The History of the Mulberry Harbours and Swansea’s Remarkable Connection
The History of the Mulberry Harbours and Swansea’s Remarkable Connection Mulberry Harbour The Mulberry Harbours were among the most extraordinary engineering achievements of the Second World War , conceived in secrecy and constructed on a scale never before attempted. These temporary artificial ports enabled the Allies to land and sustain vast quantities of troops, vehicles, fuel and supplies on the Normandy coast after D‑Day , 6 June 1944. Although most closely associated with the beaches of France, the story also reaches Wales—and particularly Swansea —through engineering innovation, wartime service, civic ambition and public remembrance. Swansea’s link to this logistical triumph is richer and more personal than many realise. Why the Mulberry Harbours Were Needed The success of the Allied invasion depended on the rapid movement of men and materiel from Britain to France. Capturing a major French port immediately after the landings was judged too dangerous, a lesson reinforced by the...
