Monument record TQ 67 SE 1011 - Embarkation Hard Site Ng by Shornemead Fort

Concrete hardstanding shown in photographs (1-9). The hardstanding is still visible during the 2005 coastal survey. It is in good condition with some slight structural failure at its west end. (10)

A Second World War embarkation hard located at Shornmead Fort (TQ 691 748). This was a 4-berth hard that was built between 1942 and 1943 for landing crafts carrying troops (LCT). It was controlled by Nore Command.
Further embarkation hards for Nore Command were located at Stansgate Abbey (TQ 931 059), Stone Point (TQ 953 063), Cat House (TM 194 391), three sites at Landguard (TM 282 313, TM 284 320, TM 284 327) and Pontoon Hard (TQ 758 701). A further five sites at Tilbury and two sites at Upnor 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. (11)

The structural remains of the hard and the associated mooring structure, road and surrounding features were mapped from historic RAF aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.

The concrete hard area was seen to still survive photographs taken in 2007, visible as an elongated delta of concrete (57m wide X 20m deep) at TQ 6918 7483, located above the tide line immediately north-east of Shornmead Fort. Extending c.65m into the sea from the hard was a mooring structure with three spaced metal framework towers (at 25m intervals). These were still visible on photographs taken in 1945, but have since been removed. A concrete road was constructed to serve the hard. This extended through the marshes, around the fort to the edge of the hard. This has been recorded separately NMR Monument Record: ?? Immediately to the east of the main hard is a second smaller concrete hard with a further pier or anchoring structure which is the remains of a late 19th century causeway associated with the fort. This too is recorded separately in NMR Monument Record: ?? The entire installation and the wartime istallation at Shornmead Fort were surrounded by extensive barbed wire entanglements arranged in cells to impede the advance of attacking forces. (12-13)

Description from record TQ 67 SE 1192:
Second World War sub-rectangular concrete apron on the river's edge in front of Shornemead Fort. It was constructed in 1943 for the loading of landing craft as part of the preparations for Operation Overlord, the allied invasion of Europe on 6 June, 1944. The apron is roughly rectangular ( 60 m x 20 m ) and formed a rigid surface, in front of which was a now vanished flexible surface consisting of square concrete cobbling which extended into the water itself. The landing craft which were moored offshore would approach and lower their loading platforms on to this surface. There were also now vanished structures such as the office for the habrourmaster, control room, workshop, store, watch hut and latrines. The hard was connected to the road network by a newly built concrete road which curved round the back of Shornemead Fort and then across the marshes and the railway line to join with Lower Higham Road. The hard was probably abandoned after the invasion of Europe but the rigid part still survives.
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey : Open access at the side of the river flood defence wall
Tourism Potential : An important point of interest along a riverside defence heritage trail
Condition : moderate
Date of visit : 15/02/06

<1> 1978, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10929.

<2> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10280.

<3> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10113.

<4> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10067.

<5> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10014.

<6> 1942, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10003.

<7> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9860.

<8> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9859.

<9> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9425.

<10> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

<11> Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 5. Operation Overlord : embarkation works for the invasion of occupied Europe, 1942-44 (Unspecified Type). SWX23708.

<12> RAF, 1953, RAF V540/1015 0105 05-FEB-1953 (Photograph). SKE56117.

<13> RAF, 1945, RAF 26K/UK/1455 6555 14-MAR-1945 (Photograph). SKE56109.

<14> Council for British Archaeology, 01/01/43, Twentieth Century Fortifications In England, Vol. V - Operation Overlord (1996) (Bibliographic reference). Ske13950.

<15> Council for British Archaeology, 01/01/43, Twentieth Century Fortifications In England, Vol. V - Operation Overlord (1996) (Bibliographic reference). SKE13950.