The Port of Dover

   IMAGE OF POWERFUL GERMAN GUN PLACED ON

FRENCH COAST TO BOMBARD THE PORT OF DOVER

The population of Dover on the south coast of England were subjected to constant tip and run air raids, as well as sustained gun bombardment from German batteries on the facing French coast.

Many Dover citizens took cover within the famous cliffs, where a tunnel was dug, there were double-decker bunks installed, as well as benches. There was poor ventilation, with no circulation of air, hence the atmosphere was dire, homeless people slept there night after night, with little facilities for washing.

For most provincial cities and towns there were no tunnels or caves, for those who were unwilling to stay and face the bombers, their solution was what was called "trekking" just getting as far away as possible. During most raids the alert siren would sound at about 6 p.m. and lasted throughout the night. So late afternoon people started moving out of town, sleeping in cars, huts and tents in the countryside. It was an unforgettable sight, crowds of people leaving and in the morning, returning, causing congestion problems for the rescue services.

Near Plymouth in Devon, a family had rented a room in an old farmhouse, in the farm kitchen there were rows of chairs against the wall, where exhausted people would come and rent a chair for the night, while their poor city was being devastated. The farmers wife kept a big black pot hanging over a fire, and once a day people bought a meal from it, nobody seemed to know what was in it, and just remembered black pieces of flesh, but they were hungry, and devoured with relish.