Monument record TR 35 SE 726 - Embarkation Hard Site Nw11

This is a concrete road across the beach that once lead to a hard and dolphins supporting a timber jetty. One of several buillt on the Deal shore as part of Operation Fortitude.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential : Not much
Condition : moderate
Date of visit : 25/03/07 (1, 2)

A Second World War embarkation hard located at Cambridge Road in Deal (TR 381 485). This was a 4-berth hard that was built between 1942 and 1943 for landing craft carrying troops (LCT). It was controlled by Dover Command. Further embarkation hards for Dover Command were located in Deal at South Street, Granville Street and the Swimming Baths (TR 377 544) and two sites in Hythe at Stade Court and Imperial Hotel (TR 168 342) and a further one at the Lifeboat Station (TR 157 339). A further five sites at Dover, two sites at Hastings and one at Folkestone have not been traced.
Embarkation hards were built by the Admiralty as part of Operation Overlord to load landing vessels in preparation for D-Day and the invasion of occupied Europe. A total of 68 individual hards were constructed between 1942 and 1944 across the southern coast of England in every county between Suffolk and Cornwall.
There were two types of embarkation hards: LCT hards for landing crafts for troops and LST hards for landing ships carrying tanks. A standard hard consisted of a rectangular concrete apron that sloped down into the water, which was equipped with steel framed mooring points (known as dolphins) to moor the vessels during loading. Hard sites included access roads to link the hards to public highways, approach roads to accommodate the concentrated heavy traffic and transit areas for marshalling troops, vehicles and equipment. Accommodation and ancillary buildings at hard sites would include offices for embarkation staff; a central control room; a workshop for maintenance crew; stores; a watch hut and a latrine. Sites were also fitted with fuel, lighting and utilities. (3)

<1> David G Collyer, 01/01/95, Deal and District at War 1939 - 1945 (Verbal communication). Ske14110.

<2> David G Collyer, 01/01/95, Deal and District at War 1939 - 1945 (Verbal communication). SKE14110.

<3> Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 5. Operation Overlord : embarkation works for the invasion of occupied Europe, 1942-44 (Unspecified Type). SWX23708.