OCCUPIED DORSET: AN EXPLORATION OF THE EXPERIENCE OF U.S. TROOPS 1942-44

The intention of this project is to explore the experience of the US troops in Dorset, using the example of the 1st US Infantry Division as a case study. The 1st Division was unique in that it was the only US division to be resident in England on two separate occasions, firstly in Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire in 1942 and secondly in various garrisons throughout Dorset between 1943 and 1944. Each stay was separated by a year of active duty in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO). During this time Britain gradually became more used to the Americans and developed ways to accommodate them. On the first occasion the division stayed in Tidworth for about two months. This experience provides a basis for comparison with the second longer stay in Dorset, which lasted for approximately seven months. Through this comparison one can see how attitudes and infrastructure in the Southern Base Command changed between August 1942, when the division first arrived in the UK, and May 1944 when they left the UK to participate in operation Overlord. This study also discusses the interaction between the US soldiers and local residents in Dorset. It takes into account the gradually improving mechanisms put in place to ensure that the troops were accommodated, fed, and entertained. The U.S. troops spent long hours training. In the relatively small amount of spare time remaining the U.S. Army and the British authorities sought to ensure that they made the best possible impact on British society under the circumstances. Where possible, they encouraged the troops to take advantage of entertainments provided specifically for the soldiers (such as Interdivisional sporting events) in order to diminish any disruption to local life. However, the U.S. authorities were also responsible for occasional organised events that brought a taste of entertainment and luxury to the local residents, the like of which they had never before known. It is evident that there are as many different interpretations of events as there were individuals affected by them. This dissertation attempts to provide an overview of some of the more prominent details of the common experience, not only for the military visitors, but also for their local hosts.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

PhD

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

De Montfort University

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Abbott, Alison

Licence

• https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/4e9a5b90-711e-49f7-96fd-5be23994d0fd/download