A World War II Heritage Trail of the North Devon Coast Mortar Training at Braunton Burrows

Home , Baggy Point, Bideford Bay, Braunton, Croyde, Instow, Mortehoe

A World War II Heritage Trail of the North Devon Coast Mortar training at Braunton Burrows. ‘If Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, Courtesy Tony Koorlander/North Devon Coast AONB surely the sands of the North Devon beaches contributed importantly to the success of the assault over the Normandy beaches’ WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WORLD WAR II? THE LONDON BLITZ? Paul W Thompson, Brigadier General, US Army CHURCHILL’S FAMOUS SPEECHES? D-DAY AFFECTED ALL PARTS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND EVERY LOCATION AND COMMUNITY PLAYED ITS PART. NORTH DEVON HAS MANY IMPORTANT WORLD WAR II STORIES TO TELL – IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

This Heritage Trail booklet highlights Many innovative weapons used in the the beaches of Normandy. But today some of the most important military Normandy beach assaults were tried, listen to the happy squeals of children and cultural sites of World War II North tested and perfected here in North splashing in the sea where once Devon. It includes locations connected Devon as well as the incredible idea thousands of US Army soldiers had to the work of British forces in North of pumping fresh water and petrol in pounded ashore to perfect their deadly Devon alongside sites related to the pipes under the English Channel to art of war. The US Navy trained their American preparations for D-Day in the French coast. landing craft skippers here too - those the Assault Training Center – and the that were destined to be the first to hit presence of thousands of American GIs American forces swamped the the Normandy beaches. in the area. area in 1943 as they trained in new techniques and prepared to launch But all this was overshadowed It’s hard to imagine this peaceful the invasion of Europe in the greatest by the very event it had created and corner of Devon and these beautiful amphibious operation in military made possible – D-Day 6th June 1944. beaches saw such explosive activity history. Soldiers stormed ashore and harboured so many secrets vital to at Woolacombe and Saunton with Richard Bass the success of D-Day, 6th June 1944. smoke, live explosives and ammunition May 2019 recreating the confusion, sounds and Cover photograph: smells of combat they would face on Soldiers at Woolacombe, by courtesy of Mortehoe Museum

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The Sign Maker Proof When Germany occupied France in 1940, Great Britain As World War II moved towards its final months, the soldiers 1 SNACK BAR AND DANCE In 1944, the 265th Field Artillery evacuated its troops from the continent. Back on home soil, used the area’s beaches, estuaries and sand dunes to get HALL FOR GIs Battalion of the United States Army British forces needed a way to develop raiding operations ready to invade occupied Europe. arrived in Torrington by train from

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate The Town Hall, Torrington A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... against occupied Europe. In North Devon, the army, navy C. Please alter where shown and proceed...... their port of arrival at Liverpool. Signed...... Date...... Comments ...... and air force worked on ways they could work together in The presence of the Americans temporarily changed the High Street, Great Torrington, ...... ‘combined assaults’ against the enemy across the channel. coastal landscape, and had a big impact on those who lived EX38 8HN As well as dancing at the Town Hall, GIs in it. Some traces of their time here are still visible today. frequented the Black Horse pub across Eventually the tide of the war began to turn. The Allied Grid Ref: SS495191; the road – some claiming to have drunk Forces began to prepare for a full-scale invasion of the How to find: The town hall is in the the pub dry. continent. 10,000 American soldiers lived and trained on the middle of the High Street. North Devon coast in 1943-44. Another story recalls the GIs Torrington women were remembered accidently starting a fire when as generous hostesses by the GIs. They they had a barbecue on the Town met soldiers at the station with coffee Hall steps. and doughnuts, organised dances at the Town Hall and provided snacks 265th Field Artillery Battalion left from an adjacent snack bar. Torrington later that same year, travelling in convoy via Okehampton As well as standing guard mount in to cross the English Channel for ‘Utah’ the town square, GIs congregated beach in Normandy and on into France there before going to a dance or the and Germany. local pub. American GIs and locals socialising, South West England, 1944. © IWM

Left: Assault section landing , by courtesy of Mortehoe Museum

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 6 Page 7 HERITAGE TRAIL During the war Northam Burrows The Sign Maker was a hive of military activity. In Proof the Burrows Visitor Centre you can 2 ANTI-INVASION On Northam Burrows the natural learn more about the Radar Station OBSTACLES barrier formed by Westward Ho’s located here between 1941 and 1944 pebble ridge – a two mile long ridge and how the beach, pebble ridge and

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... The Skern, Northam Burrows B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed...... Signed...... of pebbles fallen from the cliffs Date...... Burrows landscape were an ideal Comments ...... Grid Ref: SS449308 ...... of Bideford Bay and pushed North practice ground for testing various Eastwards by the Atlantic waves - was experimental vehicles to be used How to find: Look for a South West reinforced by barbed wire fencing and on D-Day. Coast Path waymark post near a layby mine fields in the sand dunes. Further overlooking mudflats and saltmarsh. These included the Hobart Funny inland, trenches were dug into the Tank as well as some weird inventions At the outbreak of World War II, grassland and posts installed to repel such as the Great Panjandrum - a German forces overran much of gliders and paratroopers. rocket propelled giant “Catherine mainland Europe leading to fears Dragon’s Teeth’ at Northam Burrows, The estuary side of Northam Burrows by courtesy of Sarah Gallifent Wheel” that was designed to of an imminent invasion of Britain. was protected by an artillery battery destroy concrete defences. The south coast of England was at Appledore. The ‘dragon’s teeth’ are the remains considered highly vulnerable and of anti-tank obstacles; initially built substantial fortifications were built Look closely out towards the as a defence these were subsequently to resist attack. The risk that North Skern - a horseshoe shaped bay on the used to train Allied troops and various Devon might be seen as an easier point north side of the burrows - and you landing craft in preparation for D-Day. of entry led to the development of may see the remains of a number of defences along this coastline. concrete pyramidal-shaped structures.

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The Sign Maker Proof 3 HMS APPLEDORE Hobart Funnies – a kind of modified (AND SPECIAL tank - were also tested here and at OPERATIONS TRAINING) nearby Westward Ho!, as the beach,

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... ridge and dunes offered the ideal Date...... Comments ...... Appledore harbour slipway ...... ground conditions. Grid Ref: SS459309 Four Royal Navy and six Royal Marine How to find: Look for a waymark post units, each consisting of one officer next to the lifeboat station. & eleven men were deployed on D-Day Hobart Funny “Crab” tank, © IWM In 1942 the Combined Operations to clear the underwater obstructions Experimental Establishment, or COXE, on the Normandy beaches. Of these was set up on this site. Known as HMS two were killed in action and ten Appledore, the establishment was were wounded. commanded by Rear Admiral H G C Following the successful invasion Franklin RN. It investigated problems of Normandy in 1944 many of the likely to be encountered on the men who had been trained at HMS beaches of France during an invasion Appledore went on to make a vital of Europe, particularly in relation to contribution to the success of many landing armoured vehicles, stores other amphibious operations. and supplies.

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 10 Page 11 HERITAGE TRAIL

The Sign Maker Proof 4 OFFICERS’ While they were here, troops ACCOMMODATION stayed in temporary camps and with local people. An American Red 115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate The Royal Hotel, Bideford A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... Cross Club was opened in a large house Date...... Comments ...... Barnstaple St, Bideford EX39 4AE...... (now a private home) called ‘Upover’, still visible on the hill above the Grid Ref: SS457264 Royal Hotel. How to find: The Royal Hotel is at the The Royal Hotel itself provided East end of the old Bideford Bridge. accommodation and a meeting space Bideford is a quiet market town in for US Army Officers. Dances and North Devon where the pace of life social events were held in the area, is gentle – yet during World War II it with the Americans interacting with played a vital part in the war effort. North Devonians and creating many long lasting friendships. In early 1943 US Army units arrived to Newspaper cutting from 1944 develop waterproofing processes on by courtesy of Peter Christie amphibious vehicles and landing craft due to be used on D-Day. Once these were perfected, huge numbers of US troops came to Bideford in batches for six weeks of training in using the new vehicles on the nearby Westward Ho! and Instow beaches. Right: Two of the many US troops who were billeted with families in Bideford while training for D-Day by courtesy of Peter Christie

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The Sign Maker Proof 5 PRACTICE GROUND FOR Strandfield House, on the site of the The Arromanches camp was set up in AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS Commodore Hotel, was taken over 1939 to test amphibious equipment by American Officers and the North that was to be used in the D-Day

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate Instow village and beach A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... Devon Yacht Club at the Roundhouse landings. Royal Marines retain a Date...... Comments ...... Marine Parade, Instow ...... became an Officers’ Club. US Officers’ presence at Arromanches Camp today. Quarters were also provided in a ship, Their Amphibious Trails and Training Grid Ref: SS472302 the MV President Warfield, moored off Unit continue to practice on the How to find: The trail plaque is located Westleigh. MV President Warfield was Torridge estuary. at the Bideford end of Marine Parade. a ferryboat that had been towed to Instow from Baltimore, USA. Instow beach was commandeered by the military to train both American and The famous six-wheeled sea and land British Troops for the conditions they craft known as a ‘Duck’ was trialled might find on D-Day. Marine Parade here. Its official title, DUKW, meant was sealed off and many buildings Date 1942 Utility All Wheel Drive Dual were taken over by the forces. The Rear Axle. Village Hall became an American canteen; the building that today houses the Boathouse Restaurant became a NAAFI canteen.

Amphibious Sherman tank off Instow Beach, by courtesy Tony Koorlander / North Devon Coast AONB A DUKW at sea with American troops, by courtesy of Richard Bass

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The Sign Maker Proof 6 DANCE HALL AND GI It also housed a dance hall that was ACCOMMODATION popular with GIs and locals alike. Dances were also held in Forester’s

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate Queen’s Theatre Boutport St, A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... Hall in Barnstaple High Street, Date...... Comments ...... Barnstaple EX31 1SY ...... which is now Iceland supermarket. Grid Ref: SS559332 GIs were housed in two buildings across the road from where the How to find: The trail plaque is located theatre now stands. at The Queen’s Theatre, on the corner of Boutport Street and Butchers’ Row. Both were requisitioned from a Today the Queen’s Theatre stands furniture warehouse and auctioneer, The Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple today on the site of the former Albert Hall Symonds. In 1943 the United dance hall and cinema. When the States was still segregated. Albert Hall burnt down in 1941 its White soldiers were in Symon’s shell was rebuilt to house a British Warehouse, the building that now Restaurant, selling basic meals at houses Wetherspoons pub. reasonable prices, off ration. Black solders were housed in the building next to Barclays Bank.

Each morning the US soldiers paraded in Barnstaple’s town square, playing bugles and hanging the American flag from the building that today houses US Army invitation to a dance at the Royal North Scoff’s fish and chip shop. Devon Golf Club, four days before D-Day, by courtesy of Peter Christie Left: British Land Army girls dancing with American forces, 1943

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The Sign Maker Proof 7 GROUND ASSAULT The original bases were built to the EXERCISES dimensions of the Mk IV LCT, but as landing plans developed it became

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate Braunton Burrows A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... clear that the Mk V version would be Date...... Comments ...... Grid Ref: SS461331 ...... used. Additional aprons were added to the rear of the existing bases to How to find: The trail plaque is located represent the extended deck area of at the concrete landing craft. Look out the updated craft. Inscribed in the for a small information panel. concrete of one such extension is the American troops on practice march across Braunton Burrows, by courtesy of Braunton The heart of the Assault Training mark of its constructors, “146 ECB, Co & District Museum Center was Braunton Burrows. C, 1st Platoon”. It was here that GIs practiced all the Also on the burrows during World War skills needed to take a defended coast. II were training structures such as an One of the surviving structures is a assault course and rocket wall. concrete representation of a Tank Landing Craft (LCT) with lowered ramps as if just beached. While only the bases, jaws and ramps of the LCTs are present, there is evidence that six-foot high scaffold poles stood around the edges with corrugated metal sheeting or canvas Right: Training with concrete wall target on curtains hung between them to create Americans practising loading a replica Braunton Burrows, by courtesy Tony the effect of the craft sides. Landing Craft Tank on Braunton Burrows, Koorlander / North Devon Coast AONB by courtesy Tony Koorlander / North Devon Coast AONB

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 18 Page 19 HERITAGE TRAIL HERITAGE TRAIL

The Sign Maker The Sign Maker Proof Proof 8 CLIFF ASSAULT TRAINING 9 PRACTICE AERIAL The remaining concrete observation SITE BOMBING RANGE tower was one of three in the bay that were used to calculate the accuracy

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate 115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate Baggy Point A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... Putsborough A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... Signed...... of bombing, probably by coastal Date...... Date...... Comments ...... Comments ...... Grid Ref: SS420405 Grid Ref: SS442418 command aircraft from RAF Chivenor, who were employed in an anti- How to find: The trail plaque is located How to find: The plaque is located on ] submarine role. on the waymarker post. Look out for a the side of a small concrete building small information panel towards the above Putsborough Beach. The remains of a pillbox used by furthest reaches of the peninsula. At this site you will find the remains of the Americans in 1943-44 can also The American forces used Baggy a concrete arrow which was a practice be found at Putsborough. This was in ‘Area G’ of the Assault Training Concrete arrow target indicator at Putsborough, Point to practice cliff assault from American cliff scale practice, 1944. Note ships range bombing target indicator. by courtesy North Devon Coast AONB the sea. The soldiers built a number firing grappling hooks onto cliffs. © IWM The arrow signalled bombers Center, known to the Americans as of Dummy Pillboxes in the area, which approaching a floating target in ‘Woolacombe Blue Beach’. It is the they named Training Area F. They also Events here prepared US Rangers for Morte Bay (GR 442,418). only surviving part of a defensive constructed pillbox at Putsborough the historic capture of Pointe du Hoc, array of pillboxes and machine gun and Croyde Bay. a cliff-top Nazi Germany fortification posts on the cliffs. The pillboxes were between the beaches codenamed only ever partially constructed, The American army only partially ‘Utah’ and ‘Omaha’. It was a key so they could be easily rebuilt if built these pillboxes, so they strategic victory and helped to tip damaged during practice. could easily replace them if they the odds in the Allies’ favour. were damaged during practice. The Americans frequently practised The remains of concrete pillboxes are still visible along the headland if you Dummy pillbox on Baggy Point, by courtesy using live ammunition. North Devon Coast AONB Floating target used in bombing practice in look closely. Morte Bay. It was designed to resemble a submarine’s periscope and conning tower, by courtesy of Mortehoe Museum

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 20 Page 21 HERITAGE TRAIL

The Sign Maker Proof 10 AMERICAN RED CROSS The requisitioned Woolacombe Bay Tragedy struck in December 1943 when CENTRE AND ESPLANADE Hotel became the Headquarters of three tank-carrying landing craft were MEMORIAL the U.S. Assault Training Center. Many swept off course and capsized with the

Signed...... officers were billeted in local houses. loss of fourteen American soldiers and Date...... Comments ...... Woolacombe ...... The hotel was used for administration, sailors. The bodies were laid out on the Grid Ref: SS454438 lectures, exercise briefings and steps of the Red Barn. occasional social events. How to find: The trail plaque is located The remarkable similarity between near the memorial stones on the The building that today houses Woolacombe and “Omaha” beach in greensward, below the coast road the Red Barn pub was a social centre Normandy was not realized until between Woolacombe and Mortehoe. for enlisted men to enjoy the facilities D-Day itself. Before the Americans’ arrival in provided by the American Red Cross. It late 1943, Woolacombe beach was was known to American soldiers in 1943 used by the British Army to train as “The bungalow café”. Home Guard officers and Non Woolacombe beach was used for the Commissioned Officers. trainee troop’s final seaborne exercise at the conclusion of their three-week training course.

Left: Presenting the Thanksgiving Turkey at the Woolacombe Memorial, by courtesy North Devon Landing craft accident at Red Barn, Woolacombe, by courtesy of Coast AONB Woolacombe. Fourteen men Mortehoe Museum lost their lives. By courtesy Mortehoe Museum

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The Sign Maker Proof 11 ILFRACOMBE During 1940-42 Ilfracombe was the SYNAGOGUE 1940-45 base for a Pioneer Corps training centre, receiving exiles and refugees

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate 17 St James' Place A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... from Nazi-occupied Europe. These Date...... Comments ...... Ilfracombe ...... men carried out practical tasks for the Allied war effort. Most were Jewish EX34 9BJ and included musicians, writers and six SS522478 Nobel Laureates.

How to find: Number 17 is on the With the arrival of the US forces, many left-hand side of St James’ Place when of whom were Jewish, Ilfracombe’s heading towards Ilfracombe harbour. congregation grew again to over 100 During World War II coastal towns people. The rabbi was a British army such as Ilfracombe and Westward chaplain. Bar mitzvahs were performed Ho! became home to Jewish refugees here as well as regular services. The fleeing occupied Europe. In Ilfracombe, only known Jewish wedding to have two families founded a synagogue ever taken place in Ilfracombe took above a hotel at 17 St James’ Place. place here in 1945. Ilfracombe’s 1000-seat Garrison Today the building houses a restaurant 17 St. James Place, which housed the Ilfracombe and hotel. Theatre hosted the most important Synagogue, by courtesy of Claire Gulliver Jewish festivals at New Year and Yom Kippur.

Right: US Colonel Warner inspecting the Sea Rangers, Ilfracombe, March 1944, by courtesy Ilfracombe Museum

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The Sign Maker Proof 12 EXPERIMENTAL PLUTO pipelines were made from PIPELINE (PLUTO) hollow submarine telegraph cable without the central copper core

115mm Plaque proof please tick where appropriate Watermouth Cove A. I have checked the detail of this proof and agree that you proceed ...... B. Having made alterations I require a further proof...... C. Please alter where shown and proceed......

Signed...... and insulation. Date...... Comments ...... Grid Ref: SS548485 ...... Cable-laying ship The London (later How to find: The trail plaque is located HMS Holdfast) laid a 30-mile pipe on the South West Coast Path at across the Bristol Channel between Widmouth Head. Look out for a small Swansea in South Wales and Watermouth Cove, by courtesy North Devon Coast AONB information panel on a waymark post. Watermouth, near Combe Martin in Operation PLUTO (Pipe Lines North Devon. Under the Ocean) was a World War Following D-Day, army engineers II experiment organised by British laid two pipelines across the English

Engineers, oil companies and the Channel between Britain and France. British Armed Forces. They wanted to These supplied eight percent of the construct an undersea oil pipeline to allied armies’ fuel needs until the end support the invasion of France. of World War II.

Right: PLUTO drum, laying the pipeline under the A ‘Conundrum’ being towed across the ocean, © IWM English Channel, laying out pipe behind it, © IWM

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 26 Page 27 MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS

BRAUNTON AND DISTRICT MUSEUM MORTEHOE MUSEUM The Bakehouse Centre Mortehoe Caen Street EX34 7DT Mortehoe’s rich heritage is recorded Braunton in the gallery upstairs. World War II EX33 1AA artefacts include an American Red Comprehensive World War II Cross Centre register book from the displays include the military training US army social centre in Woolacombe. that took place on Braunton Burrows in Signatures of US service personnel 1943/4 during the preparations for the can be digitally searched. D-Day landings.

Left: GIs at the American Red Cross Centre in Woolacombe. Now the Red Barn pub, the interior archway in this photograph is visible today. Note the effigies of wartime political leaders, by courtesy of Mortehoe Museum

Right: US tanks at Woolacombe Beach, by courtesy Tony Koorlander / North Devon Coast AONB

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 28 Page 29 MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS Soldiers at Woolacombe, by courtesy of Mortehoe Museum

MUSEUM OF BARNSTAPLE AND GREAT TORRINGTON HERITAGE COMBE MARTIN MUSEUM AND ILFRACOMBE MUSEUM NORTH DEVON (RE-OPENS LATE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE INFORMATION POINT Wilder Road SUMMER 2019) 14 South Street Cross Street Ilfracombe The Square Great Torrington Combe Martin EX34 8AF Barnstaple EX38 8AF EX34 0DH A treasure house of weird and EX32 8LN Next door to the Pannier Market A village museum with lots to see and wonderful things telling stories from Redeveloped and extended for do, including popular Seashore Safaris. Ilfracombe and beyond. Extensive and A friendly, free museum with many 2019,The Museum of Barnstaple and Displays highlight the heritage of the varied collections include a collection fascinating exhibits reflecting the North Devon tells the stories of the busy coastal village of Combe Martin of World War II press photographs. diverse history of this ancient market people and landscapes of North Devon. and the surrounding area. town. World War II artefacts include a Collections include everything from book compiled by the US 265th Field ancient rocks to brand new artworks. Artillery Battalion which was based in the town en route to France.

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 30 Page 31 MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS

NORTHAM BURROWS CENTRE NORTH DEVON MARITIME MUSEUM COBBATON COMBAT COLLECTION Sandymere Road Odun Road Cobbaton Northam Appledore Chittlehampton EX39 1XS EX39 1PT Umberleigh The Visitor Centre is located in the The North Devon Maritime museum EX37 9RZ centre of Northam Burrows and offers a fascinating insight into the Military museum and tourist contains information and exhibitions rich shipbuilding and seafaring history attraction. This collection covers about the Country Park which is a Site of the area. mostly World War II, but also contains of Special Scientific Interest. Visitors can discover the World War II exhibits from the Boer War right up It includes a new World War II display beach landing experiments, sail and to the First Gulf War, from tanks, about activities on the Burrows. steam vessels, shipwrecks and much guns, helmets, artillery, grenades, more. Displays include photographs and bombs to Home Front ration relating to COXE and HMS Appledore. books and gas masks.

Right: Centaur tank at Cobbaton Combat Collection. British forces used Centaur tanks on D-Day, by courtesy of Cobbaton Combat Collection A ‘Bobbin’ carpet-layer tank for laying tracks across soft beaches © IWM

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 32 Page 33 FURTHER INFORMATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS WEBSITES This booklet, and the Devon D-Day project of which it is part, Spirits of the Sand: The history of the U S Army Assault North Devon Coastal Heritage Project: is indebted to the work of Richard Bass, upon whose book Training Center, Woolacombe – Richard T Bass ‘Spirits of the Sand’ it draws extensively. https://www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk/coastalheritage/ (Lee Publishing, 1992) ISBN 0 9518934 0 8 world-war-2 We are grateful to the volunteers from Images are reproduced by courtesy of Richard Bass, Illustrations of Old Bideford – Peter Christie museums across North Devon, many of whom Peter Christie, Tony Koorlander, Neil Worth, Mortehoe Bideford 500: (Edward Gaskell, various volumes and dates) have contributed to the project, including Maureen Connelly, Museum, Ilfracombe Museum, Braunton and District ISBN: 9781906769376 www.bidefordheritage.co.uk/life-in-bideford-during-ww2 Tom Downie, Martyn Drew, Gwyneth Faye, Amanda Gratton, Museum, Saunton D-Day, the Imperial War Museum, Gary West and Diana Yendell and many others. Cobbaton Combat Collection and North Devon Coast Jews in North Devon during the Second World War – Friends of the Assault Training Centre: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Helen Fry (Halsgrove, 2005) ISBN: 1841144371 http://www.assaulttrainingcenterfriends.co.uk Information about Ilfracombe’s Jewish community is North Devon at War: The Home Front – The Joint Social taken from ‘Jews in North Devon during the Second War’ Imperial War Museum collections: History Project (Devon Library Services and North Devon by Helen Fry. Museums Service, 1995) ISBN: 1-85522-455 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections Information about Bideford during World War II is from A schools resource pack is available from the Museum of Peter Christie’s ongoing series ‘Illustrations of Old Bideford’. Barnstaple & North Devon [email protected]

Left: Re-enactors approaching the beach, by courtesy of Saunton D-Day

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 34 Page 35 DEVON D-DAY IS SUPPORTED USING PUBLIC FUNDING BY THE NATIONAL LOTTERY THROUGH ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, WITH ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM NORTH DEVON COUNCIL, NORTH DEVON COAST AONB AND NORTH DEVON MARKETING BUREAU.

Devon D-Day is linked to North Devon Coastal Heritage, a project by North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Devon D-Day is delivered in collaboration with a range of partners including South West Museum Development, North Devon Marketing Bureau, Saunton Beach D-Day, Friends of the Assault Training Center and the museums on the North Devon coast.

Brian Chugg, Beach Defences, Saunton Ink and watercolour sketch made on site, 1949, Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon

Devon D-Day Heritage Trail Page 36