Exploring
Dorset's D-Day History

About Us

Bringing history back to life.

Dorset played a vital role in the build up to the Allied invasion of Northern Europe in June 1944. D-Day Dorset serves to commemorate this history, revealing the important events of the period and its lasting impact on our rural community.

Since 2011, D-Day Dorset has been working hard to highlight the importance of US encampments in the area during WWII, focusing on the unique sense of community experienced by servicemen and locals alike. This has been put into practice through a number of WWII themed public events, educational visits and commemorative services across the county, as well as the founding of a visitor centre and the dedication of a permanent memorial.

Experience the Sights & Sounds

Return to 1944.

Whether it be via a public event, a private tour, a school visit, a commemorative parade, a museum display or a living history event, D-Dorset strives to 'keep the memory alive' for future generations and feels honoured to have the privilege of sharing this important story.

By combining years of research whilst working in cooperation with veterans, veterans families, local authorities, museums, historians and business owners, D-Day Dorset has been able to offer a uniquely immersive experience. By doing this we have been able to give people the opportunity to truly experience the sights, sounds and feel of the machines, equipment and uniforms used by WWII US forces.

History

Dorset: Preparing for invasion.

In the summer of 1943, hundreds of thousands of US service personnel, along with their vehicles and equipment, began to arrive in the camps, airfields and ports of Dorset. These were the men of the 5th Corps, the 1st US Army who came here to train and prepare for the Allied invasion of northern France. A vast number ships and landing craft would eventually leave local ports such as Portland and Weymouth, heading for the beaches of Normandy.

For well over a year, the rural county of Dorset, situated on the south coast of England, was to be a training and preparation area for over 500,000 men and women of the US Army, Navy, Coastguard and Airforce.

By June 1944, the troops were ready to embark for the beaches of Normandy. The sleepy county of Dorset would be the last place where they would enjoy a sustained period of peace and comfort, before leaving our communities to play their part in the fight to liberate northern Europe from Nazi tyranny.

ExploringDorset's D-Day History