MIKE MACLENING of Speakers Road, Ivybridge, writes:

The recent letter by Kathleen Hill of Plympton regarding the American forces in Totnes also brought back happy memories of their 1943-44 'occupation', being a resident of Dartington at the time.

The first American troops (29th US Infantry Division) began to arrive in Devon during May 1943, staying until November, before moving to Plymouth and Cornwall.

The first Americans to arrive in the village were billeted at Dartington Hall and stayed about six weeks. Shortly after, a black American unit arrived, staying for about three weeks.

At Exeter, the largest store (95 acres) in Britain was established, with 2,352 American personnel.

In January 1944, 4th US Infantry Division arrived in the area, known as the Ivy Boys – their division emblem being four ivy leaves with IV.

Being a pupil at Shinners Bridge Primary School, we watched GI engineers constructing a concrete water tank testing pool on waste ground next to the school. I remember one day after completion, seeing allied commanders Bradley, Eisenhower and Montgomery watching 30 ton Sherman tanks going through the pool.

During break times we would leap over the school wall and chat to the tank crews awaiting their turn, and afterwards many a pupil was chastised for chewing gum in class and had their pockets emptied.

Three hundred men of 1253 US Combat Engineers were billeted at Dartington Hall and practised building Bailey bridges across the river Dart - maybe including the one at Totnes – it was said that several were drowned one night while constructing one further up the river.

At Kingston House, Staverton, a signal depot with 360 men was established.

After my father was invalided out of the army he worked first at the quay ship yard, then at the racecourse building landing craft alongside American troops of the 5th US Engineer Regiment, mostly black GIs, with white officers.

Often, GIs passing vehicles would throw 'K' rations, a sealed ten inch x four inch pack containing chocolate, candy, chewing gum, biscuits, cigarettes (Camel or Lucky Strikes) to the locals.

As youngsters we were never turned away from visiting the camps, whether black or white, they treated us the same.

At meal times they would thrust a mess tin, knife and fork into your hands and we joined them in the 'chow' line for a tasty meal.

They were never short of food supplies shipped over from America. Often we would leave the camp with a tin of fruit for 'yer mom' and cigarettes or cigars for 'yer dad'.

Many of the white GIs had different features - Chinese, Philippine, Mexican, Red Indian.

It was fascinating to chat to them about life in whatever state they came from, their job, ranch cowboy or Indian reservation, and listening to them having a sing-song, 'Roll-me-over' being one of their favourites, accompanied by an accordion, banjo or mouth organ.

During one visit, a GI gave me a US one cent coin that he wore with his identity tags, which started my hobby of collecting coins.

Dances were held where they introduced the locals to jazz, jitterbugging and tunes 'In the Mood', String of Pearls' and 'Tuxedo Junction'. Many females benefitted from a present of nylon stockings and silk undies (step-ins).

In May 1944 troops moved out of regular camps into special marshalling areas, fields along the main roads, known as 'sausages' and coded South Brent, Dartington and Totnes K, East Plymouth, Ivybridge and Kitley L, West Plymouth and Cornwall M.

In Dartingon, troops were at Dartington Hall, the Parsonage and in camps stretched along the Plymouth road from Yarner to Tigley.

Suddenly on June 2/3 the 1st US army was on the move. Some 25,000 troops and 2,750 vehicles of the 4th US Infantry Division moved to Torquay, Brixham and Dartmouth, their embarkation ports for the assault on Utah beach. The Americans had gone, apart from a few left to clear tents, etc.

They may have been 'over here, over paid and over sexed', but to us youngsters, they were 'sure damn good buddies'.