Second World War: Gathering Mulberries

Picture Dover Harbour. Two prefabricated harbours, one of over twice the area of Dover's, the other of rather less, were towed over to Normandy with the invasion in June 1944 and were in business, though not complete, within a fortnight. Their code-name was Mulberry.

Mulberry A was at St Laurent in the American zone, it was all but destroyed in the gale of June 19th-22nd. Mulberry B, at Arromanches, was in the British zone and, though damaged in the gale was repaired and benefited from Eisenhower's decision (doubtless influenced by the imminent fall of Cherbourg) to divert to it, surviving elements of Mulberry A, together with much welcome and willing assistance.

Asked to describe Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington replied 'As well attempt to describe a ballroom'. So with the planning, the construction and installation of Mulberry, but nevertheless, its eventual success totally changed the Allied strategy post D-Day for the prosecution of the war in the West.