Tilbury on D-Day
Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Essex, Rainer Schulze tells us it's important to remember those who served in the second world war
Last updated 5th Jun 2024
Emeritus professor of History at the University of Essex Rainer Schulze has highlighted the critical role of Tilbury Port in the preparations for the D-Day landings and stressed the importance of remembering this part of history.
"Tilbury was a marshalling area for collecting troops and vehicles for the D-Day landings," Professor Schulze stated. "There were a number of marshalling areas all over southern England, each meant to hold approximately 40,000 plus troops and 6,000 to 7,000 vehicles." Planning for these operations began early in 1944, focusing on preparing camps, field hospitals, ammunition dumps, and other necessary infrastructure.
Professor Schulze described the meticulous preparations that started in February 1944, including identifying suitable sites for camps and strengthening roads to accommodate heavy military equipment. "From March onwards, the camps were constructed, the roads were strengthened," he explained.
The secrecy was paramount, and from April 1st, postal censorship was implemented to prevent any information from leaking to the Germans.
By the beginning of May, Tilbury was ready, and troops and vehicles began arriving, awaiting the embarkation. "All the camps were tightly patrolled to prevent contact between the troops and the local population," Professor Schulze noted.
However, some interactions were inevitable, and locals, especially children, witnessed the troops marching to the docks.
While Tilbury's troops were not part of the initial landings on the Normandy coast, they played a significant role in the follow-up operations.
"They were the follow-up troops who would come in a bit later to clear the area, protect the flanks, and push the advance further inland," Professor Schulze added.
Reflecting on the local experience, Professor Schulze mentioned that Tilbury was a prime location for bombing raids and declared a military zone. Despite the secrecy, the population knew something significant was happening. "We all waved them goodbye," he recounted from testimonies of those who were children at the time.
Professor Schulze expressed concern over the fading memory of these events, especially among younger generations. "In a very recent poll, it showed that the majority of those aged between 18 and 34 had no idea what D-Day was," he lamented. He pointed out the lack of public commemoration in Britain immediately after the war and the limited resources available at the time.
Addressing the importance of remembrance, Professor Schulze stressed the need to link historical events to the present. "We need to point out that these were ordinary men, and some women, who did extraordinary things," he said. "This is an example for us. We are also all ordinary people capable of doing extraordinary things if it is called upon us."
Today, public access to the historical embarkation site at Tilbury is limited due to its function as part of the London International Cruise Terminal. Professor Schulze highlighted this as a challenge for remembrance, stating, "What you don't see, you don't remember."