DORSET’s role in the run-up to D-Day will be remembered when members of the World War Two Living History Association encamp near Bridport at the end of May.

It’s 66 years since the US 1st Infantry Division left Dorset to invade Europe and defeat Hitler.

The event at The Hyde in Walditch has two aims: to honour the young Americans who came to England to fight for freedom, and to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity and the soldiers of today.

Over the weekend of May 29-30, there will be displays of uniforms and weapons as used during World War Two. Visitors are welcome from 10am – 4pm at The Hyde (now a BUPA care home).

Ice-cream, beer, turkey, flame-throwers

Members of the Living History Association have researched the 1st Division’s time near Bridport, and here is a full version of their notes, with details of everything from ice-cream to flame-throwers.

- Back in October 1943 Company E of the 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Infantry Division moved for the winter into Nissen huts at Walditch.

Officers were billeted in The Hyde itself, NCOs in houses in the village.

There were hikes and films, rain, Military Police in town, liberal passes, the people were friendly, the First Sgt. got married, there was turkey on Turkey Day and again on Christmas in the big Battalion mess hall, with ice cream and beer besides.

There was cool weather, firing on Symondsbury and Eype Down ranges, a lecture on What We Will Find in Europe, training in street fighting in a bombed-out section of  Weymouth, church on Sundays in Bridport…

In short, the men found England the best place to be next to home.

In January 1944, British General Montgomery reviewed the troops on the cricket field at Bridport, and told them that of all the American Divisions he’d seen, he’d rather fight with the 1st US Division.

In February, they went 86 miles by motor to Barnstaple for assault team training, amphibious operations, attacks on fortified positions, boat landings and obstacle courses.

On the 24th there was a beach landing by the entire Regiment. In March, the Company boarded the U.S.S. Henrico at Weymouth for another practice landing and attack inland. The bright spot in this picture was the chow served by the Navy, which was excellent.

Back in Walditch, James Cagney and cast entertained the troops with Keep ‘Em Rolling.

A Battalion rifle match was won by Company E and on April 2 General Eisenhower came around to inspect, present awards and make a speech.

Any illusions about returning home to the States were dispelled when he said: “The First Division will be one of the last to go home. If nothing else, I’ll just keep you around for good luck.”

From this time on the Division was on alert for the invasion of the continent. They went to Martinstown to train, revisited the U.S.S. Henrico, and assaulted “Able Red” Beach once, then again.

General Heubner, the Division Commander, made a speech.

The Company was organised into 5 assault sections and trained that way, each section equipped with flame throwers, and bangalore torpedoes, and with its own base of fire.

On June 1, they boarded the U.S.S. Henrico again, and when it sailed out from Weymouth harbour on June 5, D-Day and H-Hour were announced.

- It was one of the greatest events in European history.

Editor’s Note: The black and white photographs above are used courtesy of the World War Two Living History Association. To give a fuller flavour of those extraordinary times in 1943-44, I’ve also compiled for this piece a short silent film showing stills of American troops in Burton Bradstock, on the beach, in the pub, in the village school. It’s haunting, to look at all the faces.

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