British tank at Graye-sur-Mer

Since 1977, a Churchill Pétard tank from General Hobart's 79th Armoured Division has been on public display in the dunes around the beach.
Belonging to the 26th Assault Squadron Royal Engineers of the 79th Armoured Division, it supported the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Landing at dawn on 6 June 1944, this Engineer tank quickly became bogged down in a marshy ditch at the exit of the Mike Beach sector of Junon Beach, before being used as a support point for an Engineer bridge to allow armoured vehicles to pass.
Of the six crew members, three were killed by mine and mortar explosions and three others were wounded. Until 1976, a bridge was used to reach the beach over a stream. This buried tank remained under the bridge. The tank was cleared and restored in November 1976.

Today, this tank is one of the most vivid reminders of the British and Canadian landings on the beach at Graye-sur-Mer.
Nearby, a small monument has been erected in memory of the tank’s crew, some of whom lost their lives there at dawn on 6 June 1944.