​​Exercise Tiger Memorial

​​The Exercise Tiger Memorial commemorates one of the lesser-known tragedies of the Second World War. In April 1944, Allied forces conducted a large-scale training exercise for the D-Day landings, known as Exercise Tiger.

​It was held along the South Devon coastline, chosen for its resemblance to the Normandy beaches. However, during the exercise, German E-boats intercepted a convoy of American landing ships in Lyme Bay, launching a surprise attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 639 U.S. servicemen.

​The event was initially shrouded in secrecy due to its implications for the upcoming D-Day operation. It remained largely unknown to the public until the 1970s, when Ken Small discovered military debris and a submerged Sherman tank off the coast. After persistent efforts, he recovered the tank in 1984 and turned it into the focal point of a public memorial dedicated to those lost.

​The memorial, which includes the tank, plaques, and national flags, serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of preparing for war and the sacrifices made even before the battle had truly begun. Annual commemorative services are now held to honour the fallen, ensuring their bravery is not forgotten. The site has become a place of reflection, visited by locals, veterans, and families from both sides of the Atlantic.

​It is worth remembering that casualties sustained on Utah Beach, Normandy, by the US 4th Infantry Division were far lower than casualties sustained during the training exercises such as ‘Tiger’ in the UK.