During the second World War most of the population were moved out and guns with their attendant military personnel were moved in. Most of the guns were anti-aircraft but there were smaller pieces intended to prevent German shipping from travelling along the French coast.  There were two 15" guns called "Jane" & "Clem" and there were also the two famous ex-Navy 14" guns called "Winnie" and "Pooh".  They originally came from the battleship King George V.  On one occasion when Winston Churchill was visiting, it is rumoured that that "Winnie" was fired and the officer-in-charge saluted and reported, "A direct hit, Sir". "On what ?" enquired Winston, "Er - France, Sir".
     There was a wooden dummy of "Pooh" but it obviously did not fool the Germans as legend has it that they dropped a wooden bomb.