A simple flint memorial to commemorate the deaths of Canadian troops, machine-gunned at Cuckmere Haven in 1940. Fact, hoax or mis-information?
This flint memorial stands on the Sussex Downs at Cuckmere Haven, a much photographed, iconic beauty spot. It was erected in 2006 to commemorate the supposed machine gunning of a detachment of Canadian Troops stationed there. The plaque quotes a local (Home Guard)l Corporal who claims he tried to warn the CO that the valley was a favourite landmark for attacking enemy fighters from across the Channel. He ignored the warning and two days later some Messerschmitts arrived and machine gunned and bombed the camp. Nobody survived the raid. However extensive research has failed to to find any evidence of the raid or indeed any significant numbers of Canadian (or any other) troops killed in the area. (See extensive and thorough published research by Peter Tyrrell.) There is mention of three men killed by mines whilst returning from a forbidden bathing trip to Cuckmere Haven and an air raid by ME109s on the nearby RAF Friston. Whether anything of significance happened at or near the memorial site remains a mystery!
Size: 4288px × 2848px
Location: Near Coastguard Cottages, Cuckmere Haven, Friston, East Sussex UK.
Photo credit: © Brian Hartshorn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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