elements of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, supported by Churchill tanks of the Calgary Regiment landed on the beaches at Dieppe, France. Intended as a "reconnisance in force" the landings were heavily opposed by the Germans.
41 members of No. 2 Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps, were assigned to support the landings. Their primary duties were traffic control on the beach and to take charge of any prisoners. In a twist of fate, almost half of the Provosts were themselves taken prisoner by the Germans. Of the 41 Provost who landed, one was killed, 13 were wounded, and 18 taken prisoner.
Lieutenant Peter S. Oliver, second in command of the detachment was killed by enemy fire almost as soon as he exited his landing craft. He is buried in the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetary (Hautot-Sur-Mer), Sienne-Maritime, France. Grave L.3
