D-Day Embarkation Slipways And Adjoining Section Of Quay Wall

The D-Day Embarkation Slipways and adjoining section of quay wall, built in 1943, are made of reinforced concrete. The two slipways feature square columns that support principal beams running parallel to the quay face. These beams, in turn, support secondary beams that extend from the quay wall down the slope at a right angle to the quay. The decking, which leads from the wall to the water, consists of pre-cast slabs laid perpendicular to the quay line, supported by both primary and secondary beams. Between the slipways, there is a mooring post.

These slipways were constructed as part of Operation Overlord by the Royal Engineers, specifically the 931 Port Construction and Repair Company, and were completed on May 28, 1943. They were used by the American troops of the 4th Division of 7 Corps to embark for the crossing to Utah Beach in Normandy during the D-Day landings. From a series of embarkation sites, over 850,000 men, nearly 150,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies were landed on the invasion beaches between June 6 and June 30, 1944. These slipways are extremely rare survivors and are possibly the best-preserved example of D-Day infrastructure in the country, forming part of a significant group of listed structures.