Those camped in woods to the north and east of Portsmouth were destined for Sword Beach on the Normandy coast. A general view of HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth (Chris Ison/PA)The towns surrounding Portsmouth were also deeply involved in the preparations. Priddy’s Hard was among several Royal Navy supply bases in Gosport and supplied the Allied fleet with ammunition, while the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard supplied the allied fleet with food and other supplies. And local firm Vospers in Portchester built motor torpedo boats (MTBs) which went ahead of the main Allied fleet to protect the warships as they crossed the Channel. Andrew Whitmarsh, curator of The D-Day Story Museum in Southsea, said: “The Portsmouth area had a unique role in supporting and sustaining the D-Day Landings.
