STORING SUPPLIES FOR D-DAY

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by History View, Feb 10, 2021.

  1. History View

    History View Member

    Hi, I am researching the logistics of supplies and storage, across the south of England in the months ahead of D-Day. The area of interest is from Kent to Cornwall in a line below what is now the M4 motorway. I am interested in any information and photographs about sites and locations - some of which may still provide visual evidence - used for storing vehicles, bombs and ammunition, Allied_Preparations_For_D-day_H35611.jpg fuel, food, medical equipment etc. This is an educational project the results of which will be available in the public domain upon completion. Any help however little will be very much appreciated. Thanks
     
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  2. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    I have recently been reading a book re Poole in World War 2. Published some years ago .It describes arrival of troops in the build up to D-Day and most were held back with supplies in the country areas, only moving into embarkation areas towards the date of Overlord. I will look out the details for you. My husband was a boy during this period and lived in a village near Sherborne, which had an American Camp in the grounds of the local big house. All vanished one night ......
     
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  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    British logistics in the Normandy campaign - Wikipedia
    Logistical units included six supply unit headquarters, 25 Base Supply Depots (BSDs), 83 Detail Issue Depots (DIDs), 25 field bakeries, 14 field butcheries and 18 port detachments.


    Maybe there are War Diaries to discover at The National Archives which might explain where they were and what they were 'holding/storing' - for example

    30 M.S.D. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 166/15577
    Description:
    30 M.S.D.
    Date: 1944 Jan.-Dec.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
    Access conditions: Closed For 29 years

    M.S.D. = Main Supply Depot


    TD

    Pre-Invasion Madness in England: The Final Days Before D-Day
     
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  4. History View

    History View Member

    THANK YOU that information is very helpful and well worth following up. Regards.
     
  5. History View

    History View Member

    I will follow up on this very helpful information. The links are very much appreciated. Regards
     
  6. CornwallPhil

    CornwallPhil Senior Member

    A small contribution to your research from Cornwall.
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. CornwallPhil

    CornwallPhil Senior Member

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  8. CornwallPhil

    CornwallPhil Senior Member

    The following books may be worth getting hold of:

    Operation Overlord: Cornwall & Preparation for the D-Day Landings by Roderick De Normann (Tormark 2019)
    Friendly Invasion: Memories of Operation Bolero by Henry Buckton (Phillimore & Co Ltd 2006)
    and the early chapters of The Invasion Before Normandy by Edwin P Hoyt (Robert Hale 1985) {later chapters focus on Slapton Sands}
     
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  9. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi,

    I’ve got some war diaries that might be of use - mostly collected in forlorn hope of finding more information on Austin K5 issues (don’t ask - private obsession, the counselling isn’t really working!) so they cover quite a bit from stores depot angle, vehicle replacements, etc. Also some Home Command planning documents that show how expeditionary forces were assisted on their way. Just give me a shout if any of that sounds useful.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  10. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Are you in touch with the D Day centre in Portsmouth? IRRC that they have maps and have researched things inn Hampshire
     
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  11. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    In Surrey the Caterham by-pass, newly completed before the war was used as pre D-Day vehicle storage. I believe one carriage way was used for storage & the other for normal traffic.
     
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  12. History View

    History View Member

    Many thanks for this. Much appreciated and I will follow that up.
     
  13. History View

    History View Member

    Actually no, I have not made contact with them but will do so as soon as they are open. Thank you.
     
  14. History View

    History View Member

    Hi Tom thanks for your post. Raised a smile. I am certainly interested in the information you hold, sounds just what I am looking for. How can we progress this please? I am happy to pay scanning costs - whatever or if the diaries are loaned I will cover all postage costs. You can see my (hobby) website at homefronthistory.com to prove I am genuine. References available if required. many thanks.
     
  15. History View

    History View Member

    Excellent thank you very much. I will search for these titles accordingly. Regards.
     
  16. History View

    History View Member

  17. History View

    History View Member

    Another important piece of the jigsaw, many thanks to you.
     
  18. History View

    History View Member

    All very useful leads with many thanks for your helpful posting. Regards.
     
  19. History View

    History View Member

  20. History View

    History View Member

    Very much appreciated and kind regards.
     

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