As part of the preparations for D-Day, in early 1944 there was a massive influx of troops and vehicles into the Downs and Beltinge, Herne Bay: ‘round every corner there were lines of all sorts of trucks, armoured cars, Bren and mortar carriers and various other army equipment.’ These were ‘taken in turn to a workshop that had been set up in the car park and garages of the local Miramar Hotel’ on Reculver Road. A contributor to the BBC’s ‘People’s War’ Online project recalled: ‘each vehicle was emerging with large white stars painted on its top and sides. Its exhaust pipe and other vents were extended upwards and its engine had been coated in a grey putty like substance. It was apparent that some sort of waterproofing exercise was going on.’ Similar work was also carried out at Herne Bay College, Eddington.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

Anthony Larkins, ‘Wartime Memoirs of a Lark’ (Digital archive). SKE15089.

Anthony Larkins, ‘Wartime Memoirs of a Lark’ (Digital archive). Ske15089.