Looking Back: How a US division still has its roots in west Dorset

As part of the 75th anniversary of the American First Infantry Division landing in the area, the Bridport and Lyme Regis News has been looking in the story of the soldiers and how they lived their lives whilst they were here.

So far we have seen how the division were taught to act when living in the country, the permanent reminders of their stay, and seen images of their time.

Now we will be looking at how the division still have roots in the county, and speaking to some of the people whose lives were touched by those visiting.

This week we spoke to Josephine Cadwell (nee Uzzo), whose father was a member of the division.

Joseph Uzzo was from Indiana in Pennsylvania, and was a Private in Company H, the 16th Infantry after leaving home for foreign service in July, 1942.

Like with the rest of the division, had already fought several times with the First Infantry, and was part of the campaign in Tunisia in 1943, shortly before the division moved to the county on November, 6 1943.

Whilst stationed, Joseph met Josephine's mother, Edna, after Edna's light on her bike stopped, and Joseph helped her.

The couple married in 1944, before Joseph took part in the D-Day invasion.

Sadly, Joseph was shot in the stomach on leaving the landing craft, and one of his friends waded out and dragged him to the beach, made a hole in the sand and laid him whilst waiting for a medic.

The medic could not reach Joseph in time, with too much sea water getting in the wound, meaning that Josephine never got to meet her father.

Following his death, Edna got in touch with Joseph's family in America, who were originally from Italy.

Joseph's sister Amelia Territo asked Edna to come over to Indiana with baby Josephine.

The pair took the Queen Mary to America, and spent two years in the country, before Edna's mother died and she decided to move back.

Despite that, Josephine still keeps in touch with her family in Indiana.

As a child, Josephine remembers being sent Christmas presents from the family, and said: "They sent over clothes, toys, I received lots of delightful parcels."

Her aunt Amelia is still alive today at the age of 101, and the pair still message each other over Facebook.

After Joseph's death, Edna never remarried, and lived until 2013.

Throughout Josephine's life, Edna never spoke to her about Joseph, and it wasn't until three years ago that she found out more about her father.

Josephine said: "My mum was so private, I never saw this until after her death, and mum never married again."

"I accepted it that she didn't talk to me, she talked to the boys more than me. "It's all new to me, and its like losing two parents instead of one all in one go."

Josephine was given a box about her father, and on going through it, said: "It's strange, and bit strange and makes me feel proud of what he did.

"I don't think people realise, you don't put a personal attachment to war, it's not until you read about it that you realise that person has a home."

On her death, Edna's ashes were split, with half left in Bridport, and the other half taken to be with Joseph in Indiana.