C.Y.R. graffiti from Dover, UK.

[Phil Eyden]

I've been reading your fascinating forum and thought I would share some interesting graffiti with you that we discovered just two weeks ago. The graffiti was discovered on the walls of an 1860s side arms store on the terrepein of an old Napoleonic Fort known as the Drop Redoubt overlooking the harbour at Dover, UK.

The Drop Redoubt, as we see it today, was built in 1804 and was garrisoned up until the end of WW1 but then fell into disrepair. It is a large five sided moated fort that formed the eastern end of a huge fortification complex known as the Western Heights that was designed to protect the town from French attack should an invasion have commenced.

Although the fort had been virtually abandoned by WW2, it was put back into use for the nights of 19-22nd April 1942 to house a detachment of Canadian commandos from the Carleton and York Regiment, and No.4 Commando. The combined commandos launched a raid around Hardelot near Boulogne under Simon Fraser, the Lord Lovat, and was known as Operation Abercrombie.

Sadly the operation didn't go well for the 50 Canadian Commandos who due to a faulty compass failed to land and their two boats lost contact with each other. The British fared little better as they landed over a mile from their objective, a German searchlight, and only just reached it before Lovat ordered the withdrawal. There was only one injury, a British commando who was shot through the ankles by one of the other British soldiers for failing to answer a challenge.

The graffiti, as far as I can make out, reads:

1) G21001 Pvt (?) AKERLEY D.Coy C.Y.R. Canada Apral 22 1942

2) ROYAAL DINGHY W.SPRING T.R. B.Coy C.Y.R. Canada

The Canadian contingent was led by a Lt. J.P. Ensor who later became a Major, I believe. Sixty men stayed behind in the Drop Redoubt, not taking part in the raid so it is possible they were part of this group.

As a member of the local society that cares for the fort and tries to promote it's history, I'd love to find out any information about these men, or others, prior to our public open day in June.

I hope this has been of some interest. Many thanks.