These magnificent chalk cliffs hovering over the Port of Dover are much more than a geological oddity or a world renowned international tourist attraction. Like the State of Liberty is to Americans, these white ledges are an enduring symbol of British identity and pride. They represent home and hearth, warm and safety, shelter and tranquillity, all the best emotions that returning home from time away can fill you with. The sight of them rising from the mist has filled seamen, airmen and world travelers with confidence, hope and relief for ages. During World War II their significance was elevated even further. Like the iron gate of a castle, they came to represent strength, courage and an undying sense of perseverance and steadfastness.
Vera Lynn – The Forces Sweetheart
“There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow just you wait and see
There’ll be love and laughter and peace ever after
Tomorrow when the world is free”
Perhaps no one did more to solidify the White Cliffs of Dover’s reputation as a symbol of hope during WW II than Vera Lynn. Known as the “Forces Sweetheart”, she sang hits like “We’ll Meet Again” and “(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover” to troops from air fields and munitions plants in England, across the Middle East to India and Burma.
Pink Floyd Remembers
In 1978, Roger Waters thoughts turned to Vera Lynn when he wrote “Vera”, for the Wall album. Pink, a disillusioned rock star, watches the WW II film ” The Battle of Britain” and sings, “Remember how she said that/We would meet again/Some sunny day?/Vera, Vera/What has become of you?” Well, apparently quite a few people did remember Vera. She had a career that spanned over 65 years. In 2000 she was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century. She lived to be 103.
You guys walked in the nature!
Very well done 😃
My Dad – John Sinclair must have passed over the white cliffs of Dover on his many sorties with the RAF during the Battle of Britain with 219 Squadron. Vera Lynn recording was very poignant and evocative of that time. We are just recently back from an exchange in Windsor and took the opportunity to visit the Battle of Britain Bunker in nearby Uxbridge where the RAF plotters controlled the fighter defence of the south of England against the Luftwaffe Bombers. We also visited the Runnymede Memorial opened by the Queen in 1953 and which commemorates all the names of the over 20,000 allied bomber aircrew who died in WW1/2 and who have no known grave. This includes the name of J.G.A Maguire DFC (George) on panel 66, brother of Molly Maguire of Ingleside, 49 Warrenpoint Road, Rostrevor in Northern Ireland . He was lost undertaking one of the largest raids of the war to that date against the Phillips Radio Factory in Eindhoven in December 1942 during Operation Oyster. His personnel affects kept by his late sister still remain in Ingleside.
Thanks for the memories.
Brian & Anne Sinclair, Donabate, Co Dublin.
Brian & Anne, Thanks for the history. Having a personal connection must be very impactful. My Dad was on a destroyer in the Pacific. A long way from the White Cliffs of Dover. All the Best, Bruce & Wendi
P.S. We’ll be in Dublin this weekend.
As a postscript – The Battle of Britain Monument on the embankment near near Westminster tube station is a wonderful piece of sculpture and it contains all the names of the under 3000 aircrew (the few) who took part in the battle for the skies in the summer of 1940. Well worth a visit.
Beautiful photography and lots of nostalgia. Thanks for sharing, Bruce.
So much fun following your travels. Just beautiful. I can almost smell the sea!
I’ve never been but always wanted to go – thanks for the virtual trip it’s quite something.