There are a great number of historical studies that focus on American troops in Great Britain during World War II. Many concentrate on the social impact this sudden influx had on the resident population. Sadly, there is barely anything on the more specific issue of how the British reacted to black soldiers in WWII. This is an altogether more complex issue, and one American writers seem reluctant to investigate in any detail. As it is a tale of tolerance and mutual respect, now more than ever, it deserves a wider audience.

American GIs first entered Britain in early 1942. It was a profound culture shock for both nationalities. Initially, there was universal delight at the arrival of such a forceful ally. However, this rapidly deteriorated into a sullen resentment. Before long friction between soldiers and the noncombatant population surfaced.

The British had been at war for over two years and were well used to going without and making due. When the Americans showed up, their stomachs were full, and so were their pockets. The standard joke of the time that American GIs were “overpaid, oversexed and over here” hid within it as much irritation as it did humour. British males, in particular, treated GIs with antipathy or outright resentment. Many considered the “Yanks “had entered the war “late again” and were jealous of their attraction to a war-weary female populace.

A Short Guide to Great Britain

In contrast, black GIs received a much warmer reception. When they walked off the gangplank of their troopship onto a cold British dockside, they would have been familiar with the 38-page booklet issued to soldiers: ‘A Short Guide to Great Britain’. It advised them not to complain about warm beer or cold potatoes and that the natives might “look dowdy and badly dressed”. What it did not tell them was how their reception would contrast with the way they were treated at home.

“Our most significant enemy was our own troops.”

Black soldiers in WWII were segregated from white comrades. They were regimented together, in so-called “service units. “ Here, they suffered racial abuse at the hands of their own troops. American MPs routinely requested to have them banned from pubs, cinemas and cafes. The American officer corps expected that locals would share their prejudices concerning race and believed, wrongly, that strict segregation was what the English desired. In fact, the opposite was often the case. The author George Orwell noted. “The general consensus of opinion is that the only American soldiers with any manners are the Negroes. “

The British approach to the race issue was handled in a typically backhanded and humorous way. American MPs who toured pubs and clubs suggesting that the owners implement a colour bar in their premises, returned days later to discover the landlord had indeed complied with their request. Most put up a sign stating “Black GIs only served in this pub“!

Black soldiers in WWII were usually billeted in small rural communities. Many villagers had never seen a black person before. Despite this, the young men were repeatedly treated as surrogate sons. Mrs. Godfrey Prior wrote unsolicited to the mother of black GI Wilfred Monk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. “Mrs. Monk, you have a son to treasure and be proud of. We have told him he can look upon our home as his home. We will look upon him now as our own.”

GI Willie Howard of the segregated barrage balloon regiment summarised his time in Britain succinctly. “Our most significant enemy was our own troops.”

Black soldiers in WWII. The battle of Bamber Bridge.

Throughout 1943 and 1944 American troop numbers exploded in the build-up to D day. Inevitably, tension heightened in proportion. The flash point came in June 1943 in the Lancashire village of Bamber Bridge. However, when it arrived, it was not between “Brit” and “Yank” but white and black GI.

Bamber, a small town heavily reliant on the cotton industry, had an extensive history of social radicalism. In 1863, when the Prime minister Lord Palmerston seemed poised to recognise the Confederate Government, villagers organised one of the first-ever petitions to oppose it. In 1943 they stationed here the segregated 1511 Quartermasters Regiment.

One balmy summer evening when MPs attempted to remove black soldiers from the local pub “Ye Olde Hob Inn” a brawl broke out. An off-duty British soldier cried out “why do you want to arrest them? They have done nothing wrong?” In the melee that ensued, the Brits sided with the black soldiers. The situation quickly escalated. Within hours a full-scale riot was on hand. Black soldiers began firing at regular white troops brought in as reinforcements.

The brief but violent gun battle left one dead and seven severely wounded. Twenty black GIs were arrested and at the ensuing closed court-martial were sentenced to up to 15 years each. An outcry from the British, however, embarrassed senior American officers into reducing most of the charges. Remarkably within a year, most were back on active service.

Jim Crow bit by John Bull

It would be ridiculous to claim that every black GI received a hospitable reception in Britain. Moreover, not every white GI condoned the prevailing casual racism. But this brief glimpse of a more tolerant society had a profound effect on many of those young black men who returned to the States. It was a “Spark of light” moment.

Ollie Stewart, a correspondent for the ‘Afro-American’, described the reaction to black soldiers during those days in Britain: “The English people show our lads every possible courtesy and some of them, accustomed to ill will, harsh words, and artificial barriers, seem slightly bewildered. They never had a chance to leave their Southern homes before, and therefore never realised there was a part of the world which was willing to forget a man’s colour and welcome him as a brother.”

Black soldiers in WWII may have been segregated, but by the next war, in Korea, there was integration in most army units. The Battle of Bamber Bridge went some way to implementing this change.

As for the British? Well, they handled it with their customary sense of justice and good humour. No one would tell them who they should talk to. No one would tell them who they should dance with. Most importantly, no one would tell them who to serve in their pubs! As one Britain sarcastically remarked.

“I Don’t mind the Yanks, but I can’t say I care for those white chaps they have brought with them!”

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