The Parkeston Quay site had been used during the First World War by the Royal Navy (see Harwich Force), and an Admiralty Research Laboratory had been constructed there.

[2] Badger was the name of the Harwich-Parkeston shore base, but for traditionalist purposes was also applied to a harbour craft—initially the requisitioned LNER ferry Epping, but later the large 4-masted sailing ship Westwood.

HMS Badger had in excess of 1,300 shore staff, with up to 4,000 more men on warships under the authority of its FOIC (a rear-admiral or vice-admiral).

About 600 men of this command lost their lives, mainly at sea due to air and E-boat attacks (such as on the destroyers Wren and Exmoor) or mines (Gipsy and Grenville).

The base was visited by Winston Churchill, King George VI, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Admiral Sir Jack Tovey.

In the autumn of 1940 it was one of half a dozen east coast naval bases unsuccessfully targeted by the Italian Air Force.

At various times ships and crews of many Allied nations were attached to the base, including Poles, French, Dutchmen and Belgians.