Collection: Portsmouth area and D-Day

Portsmouth and the surrounding area played a vital role in the preparing for D-Day.

• Portsmouth and Gosport were embarkation points for troops, here naval bases carried out modifications to shipping and components for the Mulberry Harbours were built
• Hayling Island was home to training bases for landing craft crew and large scale practice landings took place there
• The Solent – the sea between Portsmouth and Isle of Wight – is where most of the Allied Fleet gathered prior to setting off on D-Day
• The Isle of Wight
• Hampshire hosted many camps for Allied troops