[PeterVerney]

I would reiterate my previous post. Why fill the canal ports with several thousand barges stripped from every river and canal in west Europe? Was it a fun exercise to make us laugh? At least it made a target for our bombers.

I lived about 7 miles from Dover, and 8 from Folestone, at that time. There were extensive preparations made for an invasion which was expected shortly because of the barges and the air activity. We were warned not to leave the village when the Huns came so that the army could have freedom of movement. They had seen the shambles in Belgium and France in May. I also remember being told (I was 8 years old at the time) "When (note when, not if) the Jerries come, you boys are to put sugar in their petrol tanks".

To us there was definitely an intention to invade, which they chickened out of when the 'invincible' Luftwaffe could not live up to the fat mans boasts.