Exercise Tiger - Slapton Sands Disaster

The speaker, Paul Burnett, is a former Navy and Hydrographic Surveyor, with over 20 years of maritime research. His interests include, The Purton Ships Graveyard, The Severn & Wye Railway Bridge Disaster along with a particular interest in maritime history and the Anglo –Zulu military wars of 1879.

The talk documents the tragic events of the night of April 28th 1944.  Almost forgotten, the story places the listener in the heart of sleepy Lyme Bay at a time of the Allied operations in readiness for Operation Overlord.  Originally considered safe in home waters a loaded convoy sets sail.  But by daybreak, two ships lay on the sea bed; one limping badly damaged and 749 souls missing - a scene of total devastation.  Step forward 40 years and peace has returned to the shore, albeit the tranquil scene is silently guarded by one man’s determination…..to recover a sunken tank!

Wotton-under-Edge Civic Centre

2 Gloucester Street, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7DN

Friday 27th September 2019 at 7.30pm

     Visitors welcome.

     Non-members £5 on the door