Marshalling and Embarkation Area 'D1' Sub area 'Z'.D8, Down Wood, Dorset.

Plan of Area 'D1' WXYZ.

 

Just prior to D-Day all assault troops for D-Day were brought together into camps all around the south coast of England. Here I am talking about Area 'D' sub area 'Z' D8 Down Wood.

Plan of D8 Down Wood 1500men and 220 vehicles. Z sub area had D5, D8, D9, D14

An air photo of the north part of D8 Down Wood.

Down Wood from the Golf Course car park, head straight into the wood and turn slightly left and continue.

Today there is very little left in any of these camps, they were all built in woodland to hide the soldiers from the air. The men lived in tents and huts and were provided for feeding and ablutions. One hut guarded all the time held maps, plans, models of the areas the soldiers were to attack. At a certain time all personnel involved were brought into these sealed camps and fed very well, looked after and then shown what and where they were going to land.

Brick plinths of a water tank.

Brick plinths of a water tank.

Brick plinths of a water tank.

Brick water tower for an ablutions block. There may have been a boiler to heat water for showers and a water tank in the top of the tower..

Brick water tower for an ablutions block.

Brick water tower for an ablutions block.

Ablutions block, toilet cubicles.

One of the large hut bases.

Hut base. One hut held plans, maps and photographs of the landing beaches.

Hut base.

Hut base.

They even had full drainage systems throughout the camps.

Ablutions.

Trenches left after all these years and there are several around here. Trenches were dug to give the feel of how they would have to live in France after landing but also to protect them from air attacks that were expected in the build up period.

Soldiers preparing to go down to Weymouth.

Dorchester town.

The men that left from Dorset landed at Omaha Beach..