Original WWII Photograph – Aftermath of the Dieppe Raid, Churchill Tanks and Landing Craft, August 1942

This original World War II photograph documents the aftermath of the Dieppe Raid, Operation Jubilee, on 19 August 1942. The image captures the heavy losses suffered during the Allied landing on the French coast. In the foreground, fallen soldiers lie on the rocky beach, while disabled British Churchill tanks are visible on the shoreline. Smoke billows from burning landing craft in the background, emphasizing the scale of destruction.

The Dieppe Raid, involving predominantly Canadian forces along with British Commandos and a small U.S. contingent, was intended to test German coastal defenses and gather intelligence. Instead, it resulted in significant Allied casualties and equipment losses, making it one of the most costly single-day operations of the war. The presence of Churchill tanks—among the first used in an amphibious assault—highlights the experimental nature of the operation and the lessons that would later inform the Normandy landings of 1944.

This photograph stands as a stark historical record of the human cost of the Dieppe Raid, and its value lies in its direct visual testimony of one of WWII’s most studied amphibious operations. For historians, archivists, and collectors, it provides rare documentation of both matériel and personnel losses in a pivotal prelude to D-Day.

This listing includes a high-quality 5×7 photographic print, professionally reproduced from the original and presented in a ready-to-display frame. The original vintage photo is preserved in an archival glassine envelope to protect its historical and material integrity.

Why the Dieppe Raid: 

• The Churchill tanks confirm post-1941 British armor.

• The pebble beach and burning landing craft match Dieppe geography and conditions.

• The casualties in the open correspond to known photographic records from 19 August 1942.