The Far Shore

On 6th June 1944, D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history, began.This action has become known as one of the greatest triumphs of the Allied forces in the Second World War.Yet, what people do not know is that this day could easily have become one of the most tragic and disastrous events of the Allied war effort.Without the input and assistance of innovate thinkers such as Edward Ellsberg, the American, British, and Canadian troops would have been isolated on the beaches of northern France and cut to pieces by Nazi gunfire.As General Omar Bradley stated just before the events of the 6th June, “You can almost always force an invasion, but you can’t always make it stick.” But, through the work Ellsberg and his colleagues, the Allied forces were able to “make it stick” and gain a foothold in continental Europe.So who was this unsung hero of the Second World War and how did assist the Allied cause?Edward Ellsberg was a brilliant naval engineer, with particular skills in undersea salvage and rescue, who served with the U.S. Navy from 1914 through to 1926. In the aftermath of the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor Ellsberg immediately offered his services to the navy once more. His skills would prove invaluable during D-Day. The first half of Ellsberg’s brilliant book, The Far Shore, provides fascinating insight into the planning of this gigantic seaborne invasion and the difficulties that they were faced with.The most serious drawback facing the Allied commanders was the lack of port facilities on the Normandy coast. Ellsberg records in brilliant detail how he became instrumental in the development of portable Mulberry harbors as well as artificial harbors made from scuttled ships so that the Allied troops could be resupplied quickly and would not be left isolated on the beaches.The second half of the book uncovers the action that took place during D-Day. Ellsberg provides a detailed chronological overview of how the Allied troops were able to land on the beaches and repel the Nazi forces that they were facing.This work is essential reading for anyone interested in finding out more about how the largest seaborne invasion in history was planned and carried out in the face of overwhelming odds.Edward Ellsberg was an officer in the United States Navy and a popular author. Whether in or out of naval service, the retired rear admiral, who was best known as Commander Ellsberg, was called on when difficult salvage operations were required. His book The Far Shore was first published in 1960 and Ellsberg passed away in 1983.