September 30th marks the Anniversary of the silencing of the German Cross-Channel guns in 1944 that harassed Dover, England in WWII In the Wartime Heritage Association’s stage production of, Time to Remember - Memories of WWII (2007) and Echoes of the Forties - Songs and Stories of a Wartime Generation (2008), the story of the enemy gun emplacements in Calais, France that shelled Dover, England in Kent County through much of the war, was featured. The play also told of the capture of these German positions by elements of Canada's Army. The communication between the Canadians in France, and a grateful Mayor of Dover, sum up the significance of the events. The first bombs fell on the town on July 6, 1940, and the first shell, fired from the long-range guns built by the Germans on the cliffs of Calais, fell on August 12th. Many of the remaining civilians took shelter in caves deep within the cliffs. 2226 shells landed on the town and 686 in the surrounding areas between July 1940 and September 1944. Hundreds more burst in the air or landed in the harbour. 464 high explosive bombs and three parachute mines fell on the town. It was difficult to find an area of Dover that had not been affected by the enemy shelling. 3059 air raid alerts were sounded in the town. A total of 10056 buildings were damaged, of which 957 were destroyed and 2914 severely damaged. 216 civilians were killed, 344 severely injured and 416 slightly injured. The last shell fell on Dover at 7:15 pm on September 26, 1944, and hit the opposite side of market square on Hubbard’s Umbrella Shop. Then, the guns at Calais were captured by the advancing Allies and finally fell silent. At 10:45 on the evening of September 30, 1944, the mayor of Dover, Alderman Cairns, received a telegram from the commander of the 9th Canadian Infantry Regiment: "To the citizens of Dover - Greetings from the Brigade and may you enjoy your pint of beer and stroll on the seafront in peace from now on - We have all of the Jerry’s Big Berthas [artillery].” The Mayor of Dover's reply to the Canadian liberators in France came almost immediately: "Thank you for your message just received and most grateful appreciation of the gallantry and skill of you and your officers and men in capture of Jerry's Big Berthas. We shall not enjoy our beer and stroll on the front to the full until you can join us in it. We wish you God Speed.” The letter written by one Nova Scotian soldier, Private Kenneth Buchanan to his wife Barbara in England about the capture of the guns of Calais was also featured in the Wartime Heritage Association’s stage production Echoes of the Forties (2008). “At last, I have seen the big white cliffs of England. Boy did they ever look good to me. I must say though that I felt a little homesick and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. When I look through the glasses, I could see a village over there and radio location towers. They were so near I could almost touch them. It did bring you very close to me Darling and for a moment it was just as if I was in England with you. I’ll never forget the feeling I had and how sad I felt when I had to look away. To think you were just 20 some miles away from me and I couldn’t get to see you. Darling it isn’t fair. We don’t deserve that. Oh well, someday - I’ve been saying that for three months now, sometimes I wonder just how much longer I will be saying it. All the big coastal guns are out of action. We took the ones out at Cape Gris Nez, just across from Dover. Then on to Calais and points north. So, we’ve done a good job once again.” The guns had been taken by the Ontario-based Highland Light Infantry of Canada, and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders had cleared up the four guns on their front. The shelling had ended. Within minutes loudspeakers were relaying the good news across town. The few flags that were not buried under the rubble began to appear and thanksgiving services were held in churches. The bells of St Mary's had survived the years of shelling. As a special tribute, simple but effective, they pealed out five slow notes and two quick ones. It represented the initials of Britain's front-line town - Dover. Private Buchanan’s letter continued, “I really had a good look over the Channel guns we took. I never saw such guns in my life. A man could easily crawl down the barrel and still have plenty of room to throw out his chest I’ve been all through the parts and everything and I can really keep you interested for a whole evening when I go home, telling you about them.” On October 18th, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the town to pay tribute to Dover's fortitude throughout more than four years of shelling and bombing. Read the story of Dover’s neighboring town of Folkestone and its wartime history at: http://www.wartimeheritage.com/storyarchive2/storynewyearsfolkestone1940.htm Read Kenneth Purdy Buchanan’s story at: http://wartimeheritage.com/whaww2ns/wwii_buchanan_kenneth_purdy.htm

Sources: "Kent at War", by Bob Ogley Dover-kent.co.uk