Product Description

During the night of 27th April 1944, Exercise Tiger, a rehearsal for the D-day landings, took place off the coast of Devon. This supposedly routine exercise experienced a series of fatal blunders that allowed German E boats to intercept the convoy of landing craft. By dawn, nearly 1000 American servicemen, many young and untrained, had lost their lives. This story explains how and why the tragedy happened, and explores the elaborate cover-up that later took place. It is also the tale of one man's obsession to honour the memory of those Americans who died so needlessly.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #337771 in Books
• Published on: 1989-09-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From the Inside Flap
The night of 27 April 1944 ... Exercise Tiger ... German E Boats intercept rehearsals for the D-Day landings ...

Only 45 years later has the full story of this tragedy been uncovered.

A gripping tale of wartime disaster and resuce - and one man's fight to uncover the true story.

Excerpted from The Forgotten Dead by Ken Small, Mark Rogerson. Copyright © 1989. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The White House
WASHINGTON

April 12, 1988

Dear Mr. Small:

On Behalf of all Americans, thank you for your kind and generous efforts in helping to establish a memorial at Torcross, England, honoring the brave American soldiers and sailors who died in 1944 during a rehearsal for the D-Day landings of World War II.

Your concern for our servicemen who made the supreme sacrifice exemplifies the strong bonds of friendship and admiration that unite the people of our two countries. This memorial has strengthened those bonds by reminding us of the untold sacrifices and contributions of citizens such as yourself who endured countless hardships for a common cause.

The tragic loss of lives in April 1944 vividly reminds us that freedom is not free, but requires the steadfast courage and dedication of men and women who are willing to fight to safeguard that freedom.

Soldiers of the NATO Alliance today, like those in 1944, stand ready to defend freedom, and your compassion serves as an inspiration not only to them but to all those who cherish freedom throughout the world. God bless you.

Sincerely.

Ronald Reagan

Customer Reviews

A Tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom
This book investigates the pre "D Day" practice landings and the tragic sinking and loss of life, during "Operation Tiger", off the coast of South Devon and in Lyme Bay during World War Two. Since I first read this book many years ago, I have been inspired to visit the site of the "Sherman Tank" memorial at "Slapton Sands" and met the author on many occasions. Those of you, who perhaps are not fans of non fiction, will be gripped from cover to cover by this true story as it unfolds in all its detail. The author "Ken Small", paints a vivid picture of the tragic events which led to the loss of so many brave allied troops, before they had even reached the beaches of Normandy. Their great courage and sacrifice is an inspiration to all of us and I would thoroughly reccomend this book as a "must read". If you get the chance to visit the memorial at Slapton, keep an eye out for the author in the car park next to the tank, he is an interesting man to talk to and the area of coast around the site is well worth exploring.

A tragic, but interesting eye-opener.
This account of one man's mission to obtain one of the most important pieces of WW2 history in Devon is a must for anybody. We all owe a debt of gratitude to every person who experienced this terrible war and this is a truly remarkable story. Once you have read this book, you will feel as if you must visit the tank immediately to see it for yourself and meet the man who made it possible. Ken Small is often there, ready to answer your questions and tell his tale. It is hard to believe that this terrible tragedy was possible in such a relaxing part of the world, but this story is, sadly, just one of many tales of death and devastation to be told in and around the West Country. Next time you visit Devon or Cornwall for a break, just take a few moments to remember those darkest of days, and nights.

60th Anniversary Edition
The book is about the night of 27th April 1944 when during "Exercise Tiger" German E-boats intercept rehearsals for the D-Day landings. The story is a gripping tale of wartine disaster and rescue with one man's fight to uncover the true story. It is only 45 years later that the full storyof the tragedy has been uncovered - with 946 American servicemen dying off the coast of Devon.