THE crew of the port dredger David Church have uncovered a First World War gun in Dover Harbour (Graham Tutthill writes).

Captain Don McMurdo and his crew were carrying out maintenance dredging near the ferry berths when they grabbed a Vickers three-pounder recoil-type dating back to 1916. A similar gun was dredged up a year ago.

Capt McMurdo: “The name plates on the gun were in perfect condition, one covering the description of the type, serial numbers, make and when commissioned, and the other on how to maintain the gun. Grease was still in the breach.

“This type of gun could have been put on board armed trawlers operating from the old Camber at the Eastern Docks.”

The gun has been donated to the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge, near Folkestone, where it is being restored and will be displayed.

Capt McMurdo added: “The restorers almost succeeded in operating the breach mechanism. They found a noticeable crack on top of the breach and it is possible there was a misfire from a shell, thus making the gun useless.”