A dream realised

World War Two veteran Albert Figg's dying wish was fulfilled when the world premiers of Peter Williams' documentary about the Battle for Hill 112 was screened to an appreciative audience as part of this year's Canterbuy Festival.

The well-attended event in the Great Hall at Kent College, supported by The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Pat Todd, marked a significant milestone for the Hill 112 Memorial Foundation, which has spent several years commisoning and funding this remarkable work.

Peter Williams’ feature-length documentary of the battle, which Sergeant Gunner Figg personally asked him to make before he died in 2017, was an atmospheric, moving yet factual account of one of the bloodiest battles of the second world war.

Based around filmed interviews with some of the men who took part, the award-winning filmmaker took inspiration from Chaucer's famous work to create A Canterbury Tale: Albert Figg and the Battle for Hill 112.

Sergeant gunner Figg, who himself hailed from Canterbury, took part in the battle for the hill outside Caen as the Allies pressed south after D-Day in 1944. It was one of the costliest battles of the war and one in which he lost many of his colleagues; he never forgot them, and Peter Williams' well-crafted work stands as a suitable tribute to their bravery.

Albert spent the last 30 years of his life creating the memorial on the crest of Hill 112, but died before his last wish for a documentary of the event could be completed.

The Trust, led by chairman Annette Oliver, Albert's daughter, and supported by a committee including Heather Standen and Fred Ross, has worked hard to raise the funds to see the film completed - and still needs more support to ensure that the Memorial can be maintained and enhanced over the years.

The memorial features a Churchill tank, a 25-pounder field gun, a statue of an infantryman and 112 trees in the shape of a cross, creating pathways of remembrance and maintained with the support of Asociation Odon Cote 112 on the other side of The Channel.

After the screening, which drew warm applause from the audience, Peter Williams and Annette Figg took questions and shared their dream that the film would be widely viewed and would spread the word about the bravery and sacrifice of the men who battled the German's crack Panzer divisions for control of the hill.

The film was supported by imagery provided by the Imperial War Museum, while the film screenings at the Canterbury Festival were sponsored by Kent Estate Agents Charles Bainbridge.

The charity is hoping that the film will help bring in more vital funds to allow the foundation to complete the memorial at Hill 112 and keep it well maintained. Work still needs to be done on the Remembrance Garden, including drainage and lighting and making good the walkways.

“We still need help from supporters and anyone who values the bravery of the men who helped secure the Allied victory in 1945,” said Annette. “The charity works hard to keep their memory alive but needs funds to continue the project in Albert’s name.”