A local historian will be giving a talk on the arrival of American troops in Lyme Regis more than 80 years ago.
In aid of the Friends of the Lyme Regis Museum, Ken Gollop will be presenting a talk entitled “When the Yanks came to Lyme” discussing how US troops were secretly stationed throughout the South West in preparation for the D-Day landings in Normandy.
The talk will be held at Woodmead Halls in Lyme on Sunday, March 3 at 2.30pm, to tie in with the 80th anniversary since American soldiers arrived in the West Dorset town, ahead of Operation Overlord.
On May 17, 1943, the 16th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army arrived in Lyme Regis with a battalion strength of about 1,000 men – Lyme’s population was only 3,000 at the time.
During their time in the town, the soldiers trained in the local countryside and took part in in seaborne invasion exercises at Slapton Sands and in North Devon. They left for D-Day on May 17, 1944, and their billets were taken over by other units of the US Army.
David Cox, Chairman of The Friends of Lyme Regis Philipot Museum, said: “This is a very special occasion for two reasons. Firstly, Ken Gollop has come out of retirement yet again to give another local talk and secondly because it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the arrival of American troops in Lyme Regis.
"Come along to enjoy photos from the museum archive and this wonderful first hand record from Ken’s childhood memories.”
Tickets for the event are £4 per person with card payments also accepted on the day.
More information about the event is available on the Lyme Regis Museum website: https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/
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