​​This themed route explores Dartmouth’s significant role during the Second World War, revealing the many layers of the town’s military and civilian wartime experience. In the early years of the conflict, Dartmouth was a centre of naval activity, with Britannia Royal Naval College continuing its essential role in training officers for the Royal Navy. The River Dart bustled with ships and personnel involved in operations, including convoy escort duties and coastal defence.

​As the war progressed, the area evolved into a vital base for Commando units, who trained in the surrounding countryside and used Dartmouth as a departure point for clandestine operations along the French coast and beyond. Dartmouth Castle was fortified with anti-aircraft guns to defend against enemy air raids, and its strategic position at the mouth of the river made it an important line of defence. This historic site, which dates back centuries, remains open to visitors today, offering views over the river and a sense of its wartime role.

​The threat from the air was real—Dartmouth suffered several bombing raids by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). On 18 September 1942, a particularly severe attack caused extensive damage in the town, killing more than 20 people and injuring many others. Earlier raids had occurred in 1941, targeting the railway and harbour installations.

​Beyond the military presence, the war left a lasting imprint on the town and its surrounding villages. Evacuees arrived from cities, changing the fabric of local life. Today, evidence of Dartmouth’s wartime past can still be found in its streets, from Commonwealth War Graves Commission burials in local cemeteries to memorials commemorating both service personnel and civilians. These poignant reminders, along with historic sites and stories, bring the experience of Dartmouth at war vividly to life for visitors following this route.​