Operation Dynamo:
Last year, we were in London for a week in August to attend my nephew’s wedding. My
cousins who attended the wedding made plans to visit Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral. Although I have visited Dover Castle before on two occasions, I didn’t get the opportunity to visit the bunker and the hospital.
On our way to Dover, my cousin was talking about the bunker and the rescue operation undertaken by the Royal Navy. As we entered the underground tunnel below the castle, the sound and lighting effect in the background was so immerse, the exposure was like reliving the World War II. The war time sirens and emergency evacuation announcements relayed over the radio during the war seemed real.
“Operation Dynamo Rescue from Dunkirk” (Period 26 May to 4 June 1940) was to
evacuate British and Allied forces from Nazis Germany from the port of Dunkirk
in France to Dover Castle in Britain.
Distance between Dunkirk, France and Dover port is about 21 miles. German forces started shelling the allied forces on the beaches of port Dunkirk, when allied forces were
waiting to be rescued by the British Navy.
Captain Ramsey was the mastermind behind the “Operation Dynamo.” They rescued
more than 330,000 troops from the German forces, roughly 85% of the allied forces.
The Underground Hospital:
The underground hospital is basically a hospital ward which was used for the treatment of wounded troops of war. It’s in the tunnels beneath Dover Castle, close to “Operation Dynamo” tunnel.We experienced the sounds and atmosphere of the World War II hospital, with its operating theatre. Several rooms below showed the life of the doctors and nurses during this period.
One of the audio recordings said that at the height of war utmost secrecy and security was maintained throughout the hospital ward. People who played major roles in the hospital are dead now. They couldn’t get the exact information on the happenings in the hospital.
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent.
We limited our time to explore the castle and its surroundings. We climbed the spiral staircases and ascended to the roof of the castle, where we enjoyed a beautiful view across the entire grounds.
Travel and Food with Yoga 