Exercise Tiger Civilian Memorial
Details:
The memorial is located at the north end of the parking lot facing away from the lake, toward the ocean. Monument The white stone memorial features black painted text in English and is flanked by two flag poles. It was placed at the site by the United States Army in honor of the civilian assistance given to U.S. troops participating in Exercise Tiger, the large-scale rehearsals undertaken in preparation for the Normandy D-Day invasions. Over 3,000 nearby civilians were evacuated and sworn to secrecy during the exercises.
During the exercises, some 1,000 American soldiers were killed due to failed communication and friendly fire, as well as attacks by German submarines. This part of the Exercise Tiger story can be seen 1.6 km south on the same beach at the Sherman Tank Memorial near Torcross.
Monument Text:
THIS MEMORIAL
WAS PRESENTED BY THE
UNITED STATES ARMY
AUTHORITIES TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH
HAMS WHO GENEROUSLY
LEFT THEIR HOMES AND
THEIR LANDS TO PROVIDE
A BATTLE PRACTICE AREA
FOR THE SUCCESSFUL
ASSAULT IN NORMANDY
IN JUNE 1944
THEIR ACTIONS RESULTED
IN THE SAVING OF MANY
HUNDREDS OF LIVES AND
CONTRIBUTED IN NO SMALL
MEASURE TO THE SUCCESS
OF THE OPERATION
THE AREA INCLUDED THE
VILLAGES OF BLACKAWTON
CHILLINGTON
EAST ALLINGTON, SHERFORD,
SLAPTON, STOKENHAM,
STRETE, AND TORCROSS
TOGETHER WITH MANY
OUTLYING FARMS AND HOUSES
