Slapton Sands D-Day Memorial

Slapton Sands D-Day Memorial in the South Hams district of Devon is a group of memorials to one of the costliest episodes of the preparations for the Normandy landings. Its best-known feature is a black Sherman tank parked beside the car park at Torcross. It stands in a public place and costs nothing to see.

What does the memorial commemorate?

In spring 1944 the Slapton Sands coast served as a rehearsal ground for the assault on Utah Beach in Normandy. The exercise was code-named Tiger. In the early hours of 28 April 1944, German torpedo boats came upon a convoy of American landing ships and sank two of them. Several hundred men died, and published figures range from about 640 to more than 700. Some accounts also describe further losses from live shelling on the beach during the rehearsal.

What will you see?

• The Sherman tank. An amphibious tank raised from the seabed in 1984, an effort credited to local man Ken Small. Plaques beside it honour the US Army and Navy personnel lost that night.
• The 1945 monument. It stands roughly halfway along the beach and was presented by the US Army to the local people who had been moved out.
• The beach and Slapton Line. A narrow shingle bar separates the sea from the freshwater lake of Slapton Ley.

Why were local residents evacuated?

To clear space for training, people from Torcross, Slapton and several other villages left their homes in late 1943. Sources put the number at around 3,000 people, who were away for about a year. The 1945 monument recalls that upheaval.

How do you get there, and is it free?

The tank stands by the car park at Torcross on the A379 (postcode TQ7 2SE). Access is public, with no gates or tickets. Parking is charged at local rates, so check current prices on site. From Torcross you can walk along the beach on the Slapton Line to the 1945 monument and continue along the coast.

When should you visit?

The memorials can be seen all year and at any hour. Annual commemorative services for the victims of Exercise Tiger make a meaningful time to come. If you plan the beach walk, pick a clear day, because the shore is exposed to the wind.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No. The tank and plaques are in a public space next to the car park.

How long does a visit take? Seeing the tank and plaques takes 15 to 30 minutes. Walking the beach to the 1945 monument adds an hour or more.

Where did the Sherman tank come from? It was lifted from the sea in 1984. It was an American amphibious tank that sank during the 1944 exercise.

What else is nearby? The Slapton Ley lake and the South West Coast Path, which runs along this stretch of coast.