Second World War D-Day embarkation hard, ‘NM Stansgate Abbey’, Marconi Sailing Club (EHER 20299)

A Second World War embarkation hard at Stansgate Abbey on the River Blackwater, known as 'Site NM'. It was built by the Admiralty between 1942 and 1943 under the control of Nore Command in preparation for D-Day. This was a four-berth hard for landing craft transporting troops (an LCT hard). It consisted of a concrete loading ramp equipped with steel framed mooring points or 'dolphins'. Embarkation hard sites were built with associated access roads, approach roads, transit areas and accommodation and ancillary buildings. The hard survives in excellent condition and is used by a sailing club. It is approximately 80 metres long at its widest point, by approximately 50 metres in depth. There is no sign of the 'dolphins' and none of the ancillary buildings survive. This was one of 15 embarkation hard sites for Nore Command.

June 1999. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop research. One of the 68 embarkation hards built around Southern Britain during World War Two in preparation for D-Day was constructed at Stansgate on the River Blackwater. Providing berthing facilities for four Landing Craft, Troops, or 'LCT's, it was designated 'NM Stansgate Abbey'. This still survives in excellent condition, as the berthing point for Marconi Sailing Club. <1> The hard is situated between the seawall and the river’s edge with an access point through steel flood gates. The apron is approximately 87 yards across at its widest point and 55 yards in depth. The concrete is laid in two forms. The top, landward, part - probably above the high watermark - is of solid concrete. This has five steel mooring rings spread across its width. The seaward part - approximately 64 yards wide x 39 yards deep - is made of concrete slabs measuring 41" x 24", each one cast as 15 small squares. This was presumably to provide traction on the sloping surface. There are no signs of WWII 'dolphins'; a wood-framed mooring point to one side of the hard is thought to be of more recent origin. <7> Aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1960 show two curved-roof huts - following the pattern of the surviving example at The Stone (EHER 20298) they were probably of corrugated asbestos - on the landward side of the seawall to the south-east of the access gates. These would have provided accommodation facilities, control room, storage etc. for the hardmaster and embarkation officers. <2> <3> Although none of the ancillary facilities have survived, the structure of the hard remains in fine condition with little sign of deterioration or alteration to its original form. <7> Ten photos. <4> December 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research. A report on Naval Control at Southend and The Thames, written in July 1945, includes a chapter on Burnham-on-Crouch. Regarding the hards at Stansgate Abbey and Stone Point (EHER 20298) it states: 'Training Grounds The preliminary boat work was carried out in the River Crouch, where the mud helped to prevent serious damage to hulls and propellers. Later, the classes moved to the River Blackwater, distance 5 miles by road and 20 miles by sea, where two major landing craft hards, at Stansgate and at Stone were brought into use as practice training areas for advanced training. These hards with the close proximity of Osea Island, gave first class training in the actual embarkation of heavy vehicles, guns and tanks, followed by a landing on Osea Island, guided and controlled by Royal Naval Beach Commandos; with attacks on pill boxes erected by the military on Osea Island earlier on, but not now tenanted, followed by an evacuation and return to the hards. These exercises which were organised for every week gave the advanced classes of the pupils a general insight as to how a landing was organised, and what they might expect to find on reaching the enemy shore – realism was given by blank cartridges and thunder-flashes.' <5> 2009. Site Assessment: Nationally, four of the 68 wartime embarkation hards were designated as 'embarkation beaches'. Of the remaining sixty-four, twenty-one have not been traced and three have been destroyed. Just forty are therefore thought to still survive. <6> In Essex, ‘NS Stone Point’ (EHER 20298) and ‘NM Stansgate Abbey’ (this record) remain extant while five sites in Tilbury have not yet been researched by the World War Defences in Essex project. The two embarkation hards on the River Blackwater are therefore both nationally and locally important and every effort should be made to ensure their continued survival, ultimately with statutory protection. <7> NRHE data transfer: A Second World War embarkation hard located at Stansgate Abbey on the River Blackwater (TQ 931 059). This was a four-berth hard that was built between 1942 and 1943 for Landing Craft transporting troops (LCT). It was controlled by Nore Command. Further embarkation hards for Nore Command were located at Stone Point (EHER 20298), Cat House (Suffolk), two sites at Landguard (Suffolk), Shornmead (Kent) and Pontoon Hard (Kent). A further five sites at Tilbury and two sites at Upnor (Kent) have not been traced. [Note: The Tilbury sites are recorded in EHER 21492-21496.] Embarkation hards were built by the Admiralty as part of Operation Overlord to load landing vessels in preparation for D-Day and the invasion of occupied Europe. A total of 68 individual hards were constructed between 1942 and 1944 across the southern coast of England in every county between Suffolk and Cornwall. There were two types of embarkation hards: LCT hards for landing crafts for troops and LST hards for landing ships carrying tanks. A standard hard consisted of a rectangular concrete apron that sloped down into the water, which was equipped with steel framed mooring points (known as dolphins) to moor the vessels during loading. Hard sites included access roads to link the hards to public highways, approach roads to accommodate the concentrated heavy traffic and transit areas for marshalling troops, vehicles and equipment. Accommodation and ancillary buildings at hard sites would include offices for embarkation staff; a central control room; a workshop for maintenance crew; stores; a watch hut and a latrine. Sites were also fitted with fuel, lighting and utilities. <8> The NGR in the above report was inaccurately given as TQ 931 059. The correct NGR is TL 931 059. <9>