SOUTHAMPTON ON D-DAY

According to Major-General Sir Nigel Holmes, speaking in April 1945,  'Without Southampton we could not have done D-Day'. Southampton was the principal allied port after D-Day because of a combination of natural geographical features and man made factors. The tragedy of Slapton Sands reinforced the need for what Admiral Ramsay called 'Close and Continuous Control' of the armada and the US Army moved their headquarters to the Civic Centre. Over 2 million GIs left from the port until the end of the war which has given the incorrect  impression that Southampton was controlled by the Americans. However the British forces also had their own headquarters close to the dock gate in the South Western Hotel, code named HMS Shrapnel, which was called Combined Operations Military Control and over a million of these soldiers also embarked at the port.  The port was owned by Southern Railways and managed by a committee that included representatives from all forces as well as the Royal Navy.