A Second World War embarkation hard located near the Lifeboat Station at Hythe (TR 157 339). This was a 4-berth hard that was built between 1942 and 1943 for landing craft transporting troops (an LCT hard). It was controlled by Dover Command. Three further embarkation hards for Dover Command were located in Deal at South Street, Granville Street and the Swimming Baths (TR 377 544), with a further one at Cambridge Road (TR 381 485), and two hards in Hythe at Stade Court and Imperial Hotel (TR 168 342). 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. (1) The embarkation hard described above (Source 1) is visible on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP. The embarkation hard was located near the lifeboat station at the southern end of St Leonards Road and centred at TR 15791 33912. The embarkation pier extended from TR 15795 33903 inland to TR 15817 33856 seawards. The concrete platform behind it measured 60meters by 36meters. The embarkation hards were subsequently removed on aerial photographs taken in 1959. (2-3)

<1> Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 5. Operation Overlord : embarkation works for the invasion of occupied Europe, 1942-44, pp 6,9,11,14,16,32 (Unspecified Type). SWX23708.

<2> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23955.

<3> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23873.