Exercise Tiger Memorial — Attraction in South Hams

Slapton Sands is a historic beach where on the night of 27th April 1944 during World War Two, a terrible tragedy unfolded just off Slapton Sands on the coast of Devon. 946 American servicemen died during Exercise Tiger, the rehearsals for the D-Day landing on Utah Beach in Normandy, France.

As part of the build-up to D-Day, in 1943 some 3,000 local residents in the areas around Slapton, Strete, Torcross, Blackawton and East Allington in South Devon were evacuated from their homes in order for the American military to carry out exercises.

The area around Slapton Sands was selected for these exercises because it bore a great resemblance to parts of the French coast, the location chosen for largest invasion by sea of the war – the Normandy landings.

The beautiful and usually tranquil River Dart filled up with landing craft and ships for the operation. Nissen huts sprang up in Coronation Park in Dartmouth and new slipways and ramps were built on the river’s edge, all the way from Dartmouth up to Dittisham.

Exercise Tiger was designed to be as realistic as possible and on 22nd April 1944 it began. Landing craft loaded with soldiers, tanks and equipment were deployed along the coast.

It may not be much to look at but you just need to stand their and imagine what happend.

The loud sound if artillery fire, the noise of soldiers shouting, the smell of burning boats and the smell of explosions.

We must not forget and remember all of thr servicemen who sacrifice their lifes in order to ensure the D-Day landings...

"Ken Small first came to Torcross on holiday and fell in love with the place. When the opportunity came to move there with his family, he jumped at the chance, selling his successful hair dressing businesses in Grimsby. They purchased Cove House and began to run it as a guest house. A close friend and local fisherman told Ken of an object sitting on the seabed about three-quarters of a mile off shore 60 feet below the surface. Ken persuaded his friend to dive down and investigate. When he and the other divers came up, they told him there was an American Sherman Tank on the seabed almost completely covered in fishing nets. This discovery eventually led to him finding out about the tragedy of Exercise Tiger. He became determined to recover the tank and create a lasting memorial to honour those who perished. After years of unending bureaucracy, he finally purchased the tank from the American government for $50 USD. It would be another 10 years (1984) of determination and personal sacrifice before Ken achieved his dream to raise the tank and place where it stands today in Torcross near the sea. The international media attention created led to contact with American survivors and family members, who began to tell their stories after 50 years of silence. Eventually, the memorial was recognized by the U. S....

I often stop here to either use the loos, have a quick nap do a spot of fishing or simply take in the fresh sea air and expanding coastal scenery. From here the views panoramicly stretch as far as your eyes can see in all directions with wild river birds of all varieties behind you and various bird watching outposts to a very long shingle beach in front, Start point lighthouse to your left and a few pubs too. The toilets are always open here and are pretty well maintained as toilets go. I often tackle up here during horrible weather before braving the onslaught if sea, wind and rain. A great place to get prepared should you be inclined to forbode such adverse weather to potentially catch nothing as I often do. A beach steeped in history albeit somewhat tragic due to many Englishmen being flanked during a training exercise towards the end of the war. Listen carefully, even look in the right conditions you can feel, hear and glimpse wondering soul's at night. If your tuned in, many interesting nights...