Last Shots Fired In Channel Duel

Cross channel shelling of the Dover area by the Germans began on August 12th 1940 and, with the capture of the French ports, ceased in September 1944. A German long-range photograph of Dover (1), taken from a gun emplacement at Calais, shows the harbour entrance (white arrow), a patrol craft (white circle) and its anti-aircraft balloon. (black circle)

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Scene of a most valiant stand by British troops in1940, Calais Citadel fell to the 1st Canadian Army on September 28th 1944. During the Canadians advance, guns of a heavy coastal battery at Dover (4) bombarded German positions. The garrison of the last fort to hold out at Boulogne surrendered on September 22nd one of the 14-inch guns (2) that were silenced for ever, and it's shells in a captured gun-pit (3).

 

Dover's symbol of thanks giving, the Town Flag was hoisted for the first time since the early days of the war by the Mayor, Alderman J. R. Cairns, J.P., on September 30th 1944. He led the rejoicings of Britain's “front line town,” crowds dancing and singing in the flag hung streets after loudspeakers had announced that after four years ordeal of cross Channel shelling all enemy long range guns mounted in French ports opposite had been silenced or captured.

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