Valentine tank at Studland Beach - 70 years on

The Valentine tank accounted for about a quarter of Britain's tank production during World War II, more than 8,000 of them being built.

This is a Duplex Drive (propulsion by both tank track and propeller) amphibious variant of the tank. Valentine DDs were used to train the soldiers which would be landing on D-Day.

On 4th April 1944 - exactly 70 years ago - six Valentine DD tanks of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards regiment sank in rough weather in Studland Bay, while exercising in preparation for Exercise Smash I, a full scale rehearsal for D-Day which would be held on 18th April. Six crew men were lost on that day.


The "soldier" seated on the tank is in fact the son of the Valentine's owner, John Pearson, who had spent twenty years restoring it. The tank was transported from northern England by low-loader this morning, so our "soldier" was understandably tired by mid afternoon, when this photo was taken. His presence also helps to convey the size of the tank.