BROADMAYNE D5
CAMP D5 - BROADMAYNE & WEST KNIGHTON
This image shows troops enjoying a drink at the New Inn, West Knighton, including identical twins Tom and Dee Bowles (Tom is standing on the right and Dee is kneeling).
​Broadmayne D5: The Days Before D-Day
In the run up to D-Day, Broadmayne and West Knighton were designated as Marshalling Area Camp D5, a place for US troops to gather before embarking for the beaches of Normandy from Weymouth and Portland. For an overview of the camp and Broadmayne's involvement, watch our short educational film, 'Broadmayne D5: The Days Before D-Day'.
​How was it arranged?
There were four camps in Broadmayne and West Knighton, three known as 'A', 'B' and 'C' and a further camp designated to the African American troops.
Camp A was in West Knighton, now a residential area on Lewell Way and Glebe Way. The camp was made up of Nissen huts on the area that is now a playing field.
Camp B was positioned at the western end of Broadmayne, covering the areas between Woodlands, Chalky Road, Rectory Road, Rectory Close, Littlemead and Conway Drive. This area was used for equipment maintenance and refuelling and still retains the hard standings used for parking heavy vehicles. Next to it was the motor transport section, which is now the Texaco garage.
Camp C was a field of canvas beside the main road through Broadmayne at the western extreme of the village. Today it is empty and can be found beside an old green hut, which was put up after the war but sits on top of an old military hard standing.
On Osmington Drove, you'll find Broadmayne House, one of the village's largest residential buildings. This served as the HQ and Officer's Billet. You can still see tree-carvings left by the troops here.
See these sites on a map and find out what else remains from Camp D5 on our Village Trail page.
​What was the camp for?
Camp D5 was one of many marshalling areas on the South Coast in preparation for OPERATION NEPTUNE, the Naval Invasion of the Normandy beaches on D-Day and part of the wider OPERATION OVERLORD, the battle for Normandy.
These camps, also known as sausage camps because of their shape on maps, were chosen based upon certain requirements. Most obviously, they had to be a short distance from the embarkation points - at Camp D5, this was the ports of Weymouth and Portland, roughly 7 and 13 miles away.
Wooded areas were often chosen as they provided concealment from aerial surveillance, which was important to keep the movement of men, vehicles and machinery in preparation for the Channel crossing as low-key as possible. The camps at Broadmayne and West Knighton, whilst made out of canvas tents in fields, were surrounded by trees, making them a good strategic choice.
As with other marshalling areas, the US troops straightened, widened and improved the roads with tarmac to carry their vehicles. Evidence of this is still visible on Chalky Road just outside the village boundaries, where the original route of the road is visible between the trees. Hard standings and temporary Nissen huts were also put up to house vehicles and equipment, whilst the lower ranks lived in their canvas tents and the officers were billeted at Broadmayne House on Osmington Drove.
These camps were erected along the sides of the existing roads, which were used to load and unload men and supplies and so were within easy reach of the troops. The roads themselves were closed for public traffic. As Broadmayne resident Betty Voss recalls in the video above, they were 'penned in'.
For more information about D-Day and the wider Normandy Campain, see the Normandy Campain page.
​The Troops
US Army Rangers on Omaha Beach.
US 1st Infantry Division
Nick-named the 'Big Red 1' because of their insignia, the 1st Infantry Division is the oldest in the US Army. Along with the 29th Infantry, they formed the first and second waves of attack on Omaha beach.
Read more about their role in D-Day and their wider history via http://www.1stinfantrydivision.co.uk
Rangers (2nd and 5th Battalions)
The 5th Rangers Battalion landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, with the 2nd Battalion heading to Point du Hoc to destroy a five-gun battery. The guns were missing, but they still came up against constant fire as they scaled the cliffs and were later reinforced by the 5th Battalion arriving from Omaha.
Learn more about the Rangers and their history here http://www.army.mil/ranger/heritage.html
383rd Engineer Battalion
These African American soldiers were responsible for extending the original British Army camp in the village.
We have little information on these troops, if you have any more, we would be pleased to hear from you on broadmayneww2soc@gmail.com.
