The Calgary Tank Regiment's task during Operation Jubilee was to support the infantry landing on 'White Beach' and 'Red Beach' at Dieppe, helping them move from the beach and promenade into the town and port. The Churchill tank, then newly introduced and untested in combat, was selected for this role. A total of 29 tanks were assigned to land directly onto the beach via Landing Craft Tanks (LCTs), exiting using the front ramp of each vessel.

Two primary challenges awaited the tanks: navigating the shingle beach’s large stones, which threatened track damage, and surmounting the sea wall up to six feet high. Contrary to long-standing myths, some tanks did successfully exit the beach.

On White Beach, the Churchill tanks played a critical role in attempting to support the Canadian infantry, particularly around the heavily fortified casino area. Their goal was to help the troops move off the beach and into the town, but intense German fire quickly turned the landing into a brutal confrontation.

Despite significant obstacles, including blocked exits and anti-tank walls on the esplanade roads, 15 of the 27 tanks that reached the shore managed to climb over the sea wall and manoeuvre around the esplanade area. However, mass movement of Canadian forces was denied, and only small groups of infantry made it off the beach.

With mobility limited and road exits blocked, the Churchill tanks were repurposed as mobile pillboxes (type of blockhouse), offering limited fire support where they could. Some tanks were disabled in the esplanade area, while others returned to the beach in search of evacuation. Ultimately, none of the 29 tanks were recovered.

A key takeaway from the operation was the performance of the new Churchill tanks: none were penetrated by enemy fire, indicating their armour was effective, even under sustained attack.

The memorial at Dieppe honours those from the Calgary Tank Regiment who were killed during Operation Jubilee. While the mission suffered devastating losses—including all 29 tanks—the bravery of those involved and the lessons learned were pivotal in shaping future Allied amphibious operations.