On December 2, 1943, the civilian residents of the British seaside town of Bude on the north coast of Cornwall, in the southwest of England, turned out to greet the latest in a long line of visitors to come to their town. Bude had been a popular holiday destination for many years, welcoming tourists who came to enjoy the sandy bay, clear waters and hospitality of the many hotels and guest houses. The visitors arriving that day and stepping off the train at the town’s train station were men of the 2nd Battalion Ranger Regiment, and the locals were thrilled to see them.
However, these men were not in the town as tourists,
