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Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23014, 4 October 1944, Page 5

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Dover Celebrates Shelled For Four Years N.Z.P.A.—Special Correspondent (Rec. 10.55 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 3. Flags and bunting in the towns of France, Belgium and Holland are a sign that their people are rejoicing in their liberation after four years of Nazi domination. To-day there are also towns in England celebrating their liberation— Dover, Folkestone. Deal and Ramsgate, for, with the fall of Calais and the capture of the long-range German guns, they are now free after four years from shells battering their houses and streets. In Dover hundreds of persons who slept at nights in caves can now go normally to bed without fear of being a target during the night. In four years 2226 shells hit Dover from across the Channel, 210 hit Folkestone, and 120 hit Deal. Ramsgate was shelled seven times. All public buildings in Dover have been affected. Two schools were demolished, and all ethers damaged. Both hospitals were damaged, and countless houses were destroyed. In addition to shells. Dover had 464 bombs, three flying bombs, three parachute mines and hundreds of incendiaries. Dover's casualties were:— Killed by shells, 107: seriously injured, 200; slightly injured. 221. Killed by bombs, 109; seriously injured, 144; slightly injured, 197. The most vicious bombardment began last Tuesday, when 63 shells fell in five hours, including nearly 50 in one hour. When a hostel was hit, 49 persons were killed. Now that is all over, and Dover celebrated by crowds dancing, singing and shouting in the streets. Flags hung from the houses, shops, cinemas, tradesmen’s vans and lorries. While even prams carried a Union Jack. Hundreds of persons went to churchyards to give thanks for their deliverance. There were similar scenes in other bombarded towns. Comments most recently . heard in Dover were: “It’s over at last,” and “what a treat to go to bed again in our own homes.”