Location
The D-Day Story, Portsmouth UK
Call for Papers, deadline – 15 December 2023
From Yards to Hards: Preparing Allied naval forces for the 1944 Normandy Landings
In partnership with The D-Day Story, Portsmouth, to be held at The D-Day Story, Portsmouth Saturday 18 May 2024
How were UK and overseas naval establishments occupied in constructing, supplying and transporting troops, harbours and pipelines?
The Allied assault on German-occupied France on and after D-Day (6 June 1944) was only possible through naval support, from the largest warships and merchant vessels through to the smallest landing craft. Existing dockyards, harbours and shipyards in the UK, the US, Canada and Bermuda played a vital role in building, preparing, maintaining and repairing the Allied fleets. Remains of these coastal installations survive as tangible heritage of this endeavour.
However, the magnitude of the projected naval and land forces required many more temporary bases and facilities, which entailed systematic forward planning. The roles of these establishments included supporting landing craft flotillas, building Mulberry Harbours, embarking troops and supplies, and supplying fuel via the PLUTO pipeline. Workforces were dedicated to planning, victualling and furnishing all kinds of supplies. Personnel went through an equivalent period of training and preparation.
We are seeking original research about the prelude to D-Day: its planning and execution involving dockyards, shipyards and harbours, including temporary naval facilities and infrastructure, remains of which may survive.
Send your title, a 300-word synopsis, a 100-word biography and queries by 15 December 2023 or earlier to Ann Coats avcoatsndschair@gmail.com
If your proposal is accepted – you will present in-person – we will pay UK travel expenses, conference fee, lunch, publish and give you a journal copy. Your talk will be 30 minutes, the printed paper 6–10K words, due 31 August 2024.
https://navaldockyards.org/conferences/ – https://navaldockyards.org/ – https://theddaystory.com/
Facebook: NavalDockyardsSociety TheDDayStory