Dartmouth and Kingswear during the Second World War 1939-45

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>This illustrated booklet was produced on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the departure of troops for the Normandy Landings in June 1944. Dartmouth and Kingswear like many other coastal towns played a very special part in the Second World War acting as one of the host ports to American forces deployed in the West Country in readiness for the landings in France which set the stage for the eventual collapse of Hitler's Third Reich.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Although the first half of 1944 was the most active time of the whole war for the Dartmouth area when military activity reached feverish levels planning for the departure of 435 ships of the U.S. Navy the Dart estuary witnessed a wide variety of troops ships and land based activities defended by guns barrage balloons a nearby radar station boom defence across the estuary and a very active Civil Defence service.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Fifty years ago the Dart estuary was bustling with vessels of many descriptions troops and navy personnel were an every day scene maintaining a watchful eye lest an attack came from sea or land. Wrens Free French Forces Canadian American and other nationalities were represented in this military scenario.</span></p>