Discover North Devon’s Wartime Secrets

The quaint coastal villages Appledore, Instow, Westward Ho! and the town of Bideford have been hiding a national secret from me for years.

As you travel around you cannot help but uncover exactly what went on here during the 2nd World War.

Wartime Secrets Uncovered At Check In

Not only was it visited by Sir Winston Churchill.  But also by a stream of leading generals and commanding officers of US, UK, Canadian and Commonwealth military units too.

Sporting a Combined Operations plaque in the dining room a note nearby declared that.  “More secrets have been discussed in this room than probably any other hotel in the Country”

Situated at the end of the iconic 24 arch bridge over the River Taw the hotel is now in a period of change itself with the start of an up-grading of all the rooms.

Whilst staying I did have a chance to be shown the first two new rooms.  These were located just under the cupola.  With lovely views over the river and bridge.

Heading over the bridge to Westward Ho! It was clear to see that the extensive wide sandy beach would have been reminiscent of those of Northern France.

Wartime Secrets Trail

Hence the choice of training and testing equipment and troops was really no brainer by the military planners. Torridge House there became its headquarters.  With other units under its command at Instow and Appledore.

The area behind the beach at one time had a ‘Chain Home’ radar mast.  Later it  was demolished after the war.

Even in the mudflats behind its famous pebble ridge a series of ‘Dragons Teeth’.  Or anti-tank blocks can still be seen in the silt.

Heading next to Appledore.  Where the North Devon Maritime Museum paints an interesting picture of exactly what went on during the build-up to D Day itself.

With artefacts and stories of people who took part on D Day itself.

A part of the village was where HMS Appledore located. However, hardly any traces are left now.  However,  at the time it was where many new ideas were tested to find ways of breaching the defensive German lines of Northern France.

Just over the River Taw and opposite in Instow was another series of US units were posted where.  Where tank landing craft were tested along with many other ideas of getting troops onto the beach safely and quickly.

Head North over the River Torridge and on the Braunton Burrows.  Here was an extensive test and experimental area where the amphibious landing techniques were tested.

Also a series of concrete tank landing craft bow sections were constructed in the dunes so drivers could learn to load and unload quickly.

Testing Times At Braunton And Croyde

Heading north to Croyde was an area where the amphibious DUWK’s were tested.

Into the next bay of Woolacombe and Putsborough where cliff scaling was practiced and Woolacombe was indeed very similar to Omaha Beach in Northern France.

This whole area of North Devon was a hive of activity with towns like llfracombe and Barnstaple also part of this extensive training area.

At Watermouth Cove just along the coast from Ilfracombe was the testing site for ‘Operation PLUTO’ which was to supply most of the fuel needed by the invasion forces by a secret undersea oil pipeline system.

Testing was carried out and a continuous pipe was laid from South Wales to Watermouth to prove that the concept would work.

From The Age Of 5

Personally, I have known this area around North Devon most of my life.

However, having recently uncovered these stories I look back at the whole area now and see it totally differently.

This section of the UK does almost deserve more recognition.  Certainly for that vital role it played during the second world war. Rather akin to Malta and its George Cross award.

North Devon GC ?