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Summary

The Second World War embarkation hard constructed in preparation for D-Day is visible as a structure on aerial photographs after 1942 and from 1946 onwards. It appears to survive in good condition in 2012.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1393571: SLIPWAY AND HARD, BRIXHAM OUTER HARBOUR

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1414427
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX95NW/61

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EMBARKATION HARD (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1942, RAF/AC39, RAF/AC39 V 74 29-APR-1942 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352346.

No slipway is visible in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 3207-3208 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

The embarkation hard is visible as a structure.

Jury, R., 1996, D-Day Embarkation slipway at Brixham Breakwater (Worksheet). SDV362235.

Site visit 11th February 1996. Wide rampfor loading us army vehicles at shore end of breakwater.
Noted that the hard is in good condition, particularly the surface of the slipway. Used by small craft.

Dobinson, C. S., 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume V, 10-11,35 (Monograph). SDV362287.

A concrete hard to accommodate four Landing Ship Tanks (LST) was constructed by May 1943 in the southwest corner of the breakwater as part of Plymouth Command's programme; Brixham's number was PU. The hard is 70m wide at its widest point above high water where the apron is of solid concrete; below the construction is large slabs joined together by steel hooks - flexible matting.

Fiorato, V.J., 1999, D-Day Embarkation slipway at Brixham Breakwater (Worksheet). SDV362236.

Site visits: 6th and 27th October 1999. A sectional concrete structure located immediately west of the Breakwater at SX9322 5662. In good condition.
A memorial to the 4th Infantry Division, VII Corps of the United States 1st army records embarkation for Normandy on 6th June 1944.

Fiorato, V.J., 1999, D-Day Embarkation slipway, Brixham Breakwater, T59,60 (Photograph). SDV362234.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX9356_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The slipway is visible as a structure.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

The Second World War embarkation hard constructed in preparation for D-Day (MTO55653) is visible as a structure on aerial photographs from 1946 onwards. It is not visible on aerial photographs taken in 1942. Although parts of the upper structure appear to have been resurfaced, it seems to be in good condition in 2012 when the individual slabs can be distinguished on vertical aerial photographs.

Ordnance Survey, 2023, Mastermap 2023 (Cartographic). SDV365227.

Triangular area marked as The Hard.

Historic England, 2023, National Heritage List for England, 1393571 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365228.

Slipway and Hard, Brixham Outer Harbour. A four-berth Landing Ship Tank (LST) slipway and embarkation hard constructed in 1943 situated in the lee of an existing breakwater.
See listing description for full details.
Date first listed: 23rd June 2009

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 3207-3208 10-DEC-1946.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SX9356_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012.
SDV352346	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1942. RAF/AC39. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/AC39 V 74 29-APR-1942.
SDV362234	Photograph: Fiorato, V.J.. 1999. D-Day Embarkation slipway, Brixham Breakwater. Slide. T59,60.
SDV362235	Worksheet: Jury, R.. 1996. D-Day Embarkation slipway at Brixham Breakwater. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV362236	Worksheet: Fiorato, V.J.. 1999. D-Day Embarkation slipway at Brixham Breakwater. Monuments Protection Programme. Worksheet.
SDV362287	Monograph: Dobinson, C. S.. 1996. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume V. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. Volume V: Operation Overlord. 10-11,35.
SDV365227	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2023. Mastermap 2023. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #140478 ]
SDV365228	National Heritage List for England: Historic England. 2023. National Heritage List for England. Digital. 1393571.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)
• EDV7670 - Defence of Britain site visits
• EDV7779 - World War II sites in Torbay

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