The Bombing of Calais

Heroes Remember

The Bombing of Calais

Transcript

While still in France, after the Falaise business, we, we were ordered to go to Calais, which is opposite Dover, across the, across the pond. And, there was going to be some action around there. They wanted the Germans out of Calais. And, anyways, we, we took on position, oh, several miles from Calais. What really happened there, the Germans didn’t want to come out. And so, they were threatened that they would have the Air Force come over and bomb. Bomb them out. But, it didn’t matter, they didn’t want to. And finally the, the bombers came over, and we could even see the pilots in the aircraft, they were that low and dropping their bombs. But finally they gave up. When the Brits destroyed part of Calais and the Germans then they came out. They ended up. But anyhow the things straightened out. It was a pity, you know, to see the damage that they did to Caen, or to... Interviewer: Calais Calais. But - C’est la guerre.

Description

Mr. Champoux describes the Allied bombing of Calais. It was necessary to oust the Germans because they had taken the city and refused to give it up.

Robert Arthur Champoux

Mr. Champoux was born in Hull, Québec on March 21st, 1921. He lived there until the age of 8 when his father, a First World War Veteran, moved the family to Ottawa. Mr. Champoux had three brothers and four sisters; he was the third oldest child. When the war broke out he was attending Ottawa Technical High School. He left school, after his first year, to join the Army after failing to join the Navy and the Air Force (who were not yet recruiting). He left for Europe July 17th, 1940 and ended up stopping in Iceland where he remained for the next 10 months. Mr. Champoux’s wartime service saw him fighting on D-Day and in the Falaise Gap. He also fought in Calais and later on in Holland where he was wounded. Mr. Champoux got a job with the Mint upon returning to Canada. He joined the army again in 1948 retiring in 1965.

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