“Southend didn’t just make a contribution to D-Day and the war, it made a momentous contribution which needs to be remembered.”

So says history buff and Southend businessman, John Lee, who is so proud of the city’s history when it came to the war, that he has penned a book - A Grateful Nation, Soon Forgot.

The book offers a candid look at the part Southend played in many wartime operations, including Dunkirk and D-Day.

John, 85, spent ten years writing the book which became an obsession and passion of his as he battled to share the story of our prestigious wartime history.

His interest was sparked after he came across a dusty old booklet written by AP Herbert (Sir Alan Herbert), giving his first-hand account of commanding Naval Control Service operations in Southend during the war.

“I found the 32-page booklet at a jumble sale and I just couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was mystified. Why was so little known or spoken about this important period in our history?

“The forward of the booklet features a tribute to Southend by AV Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty.

“The impact of AP Herbert’s heartfelt plea for recognition of Southend’s part in the war was telling on me, giving great pride, as one born and bred in this seaside town.”

In September 1939, the pier was shut to the public and become the Naval Control Service for the Thames Estuary. It was renamed HMS Leigh with surrounding areas becoming HMS Westcliff.

During the war years huge amounts of food, ammunition and special equipment were carried on the pier’s electric railway to supply Allied troops.

“The Southend base was a strategic location for a service with worldwide significance,” said John.

“From 1939 to 1945 no fewer than 84,297 ships sailed in 3,367 convoys from the end of Southend Pier via the Thames Estuary and that long and difficult to navigate sandbank known as The Nore, to the North Sea.

“The end of pier Solarium became the convoy conference room. Southend would have the company of great and distinguished naval men who came back into the service from retirement.

“These included admirals, vice admirals and Battle of Jutland veterans. All men of valour, experience and a knowledge of seamanship second to none.

“Their task was to help Southend’s Naval Control Service in the organisation and command of convoy operations destined to face attack by air, especially from German Stuka dive bombers, and by sea with U-boat submarines and E boat fast attack craft as well as the mining of our waters and convoy routes.”

When it came to preparing for D- Day, by June 1944 the pier was a hive of activity.

John explained: “The most intensive organisation and preparations of the war took place in Southend in the lead up to D-Day.

“The build-up saw no fewer than 836 minor war vessels sailing from Southend in groups.

“The number of officers on the pier was increased to 38 including 19 British, 17 Norwegian, one Dutch and one Belgian officer.

“The size of D-Day preparations was out of all proportion to anything hitherto experienced in five years of NCS operations at Southend.”

Hundreds of craft carrying mainly British and American soldiers departed from the pier on June 5, 1944, ahead of the start of the Normandy landings the following day.

John added: “The day before their departure there were 203 ships of every kind loaded with men and arms at Southend.

“Most were British and American. Over 50 small craft were needed to marshall and serve the emergency demands of a large scattered fleet.

“By next morning they had all left safely.”

John will be giving a talk at 4pm tomorrow at The Forum in Southend about his book and the history of D-Day in Southend.

Go to visitsouthend.co.uk for information. His book is available via Amazon and at Waterstones.