Just got back from Devon and Cornwall as work was quiet me and the wife decided to go away for 5 days and have a break..... Managed to get a few pictures of Slapton Sands beach for any one that is interested Let me know if they any good Also a couple of pics of the village memorial where we were staying in Lydford I feel the least we can do is keep their names alive.... there are also two recent names one from the Falklands and one from Iraq Lee
Thanks Andy, I will keep a look out for a repeat.... I think on one of the mega noggin channels like history they did a missing evidence program if I remember rightly... The pics are a bit blurry, as the weather closed in and also me being a numpty had the camera on the wrong setting Lee
This may interest you mate: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/battle-specifics/3064-operation-tiger-slapton-sands.html
For some reason I missed this - great photos. I really must get down to Slapton Sands one of these days.
Lee, Nice photos. I remember my eyes popping ou when I first came upon the Sherman whilst on holiday. Great memories returned. Regards Tom
Hello Lee, Slaptonsands is a great place to visit, I was there my self for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it, I walked for around 3 hours to an other village along the coast and couldnt help my self when I found the Green Dragon pub, only 2 pints of cider and walked back to Slapton Heres a few pictures Blackpool Beach (not the one in Lacashire) As it was in Tiger Slaptonsands Beach As it was in Tiger And a view of Slapton Beach from where I whent to the pub Iam planning a trip back the soon and hopfully JP44 is coming too
Oh, the pubs of South Devon! My guess is the Green Dragon was in Stoke Fleming, and the photo above was the Kings Arms in Strete? There were two local pubs that had permanent WW2 displays about the clearance of the area, the Forces Tavern on the A380 out of Dartmouth, and the Normandy Inn in Blackawton, but I think both have been 'redeveloped' now. I love the area, have lived there before, would like to retire there! Regards Pete
Hi Pete, thats right the Green Dragon was in Stoke Fleming but the picture was taken from just out side Stoke Fleming, just had a look on google maps it was the junction of Blackpool hill and Old Road, I us a 12x magnification lense and I probably had it on full zoom so it looks closer (Stree) Its a shame about the two other pubs they sound like some where I could spend an enjoyable evening sampling the local brew :p
Pete, heres a panoramic picture from the same spot But in looking at it you may be right it could have been Stree, may have been too much cider
I think I have found a 'Then' picture for post 11. English children and American guard from Army Service Forces watch from cliffside fence as US troops in distance practice landings along Slapton Beach in preparation for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.
American troops and landing craft during mock amphibious assault along Slapton Beach in preparation for the invasion of the beaches of Normandy, France.
Normandy Invasion Plan (1943) The West Country Braunton Countryside Centre WWII D-Day Training Imperial War Museum - Record: 1060028927 - COMBINED OPERATIONS: BEACH ORGANISATION [Main] Training film Stock Footage - British and American troops practice amphibious assaults at a beach near Dartmouth, England
In 2003, on our last trip to Britain, my wife and I made a side trip to Slapton Sands. When we arrived we found a local man by the name of Ken Small who had written a book concerning the wartime activities in the area. It was the middle of December so there wasn't much of a crowd. In fact, it was just the three of us. So we started talking and after he told us his story I asked him for a copy of his book which he retrieved from his car and graciously signed. He then immediately left the site. I figured that he had probably met his quota for the day. We felt fortunate to have met him, it gave us something of a connection to the locale and its place in hstory.
Stoke Fleming wasnt evacuated, so I guess the kids were from there - they look to be in the 5 - 9yrs age group, which would make then about 70 - probably still live in the village.... Theres a lot more 'hidden' WW2 stuff in the area - there is another submerged tank in the lake in the garden of the house at the Strete end of the Slapton Line, the cobbles in the car park at Blackpool Sands were from a road constructed to load the invasion ships on the Dart (where the higher ferry is now). An ambition - not really WW2 related - is to drink in every Church House Inn that exists in South Devon. I'm easily pleased.... Cheers Pete
In 2003, on our last trip to Britain, my wife and I made a side trip to Slapton Sands. When we arrived we found a local man by the name of Ken Small who had written a book concerning the wartime activities in the area. It was the middle of December so there wasn't much of a crowd. In fact, it was just the three of us. So we started talking and after he told us his story I asked him for a copy of his book which he retrieved from his car and graciously signed. He then immediately left the site. I figured that he had probably met his quota for the day. We felt fortunate to have met him, it gave us something of a connection to the locale and its place in hstory. It would have been more remarkable if you hadn't run into Ken! More remarkable still if you'd escaped with an unsigned copy. He was there just about every day. He passed away in March 2004. Exercise Tiger : The Slapton Sands Sherman Tank Memorial Website | Ken Small and the Tank Recovery Sherman Tank, Slapton Sands, South Devon | Flickr - Photo Sharing! Slapton Sands Tank - Submerged An ambition - not really WW2 related - is to drink in every Church House Inn that exists in South Devon. I'm easily pleased.... Cheers Pete My personal favourite is the one in Stoke Gabriel. Don't miss the mummified cat!
To me. the children appear to be overlooking Blackpool Beach, recognising the steep road climb in the background, going towards Slapton. As regards the eviction of civilians from the area,there is a poster notice which can be found in the Queen's Arms at Slapton. It gives notice of a meeting to be chaired by the local landowner,Lord Fortesque to discuss the requirements of the eviction. I could not take a photograph of the poster as there was a couple having dinner by the side of the displayed poster.....sometime later perhaps.
