The D-Day landings in France in June 1944 had their ‘dress rehearsals’ in the quiet South Hams area of south Devon. Just behind the long shingle beach at Slapton Sands was a lake and undulating area; the rural countryside with rolling hills, delineated by high hedges and numerous small woods, bearing a remarkable similarity to the area selected for the American landing at Utah beach in Normandy. In order that this area could be used for military training more 20,000 acres of prime agricultural land, along with 180 farms, 28 shops, 11 inns and 450 cottages were requisitioned, with some 3,000 residents being expelled from the area. The scale of the subsequent military training was massive, to the extent that almost all the American troops involved in the eventual D-Day landings landed on the beach at Slapton Sands, some more than once. The training was not without risk however; during Exercise Tiger, one of the final major co-ordinated practices, over 800 men were lost to enemy action whilst travelling by sea to land on the beach at Slapton Sands. Shrouded in intrigue, this disaster has been the subject of many conspiracy theories over the years. Here the author investigates all aspects of the military exercises, using first-hand accounts of those who lived or trained in this sleepy corner of the country. In support of the main section of text are five interesting appendices: Letters sent to those evacuated with regard to claiming compensation; The compensation scheme; Posters displayed throughout the rea announcing the news of the evacuation; The evacuation notice sent to all those in the area; A list of major exercises. More than 30 monochrome photographs are also included, long with a glossary, text notes and an index.

Freelancer, Stuart Asquith

As seen in Sussex Local Magazine.

Sussex Local Magazine

The author has drawn on first hand accounts of those who lived and trained at Slapton Sands, producing a unique account of the training area. This is a book that makes a sense of D-Day that eludes most accounts of the actual Normandy landings. Those many books on the D-Day invasion have to concentrate on the battle and this makes it difficult to present those battles in context with the extensive and lengthy training programme that made success possible. A highly recommended book.

Firetrench

A detailed account of the Second World War assault training exercises at Slapton Sands. Using the latest information available about this secretive event, it features all aspects of the military exercises and first hand accounts of those who lives and trained there.

Western Morning News

This superb account describes the exercises undertaken on Slapton Sands, backed up by first hand accounts from those who were there at the time. It is a dramatic and sobering account of those dark days, and a fitting reminder of the ultimate price those men paid both before and during the D-Day Landings in 1944.

Military Machines International