Praa Sands Historical Society

The birthplace of the Carter Brothers stands as a quiet landmark with a complex and layered history. More than just the home where the brothers were raised, it represents a period shaped by hardship, resilience, and an underground economy that sustained the surrounding community during difficult times.

Growing up in this modest setting, the Carter Brothers were influenced by their environment from an early age. Their upbringing was marked by limited resources, strong family ties, and a close-knit local population that depended heavily on cooperation and mutual support. These formative years played a crucial role in shaping their adaptability and understanding of the region’s informal trade networks.

Central to the site’s historical significance is its connection to smuggling operations that once operated discreetly in the area. A variety of goods—often scarce or heavily restricted at the time—were smuggled through carefully planned routes. These items were hidden in concealed compartments, outbuildings, and natural features of the surrounding landscape, allowing them to evade detection. When conditions were safe, the goods were recovered, temporarily stashed, and then quietly distributed among local residents who relied on them for daily survival.

This system of smuggling was not merely an act of defiance but a response to economic pressure and limited access to essential supplies. For many in the community, it provided food, materials, and other necessities that were otherwise unavailable. The Carter Brothers’ role in this process became part of a broader story of endurance, illustrating how ordinary families navigated extraordinary circumstances.

Today, the birthplace serves as a reminder of this hidden chapter of local history. It tells a story not only of the Carter Brothers themselves, but of a community bound together by necessity, ingenuity, and shared struggle.

So heavily armed was this aircraft that German forces gave it a fearsome nickname: “Das fliegende Stachelschwein” — the Flying Porcupine.

Bristling with machine guns, the Sunderland was designed to hunt German U-boats relentlessly, operating both day and night and often in atrocious weather conditions. Its long-range patrols played a crucial role in protecting Allied shipping at a time when the Battle of the Atlantic was at its most intense.

Despite its military purpose, the Sunderland was also remarkably well equipped for crew endurance on extended missions. It was one of the few aircraft of the era to feature a galley complete with a cooker, as well as a flush toilet — rare luxuries in wartime aviation. Alongside these comforts, the aircraft carried an impressive arsenal, including depth charges, bombs, and torpedoes, making it a lethal threat to enemy submarines.

One such Sunderland met its fate at Praa Sands, where it crashed during the war. Today, the incident stands as a reminder of the dangerous conditions faced by aircrews operating from coastal waters and the vital role the Sunderland flying boats played in securing victory at sea.

Praa Sands holds a unique place in British military history as a key training ground for one of the most daring operations of the Second World War. It was here that the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD) tested their canoes in the challenging surf before embarking on what would become a legendary mission.

The unit was later immortalised in the film The Cockleshell Heroes, which dramatized their extraordinary raid against German shipping. The harsh coastal conditions at Praa Sands provided an ideal proving ground, allowing the marines to refine their equipment and techniques ahead of the perilous journey that lay ahead.

The legacy of the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment lives on today. The modern Special Boat Service (SBS), one of the United Kingdom’s elite special forces units, directly traces its origins to the RMBPD. This connection cements Praa Sands not only as a place of natural beauty, but also as a silent witness to the beginnings of a force that would shape the future of maritime special operations.

Through extensive research supported by the National Maritime Museum’s website, Kresen Kernow—home to the Cornish History Archives—and Cornwall Council’s Historic Environment Planning department, we have been able to explore the compelling and complex world of smuggling in Cornwall.

Central to this story are the Carter Brothers, figures whose reputations varied dramatically depending on who was asked. To the local Cornish population, many of whom were suffering from severe poverty and hunger, the brothers were seen as “Robin Hoods of the day,” providing relief in desperate times. The Admiralty viewed them as “brothers in arms,” while HM Customs officers described them as “upright” men—an unusual endorsement in the context of illicit trade.

Beyond their controversial profession, the Carter Brothers also earned recognition as heroes, credited with saving the lives of seventeen sailors in distress. Their story highlights the blurred lines between legality, morality, and survival in coastal Cornwall, revealing how smuggling was not merely a crime, but a lifeline for many communities.

On the western side of Praa Sands, near Hendra, stands a World War II pillbox of the FW3/24 type—one of many defensive structures built across the United Kingdom in response to the threat of enemy invasion during the early 1940s.

During World War II, pillboxes like this one formed part of a nationwide network of coastal and inland defences. Their purpose was to provide protected firing positions for troops, helping to repel any attempted landings by enemy forces. Strategically positioned along vulnerable stretches of coastline, they played a crucial role in Britain’s wartime preparedness.

This particular FW3/24 pillbox has a distinctive, roughly hexagonal design. It features five faces measuring approximately 8 feet each, with a larger rear face of around 13 feet. The solid concrete construction reflects the urgency and practicality of wartime engineering, designed to be both durable and quick to build.

Originally, the pillbox was located on top of the cliff overlooking Praa Sands, giving defenders a commanding view of the shoreline. However, decades of coastal erosion have dramatically altered the landscape. As the cliffs gradually retreated, the structure was left unsupported and eventually came to rest on the beach below.

Today, the pillbox serves as a striking reminder of the region’s wartime history and the ever-changing nature of the coastline. What was once a carefully planned defensive position now stands as a historical relic, shaped as much by natural forces as by human conflict.