As part of our reflection on their time in the county, we will be looking at the lasting impression left by US soldiers.

This year marks 75 years since the American First Infantry Division 16th Infantry Regiment was stationed in West Dorset, with 'The Big Red One' arriving on November, 6 1943.

Thanks to Robin Stapleton and Cheryl Ludgate for providing the historic facts behind the carvings, and to Michael Devlin for sending us in the pictures.

Despite it being more than 70 years since they stationed in the area, the soldiers have made a lasting legacy.

Whilst out walking in the surrounding area of Bridport, taking studies for his new series of landscape paintings, Bridport artist Michael Devlin and his friend, A Beauwood, came across tree carvings and inscriptions made by members of the division's second battalion.

Michael Devlin said: "They must be around 80 years old (we know them to be 74/75 years old), the trees have grown over the years and the carvings and inscriptions have grown in proportion with the trees.

"As an artist myself you could tell that some of the carvings were excellently drawn, and they have grown in proportion with the tree, a sort of organic graffiti."

Michael has said he thinks that the soldiers were out walking one day and must have been homesick.

Amongst the carvings in the trees is one with a United States flag and a one (to signify the US First Infantry Division), a few homesick love hearts to lovers back home, one with a person wearing a sombrero and a tank.

Around 440 or so US soldiers were based in Walditch in the E and G company before setting off on May, 17 to assist with the D-Day landings on June, 6 1944.

Cheryl Ludgate, local history expert, said: "We will never know exactly who carved the shapes (including a Mexican heart, a 48-star US flag, a leg and love hearts), but many of those young men were in the first wave landing on Omaha Beach early on D-Day (June, 6 1944) and approximately half of them were killed, injured or captured. This it is is a permanent and very poignant memorial to them."