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, 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
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 ......
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
You might also find the following link to a US publication from 1953 useful: https://history.army.mil/html/books/007/7-2-1/CMH_Pub_7-2-1.pdf
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}
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
Are you in touch with the D Day centre in Portsmouth? IRRC that they have maps and have researched things inn Hampshire
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.
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.