Canadian Memorial
The memorial to Canadian troops who departed for the D-Day beaches from the four embarkation hards at Stokes Bay can be seen on the promenade close to the Pebble Beach cafe. Approximately 14,000 Canadians landed in Normandy 6th June 1944. The Canadian assault force suffered 1,074 casualties, 946 were killed. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division left from Stokes Bay, their destination being Juno Bay. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders embarked from Stokes Bay hard G1.
Meryon Memorial Drinking Fountain
The Meryon Memorial Drinking Fountain is on the left of the road leading to the Pebble Beach car park. It was presented to Gosport Council by the mother of Lieutenant Commander Thomas Chalmers-Meryon who was lost at sea, Wednesday 29 January 1913. He was Commander of the H.M. Submarine C21 and was on the deck of the submarine when a wave washed him overboard. Three submarines had been engaged in exercises off St Andrews Bay as part of twelve boats of the Dundee submarine flotilla and, while C21 was returning up the Tay River in heavy weather, a small squall struck her. Lt Meryon, together with a leading seaman, was on the conning tower and was thrown off balance and flung into the water disappearing at once. The memorial was unveiled on July 5th 1916 by Mrs Meryon who lived in Alverstoke. The memorial consists of a marble square with seats for two each side, a push button tap with a drinking cup attached by a chain and a drinking trough for animals below.
Victorian Defences of Stokes Bay: Stokes Bay Moat
In 2011 Gosport Borough Council in partnership with Hampshire County Council funded three Interpretation boards to be placed at intervals along the Bay next to the new off-road cycle path. David Moore of the Palmerston Forts Society was asked to design and produce three boards with the remit that they show visitors the Victorian history of the old Stokes Bay moat system and associated defences.
Views across The Solent
In December 2020 another interpretation board was added along the promenade next to the blue telescope. Designed by Ann Bevan, the board gives an interpretation of the view across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight with an explanation of each of the twelve features that can be seen from this point starting with Fort Gilkicker and ending at Browndown.
Flora & Fauna
To aid visitors with identifying natural species of Flora and Fauna that can be seen during a stroll along the Bay, three interpretation boards are strategically sited along the promenade. Beautifully illustrated by the late Felicity Anderson, a founder member of the Friends of Stokes Bay, they are enjoyed by all who take the time to stop and view them. The first illustrates Life on the Shingle Shore of Stokes Bay. The second illustrates the Site of Special Scientific Interest at Gilkicker Lagoon and the third illustrates The Gilkicker Grasslands and the Shingle Shore.
There are many other points of interest; see sub-menus for more information about:
Browndown
GAFIRS
England Coast path
Diving Museum
Me