Slapton Sands (Exercise Tiger)

The villagers learned their fate in late November forty-three

Just 6 weeks, to leave their farms and homes

The South Hams never felt so cold when the animals all were sold

The war had plans, for Slapton Sands

In the USA they waved goodbye to family

30,000 came to help the Allies cause

Some were green as England's fields

Just imagine their ordeal now their future plans, were Slapton Sands

When they got the call

Then they stood tall

They worked and trained and gave their all

So far from home were England's shores

The Devon coast was just like Utah beach Normandy

Golden sand and dunes with crashing waves and sea

It must have felt like paradise when the soldiers first arrived

With boats to land on Slapton Sands

The D-Day mission needed Exercise Tiger

Boats and brave young men trained ready for the fight

They wanted ammo to be live

For soldiers to survive what war demands on Slapton Sands

But the plans went wrong when stakes were high

200 lost in friendly fire

So far from home on England's shores

A second convoy was in place in early morning

Landing craft with soldiers, sailors, trucks and tanks

But one protection ship was gone and radio frequencies went wrong

With E boats on hand near Slapton Sands

Torpedo's strike the boats recoil

The freezing sea men, fire and oil

So many drowned upside down

And some could swim some called for Mum

Some prayed to God that help would come

So far from home and England's shores

Nearly 5 fold lost at Slapton than at Utah

Nine hundred men who gave their lives for peace and good

But the need for secrecy was high

As Overlord was nigh all talk was banned about Slapton Sands

For 40 years the brave young men were not remembered

But just one man was not prepared to let them go

He saved a Sherman from the tide where paradise met genocide

For heroes it stands at Slapton Sands

For heroes it stands at Slapton Sands

For heroes it stands at Slapton Sands