During World War II, the area was used by American forces as a battle practice area for the Normandy landings.  In 1943, some 3,000 residents of the immediate area and adjoining Parishes were evacuated to make way for 15,000 US troops who over the following months would be engaged in battle exercises, often involving live firing.  Start Bay was the scene of the Exercise Tiger disaster when a convoy of troop laden landing craft was attacked by E-boats with heavy losses.

A ceremony to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Normandy landings was held at the Monument on 24 July 1954 and was attended by the then Supreme Commander Allied Forces in Europe, General Alfred M. Gruenther.

Lying between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge in the South Hams District of Devon, and forming part of Start Bay, is the 4km long shingle ridge, Slapton Sands.  The ridge contains and protects the unique environment of the freshwater lagoon of Slapton Ley and surrounding marshland.

Today the ridge and Ley are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve in recognition of their biological and geological importance.  They and the surrounding area also form part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coast.

In recognition of the contribution of those who gave up their homes and lands, the United States Army Authorities erected on Slapton Sands the 20ft Monument inscribed with the names of the villages involved and paying tribute to the people’s action which had resulted in the saving of hundreds of lives and, in no small measure, in the success of the invasion.

On the night of 11/12 January 2001, a combination of high tides and easterly gales caused severe erosion to the Slapton Sands shingle ridge and to the A379, which runs along it.  The Monument itself was seriously undermined by the storm.  Were it not for the emergency works taken at the time by Devon County Council, in difficult and dangerous conditions, it is probable that the Monument would have been damaged beyond repair.  With the risk of further damage, the County Council removed and stored it for safe keeping.

The damage caused to the shingle ridge, the A379 and the Monument that January night, reinforced serious concerns as to the threats from future storms.  To consider the interim and long term requirements to deal with these, the Slapton Line Partnership has been established.  This includes Devon County Council, South Hams District Council, English Nature, the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Field Studies Council, the Environment Agency, and Defra.

To date a new inland replacement carriageway for the damaged A379 has been constructed; a Scoping Study has been completed to inform the consideration by consultants of possible long term solutions; and proposals to provide additional protection in the interim are soon to be implemented.

The Monument has also been repaired and relocated, following consultations with the local community and the American Battle Monuments Commission, formal planning consent and the approval of the landowners – the Whitley Wildlife Trust.  The opportunity has also been taken to add the village of Sherford to the Memorial, which inadvertently has been omitted from the original inscription.

This necessitated the removal of every one of the lead letters and the carving back of the face of the granite monument to erase all trace of them.  Each letter was then recast and refixed to seamlessly include the additional wording.  This specialist work was undertaken by Martin & Sons, Monumental Masons.  The repairs and relocation were undertaken by South West Highways under the guidance of Chris Daniels, Conservator and Consultant.

This rededication ceremony took place on 13 November 2002, this being the 59^th anniversary of the day in 1943 when the villagers of Slapton and the surrounding area were first advised by the Chairman of the County Council of the intended evacuation at a meeting in the local village hall at Slapton.