FASCINATING photographs have emerged of American soldiers stationed at Charmouth during the Second World War.
Charmouth Local History Society has received photographs of American servicemen who were in the village in 1944 prior to D-Day.
They were part of the USA's 1st Infantry Division, more commonly known as the 'Big Red One', a unit destined for the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.
The troops were billeted at Springfield House on Axminster Road, which was run as a guest house by George and Mabel Webster during the war.
Helen Parker, chairwoman of the Charmouth Local History Society, said two separate families - one from the USA, and one from the UK - contacted her to offer information and images from the time period.
One was the family of Mr and Mrs Webster and had many photographs of the servicemen from when they were stationed at Springfield House.
The second family, calling from the USA, were calling about Sergeant Roy S. Rhodes, who led the unit of troops which were billeted at the guest house.
Whilst in Charmouth, Sgt Rhodes met and married Charlotte Goodfellow, who was local to Charmouth. Following the war he went back to the USA. His wife later moved over to live with him.
The society also received three letters written by Private William H. Wood, who was also stationed in Charmouth. They were written to a woman called Maisie Winner who lived in the village.
Private Wood died of wounds of the first day of the landings at Utah Beach. The last letter was dated just weeks prior to the landings.
Helen Parker said: “This is a most unique set of photographs from two totally separate sources who had contacted Charmouth Local History Society about their family links to the village amazingly at the same time. One was from England and one from the United States. It shows the importance of the archive and the relevance it holds for the village and for people today.
"It's opened up a whole new can of worms - we knew Canadians were here and some other Commonwealth units but now we have photographs of a very specific group of Americans spending time here."
Several properties in Charmouth billeted American soldiers during the war, including the George, Coach and Horses, the Elms, Bow House, the Haven and Springfield House. The field kitchen was next to the Village Hall.
The Big Red One was present for the first wave of landings on Omaha Beach. The battalion led the assault forces, with the aim of breaching gaps in the extensive enemy mine and wire obstacles and clearing the combat trails leading off the beaches. Very little went to plan and the casualty rate was very high.
If anyone has any further information on these pictures, the Charmouth Local History Society encourages people to get in touch with them at www.charmouthlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/
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