Then&Now,D-Day,Brixham Hards

Brixham Hards, South Devon, England, UK

The invasion of France in 1944 was a huge task, and the biggest armada of ships ever collected for a military invasion. We will never see such a thing again, which is a huge relief I’m sure you will agree !

All along the Southern coast of England there are all sizes of ports and harbours. To mount such an invasion meant embarking thousands of troops into landing craft of all sizes and transporting them to Normandy, or as our American cousins call it, the far shore.

The D-Day landings in Normandy consited of five main landing beaches. The British landed on Sword and Gold beaches in the East, the Canadians at Juno in the middle and the Americans landed at Utah and Omaha beaches in the West. So it made good logistical sense for the Americans to use the ports and harbours in the South West of England in the counties of Cornwall and Devon. Such towns as Falmouth, Weymouth, Torquay, and Brixham were all places filled with landing craft and the GI’s with all their equipment. 

There’s one famous photo featured in most books of the D-Day landings of some US Army vehicles driving down to the hards to embark onto the landing craft. We wanted to find this location and see if anything is still left. Success ! Below are comparable photos along with a few additional photos of the road down and the hard itself. Doesn’t seem to have changed much, does it ? Just imagine how these GI’s were feeling as they drove down this road. Oh, I forgot to mention where it was… Brixham !

Brixham Hard June 1944

Brixham Hard June 1944

Brixham Hard, July 2010

Brixham Hard, July 2010

Brixham Hard, July 2010, the road down

Brixham Hard, July 2010, the road down

Brixham Hard, July 2010, landing craft long departed

Brixham Hard, July 2010, landing craft long departed

Random Images From Collection
Saxon APC (97 KF 86)
Saxon APC (97 KF 86)
Normandy 1944 Collection 77
Normandy 1944 Collection 77
Panther Ausf G (2)
Panther Ausf G (2)
Diamond T 968A 4Ton 6x6 Cargo
Diamond T 968A 4Ton 6x6 Cargo
Stoewer 40 Kfz.2-40 Radio Car (SS-202770)
Stoewer 40 Kfz.2-40 Radio Car (SS-2
Leyland Daf 4Ton Rapier Support (09 KL 63)
Leyland Daf 4Ton Rapier Support (09
Normandy 1944 Collection 179
Normandy 1944 Collection 179
Eastern Front Collection 1367
Eastern Front Collection 1367
Albion CX22S 6x4 Heavy Artillery Tractor (UTP 68 K)
Albion CX22S 6x4 Heavy Artillery Tr
Berlin May/June 1945 25
Berlin May/June 1945 25
Bedford RL Green Goddess (PGW 350)(Copyright ERF Mania)
Bedford RL Green Goddess (PGW 350)(
Normandy 1944 Collection 912
Normandy 1944 Collection 912
Eastern Front Collection 507
Eastern Front Collection 507
Normandy 1944 Collection 684
Normandy 1944 Collection 684
Berlin May/June 1945 150
Berlin May/June 1945 150
Bedford MJ 4 Ton Cargo (95 KB 67)
Bedford MJ 4 Ton Cargo (95 KB 67)
Normandy 1944 Collection 419
Normandy 1944 Collection 419
Morris C4 15cwt (MSV 823)
Morris C4 15cwt (MSV 823)
Leyland Hippo Mk2 10Ton GS (Q 300 JDV)
Leyland Hippo Mk2 10Ton GS (Q 300 J
GMC 353 CCKW 6x6 Cargo (VBP 179 N)
GMC 353 CCKW 6x6 Cargo (VBP 179 N)