Treasure trove of Harley Davidsons 'buried' in Devon

Legend has it hundreds of iconic bikes were left behind

When American troops hastily departed Devon for the Normandy beaches in 1944, they reportedly left behind a treasure trove of classic motorcycles buried underground in South Devon. Over the years, numerous individuals have confidently claimed that pristine Harley Davidsons, preserved in wooden crates and greased for longevity, are hidden beneath the verdant fields of South Devon.

Rural legends suggest hundreds of these motorcycles are interred near Bovey Tracey, with additional hundreds supposedly under a farmer's field near Kingsbridge. The area at Heathfield, where witnesses insist the bikes were buried, is now occupied by an industrial estate and housing development.

The exact location of the Kingsbridge field remains a mystery, as those who claimed to have witnessed the bike burial have since passed away. In the lead-up to the D-Day landings, the US Army had a significant presence in the county, training on beaches and headlands that closely resembled the Northern France coastline.

The influx of troops necessitated large-scale evacuations. Families were displaced, and entire villages in the South Hams were vacated.

Approximately 3,000 people, along with their belongings, livestock, and equipment, were relocated from villages including Blackawton, Chillington, East Allington, Slapton, Stokenham, Strete and Torcross.

Jean Brooking of Stokenham recounted to the BBC People's War project in 2006: "I'm sure that when my father went home with the news, mother and all others must have been filled with horror and disbelief, looking at their surroundings and wondering "For how long? and "Shall we ever come back again?"

The land was seized on November 16, 1943, and the evacuation was completed by December 20. The electricity was cut off the following day, and police stations were shut down.

In total, 180 farms, village shops, schools, and homes were vacated. The Brooking family relocated to live with farming friends in Ashprington.

Meanwhile, the training 'war' raged on around their former home. Thousands of vehicles and weapons were brought into the Devon countryside, including hundreds of the US Army's trusty Harley Davidson motorcycles.

The Harley WLA was the army's go-to motorcycle, with its distinctive bulb-shaped fuel tank and single saddle.

It was used for escort duties, courier work, and some reconnaissance, as well as transporting radio equipment. The WLA earned the nickname "Liberator" as it was often seen ridden by soldiers liberating occupied Europe.

The training was intense, perilous, and often fatal. The US forces suffered numerous casualties during live ammunition training, and over 700 men were lost in a single night when German torpedo boats attacked landing craft participating in Exercise Tiger, a simulation of the Normandy beach landings.

As the D-Day invasion of Normandy in June drew closer, South Devon saw an influx of troops.

Camps sprang up around Torbay, with soldiers waiting under canvas for the pivotal day. Areas like Heathfield became storage sites for munitions and vehicles, including Jeeps and motorcycles.

Landing crafts gathered in Tor Bay, ready to set sail for the French coast. Local artist Bill Stockman, who witnessed the remarkable scene as a schoolboy, told the Herald Express that the bay appeared 'full' of landing crafts, giving the illusion one could walk from deck to deck from Torquay to Brixham without getting their feet wet.

On 6th June 1944, these landing crafts transported thousands of Allied troops across the Channel, marking a turning point in the Second World War as they established a beachhead and gradually pushed German forces back through France.

Following this, American forces departed from South Devon, leaving the scarred countryside to the locals once again.

Bomb disposal teams methodically combed through the countryside, dealing with remaining explosives.

Even today, shells and other pieces of rusty ordnance occasionally surface on South Devon beaches and in the countryside.

Roads were mended and compensation was provided to homeowners whose properties had been damaged.

Families were left to pick up the pieces, with some buildings damaged beyond repair, while others remained largely untouched. Mrs Brooking fondly remembered receiving 'splendid household gifts' from the Canadian and American Red Cross as life slowly returned to normality.

Italian prisoners-of-war were put to work repairing roads, while Land Army girls toiled in the fields.

Today, there are few visible reminders of the American occupation of South Hams. The most prominent is a Sherman tank and memorial located in the seafront car park at Torcross.

This tank was retrieved from the seabed in the early 1980s by hotelier Ken Small, who dedicated years to the project in memory of the American troops who lost their lives during D-Day preparations.

Each year on Remembrance Sunday and June 6, ceremonies are held beside the tank to honour those who died. Rumours about equipment left behind by the departing Americans have persisted for nearly eight decades.

Local newspapers, including the Herald Express, have often reported claims from local historians about buried 'treasure' in South Devon, but these stories of forgotten motorbikes, weapons and vehicles have never been substantiated.

However, it's well-known that departing or retreating armies often bury equipment they can't or don't want to take with them. As such, it seems the tales of hidden treasure troves beneath Devon's fields and factories will continue to captivate locals for years to come.

On an internet forum dedicated to classic motorcycles, a user by the name Urbmark shared: "Close to where I live is a large industrial estate called Heathfield."

"It is well documented that the Americans used this site as a dumping ground before the actual invasions took place. Included in the burial where literally dozens of new Harleys still in their crates."

"A few years back, before phase two of the estate was built, a large dig took place to try and locate the buried dump, but alas nothing was found."

"A late friend of mine discovered a Jeep dumped on another site and covered in brambles. He fully restored it and won many prizes at vintage rallies.

"Oh! to find those Harleys though.."