A historic museum has been given the medals of Colonel Vassal Steer-Webster CBE, who played an important role in masterminding the famous Mulberry Harbours.

He was a key figure in the design and development of the harbours – one of the most significant construction achievements during the Second World War.

The collection will be kept at the Royal Engineers Museum, in Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, which is currently closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Steer-Webster helped create a solution to the logistical challenge of the Normandy invasion.

The two floating harbours, both similar in size to Dover Harbour, were made in the dockyards of Britain, towed in sections across the Channel and constructed on the French beach by Royal Engineers.

They ensured that thousands of men and thousands of tons of supplies landed quickly and safely in support of the Allied forces.

The collection not only includes Steer-Webster's medal, but also more than 100 unseen photographs and correspondence from Winston Churchill.

Generous donations to the Royal Engineer's fundraising page, as well as offline donations, helped fund the purchase of the collection.

Keep up to date with the museum's opening times here.

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