A Dover historian and volunteer at the Western Heights is signing copies of his new book, Dover’s Forgotten Commando Raid.

Phil Eyden, of Balfour Road, tells the story of Operation Abercrombie, a reconnaissance raid on the French coastal village of Hardelot, south of Boulogne, in April 1942.

Lord Lovat’s commandos and a detachment of Canadian infantrymen aimed to destroy as much equipment as possible, including a searchlight battery, and capture prisoners.

The book explains, for the first time, the story of the raid, and contains many never-before published photos and details the graffiti the force left in the Drop Redoubt.

Phil said: “Five years ago all we had was a single photo of Second World War soldiers at the Redoubt.

“I was intrigued as up until that point we had all, incorrectly, assumed the fort had been abandoned in Edwardian times.

“Slowly I began to research why those men were there, and what had happened.

“What emerged was quite astounding. It was a large scale commando operation launched from Dover that hardly anyone knew about or had even heard of!

“The quest took me to contact relatives of some of the soldiers in New Brunswick in Canada who had left the graffiti in the fort 74 years ago, and they have all been delighted to find out what their grandfathers had been up to.”

The 96-page book contains many never-before published photographs.

Copies are available at Country Brides in Castle Street, Wednesday to Saturday, The Mash Tun Micropub in Biggin Street and at The Lanes Micropub in Worthington Street.

The book costs £15.

Alternatively, contact the Western Heights Preservation Society or Phil Eyden via Facebook.

The Preservation Society’s next work day, which includes clearing vegetation and tidying up the Grand Shaft will be on Sunday, March 20. People should meet at the Redoubt at 10.30am and come with sturdy shoes.