Mulberry Harbours

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by NRJ260599, May 9, 2014.

  1. NRJ260599

    NRJ260599 Junior Member

    My Grandads contribution during WW2 was to work on the construction of the Mulberry Harbours. Although I was too young to appreciate it we visited Arromanches in 1978 with my Grandad while heading for the ferry home after a family holiday. Wish I'd have realised then how poignant this would have been for him back then.

    Can anyone please recommend any books,dvds and websites that cover the construction of the Mulberry Harbour?
     
  2. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Hi,

    Do you know which company your Grandad worked for? I have just written about the Wates Ltd. contribution to the Mulberry Harbours and have a large collection of photos and rare film showing components being built in the London docks.

    There is a good British Pathe film on the Harbours http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHnyzAODbaA

    There is also Sir Bruce White 'The artificial invasion harbours called Mulberry' which you will find online as a downloadable pdf.

    There is a lecture in France next week 15 May by Sir Bruce White's grandson http://www.ice.org.uk/Events-conferences/Events/ICE-France-Spring-Lecture-2014

    If you let me know which company your Grandad worked for I might be able to help more.

    All the best,

    Daniel.
     
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  3. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Hello there, that's an interesting research area. There used to be a Mulberry Harbour at Portland, Dorset, floating near the shore in the Naval Base complex. I can remember canoeing round it in about 1974. I am not sure if it still there but it might be worth following that line of enquiry as well. It seemed vast to me sat in a canoe and it bobbed around on the tide and I did not fancy getting too close to it. Good luck with the research.
     
  4. ploughman

    ploughman Junior Member

    There is a booklet by A.T. Murchie.
    The Mulberry Harbour Project in Wigtownshire. 1942 - 1944
    Part 4 of a local history series
    ISBN 1-872350-70-4
    Published by GC Book publishers Wigtown Scotland DG8 9HL
    1993

    Details the design and construction of many of the units that saw use in Normandy.
     
  5. NRJ260599

    NRJ260599 Junior Member

    Hi Daniel,

    I will ask my Mum if she has any info as I know she has a couple of letters he'd written whilst in London during that time.
     
  6. NRJ260599

    NRJ260599 Junior Member

    Hi Daniel,

    If it helps he lived in Chester but from what we can gather he worked on them down South.
     
  7. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    I was quite sceptical of this but as usual I was quite wrong as it's excellent. The section on Mulberry is very good indeed.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Day-Manual-technology-engineering-Operations/dp/0857332341/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399661264&sr=1-1&keywords=haynes+d-day
     
  8. two dogs

    two dogs Member

    Major parts of the Mulberry were built at Conwy Morfa which is the present site of the Marina. To commemerate this the D-Day Revisited charity's Millin- Montgomery Voyage will be calling in Conwy on 12th May en-route from Fort William to Portsmouth.
     
  9. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Air photo of part of it.
    Keith d day ships 1944.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2017
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  10. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    good day nrj260599,yesterday,06:11pm.re:great video of factory made invasion harbour 1944.(the mulberry harbour)a great post .i had brothers who landed on the mulberry,they reckoned the storm was bad enough,but they made ashore.thanks for posting,regards bernard85 :m9:
     
  11. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

  12. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Here is a link on the mulberries.
    Keith
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2017
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  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Still there, saw them today.
    Castletown , Portland, Dorset.
    Took this photo
    20170214_144659.jpg

    also seen on Googlesteetview.
    https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.5...rwLVREi_gGJ5TpwB_g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
     
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  14. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Amazing that something built as a temporary solution is still withstanding the storms .Nice photo !
     

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