From an Email received 13 January 2011

Paul,

Attached picture is from a photo-postcard in an old family album, which has just come into my possession.

I believe the chap at top right is my grandfather W H Saville of Dover, who is identified as a Chief Petty Officer in another photo.

The chap on his left is one of his three sons, possibly my Dad.

The embossed photographer's stamp reads Charles Harris, 77 London Road, Dover.

It looks as if they are in some way responsible for the searchlight they are standing next to (but it's daylight!). Do you have any idea where this structure is, or was? It looks like the top of a tower, of relatively modern construction.

Their ages - and the "CPO" re someone whose day job was running the Dover Marquee Company - suggests to me a 1914-18 date.

I know you're a pub man but I bet you have a far wider knowledge of Dover than that!

Thanks for any help you can give.

Alison Saville

Horsham

West Sussex.

From an Email received 19 January 2011

Just came across your help 5 page – this is on the top of the keep of Dover Castle – I thought the crenulations looked odd, but they were all removed in Victorian times, then these poor replacements added, then they were properly renewed between WW1 and WW2 (these are scans I did a few years ago).

A friend of mine would be very interested in a high res copy of this as he is currently investigating the Dover Anti-Aircraft Corps and a W.H. Saville is mentioned in the records as a “Rate Collector” !!

The image I attach was from Dover Museum and taken during WW1.

Regards,

Paul Wells.

From an Email received 16 February 2011

Hi Paul,

I was browsing your site last night and happened upon the fascinating photo sent in by Alison Saville of her Grandfather W.H.Saville standing with the searchlight on top of the Castle.

I have been researching the Dover Anti-Aircraft Corps and have some details about William Henry Saville including his service record. I'd be very happy to send his record to Alison and any other info I have on him and his work as a searchlight worker.

The photo was taken sometime between Jan and Aug 1916 and depicts one of the three searchlights we had to protect the harbour and town from German bombers. The other lights were stationed at the Drop Redoubt and Langdon Fort and were mainly crewed by civilians from Dover but drafted into the RNVR. Guy Mannering from Crabble Corn Mill was another CPO. They did not fire guns as these were manned by the army Royal Garrison Artillery which connected by telephone to the searchlight batteries.

Phil Eyden.