Embarkation Ramps (Slipways)

Alongside UK & US Normandy Veterans, Sir Donald Thompson of Friends of War Memorials, Ian Morrison of English Heritage, early members of the Turning Point Heritage Trust, and many more, our Founder (Peter Foreman) fought to save a threatened destruction of our D-Day Embarkation Ramps.

Torquay was the main embarkation area for the American D.Day Infantry assault. These two large slipways are where 23,000 American soldiers of the 4th Infantry boarded landing craft and went to war. Our government has protected 'The D.Day Slipways' with a preservation listing. They are thought to be the most impressive examples of surviving D.Day structures in England. More importantly, they are a memory of the 23,000 American men of the 4th In who left these slipways, nearly a quarter of whom gave their lives in the first month, to save us from Nazi occupation.

An outline of operations can be found here.

Lady Cable (Dunkirk Little Ship)

Home Guard Memorial

Turning Point Heritage Trust erected a national memorial at Corbyn Head, Torquay dedicated to the Home Guard. The memorial also honours the six men of the Home Guard and Royal Artillery who lost their lives there in 1944, when a shell exploded in the breach block of a First World War Japanese naval gun.

The dedication was opened with a salute by two RAF Hawks from 208 Squadron. Veterans, the Mayor of Torquay, Armed Services, Members of Parliament, local organisations, and many others laid wreaths at the base of the memorial.

More information is here

Home Guard Reunion

On the previous day we held a reunion of Home Guards and their families. About 200 people attended the event. This function was possible due to a Home Front grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.