WW2 Tank restored at Braunton Burrows Training Area

The remains of a World War II Cromwell tank, found at the Braunton Burrows Training Area in North Devon, have been carefully restored after a collaborative effort involving local museums, volunteers, and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). 

This significant project began in 2022 when the tank’s fragments were discovered during excavation work, and now, over a year later, the tank stands proudly as a reminder of the region’s military heritage.

The tank’s restoration is part of the broader Dynamic Dunescapes project, which has been running since 2021 to enhance biodiversity in Braunton’s sand dunes. 

Among the many artefacts unearthed at the site by the 29 Explosive Ordnance Clearance (EOC) Group, the tank's remains were one of the most significant finds. 

ABOVE: DIO staff, member of Friends of the Assault Training Centre and attendees of Devon D-Day at the unveiling. (Crown Copyright – MOD)

The Cromwell tank, once used by American forces preparing for the D-Day landings, was believed to be a hard target for rocket training in the area.

To bring this piece of history back to life, DIO’s Deputy Training Safety Officer, David Lincoln, reached out to local experts, including Tim Isaac from Cobbaton Combat Collection and Richard Bass, Chairman of the Friends of the Assault Training Centre.

Together, they spearheaded the restoration efforts, using a skeleton frame to reassemble the recovered tank parts.

With generous donations, including £4,000 from North Devon Coast National Landscape, along with contributions from local groups, the painstaking restoration finally came to fruition in June 2023. 

Today, the tank sits in the northeast corner of Area C, accessible to the public, marking both a tribute to the men who trained for D-Day and a symbol of the area’s rich wartime legacy.

Deputy Training Safety Officer for Braunton Burrows Training Area, David Lincoln, said: “Finding the remains of this tank was an unexpected yet exciting development in the Dynamic Dunescapes project. The restored tank reminds us of  the important part Braunton Burrows played during the D-Day preparations and is a symbol of our heritage, as well as DIO’s commitment to preserving military history.  

“It’s a fantastic feeling knowing that we have completed the project after many months of working closely with various partners, and now we can share our discovery with the public and honour the brave individuals who served during WW2.” 

ABOVE: The first wheel of the tank to be discovered, during excavation works. (Crown Copyright – MOD)

The newly restored tank now stands as a testament to both Braunton Burrows’ role in World War II and the dedication of the many volunteers and organisations who contributed to its restoration. 

Visitors can view the tank in Area C by locating it through the What3Words address: teaspoons.obstruction.motivator.