CHAPTER 6.
A PEACEFUL “INVASION”

Ulster in wartime was often described as the British bridgehead in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Western Approaches but to the vast American Forces who landed in Northern Ireland and were trained here it was the stepping stone to the battlefields of Western Europe. In theory the area was a halfway house from the initial training ground of the Middle West and other parts of the American continent to the North Africa landings and the Normandy beaches.

In this American “invasion” the Northern Ireland Region had a unique experience in that it was the first of the thirteen regions of the Ministry to welcome the United States forces when they entered the war. But long before American service uniforms were seen in the streets of Belfast and in towns and villages all over the scattered province, the American tongue was heard in Londonderry, where United States technicians and naval engineers were hard at work constructing the ten million dollar naval base in Lough Foyle.

Ulster and America have a great deal in common and the early history of the New World is closely linked with that of Northern Ireland. Fourteen Presidents of the United States were of Ulster descent, so there was small wonder that these young and eager soldiers from America should find it easy to mingle with the good- natured and hospitable people of Northern Ireland. Many times in speeches the Ulster Prime Minister described the American invasion as a phase in which the Americans came back to the land they left many years ago. It is generally admitted, and particularly by the United States armed forces themselves, that the Americans liked no place better than Ulster in the United Kingdom, and their subsequent oft-expressed desire to return here on leave from the battlefields of Europe or even from new stations in England proved that their stay here had encouraged them to regard this as their “second home”. This only came about because of the sincere desire of the Ulster people to make the Americans welcome and in doing so the people in the scattered villages had perhaps an advantage over their city friends in that their larders were never quite so bare.

There were many varied estimates of the number of United States forces who passed through Northern Ireland and one of these estimates placed the number at 300,000. At this stage in the narrative I think a short extract from a U.S. Army official note on the American troops in Ulster will give a better idea of the extent of the “occupation”. Writing at the time the United States forces officially said farewell to Northern Ireland a U.S. Army Staff Correspondent said:-

“The turn-back of the last U.S. Army installations in Northern Ireland brings to a close a key phase of U.S. military operations in Europe. On January 24, 1942, USANIF - United States Army North Ireland Forces - built around the 34th Infantry Division and the First Armoured Division, was activated on paper, and two days later the first contingent of U.S. troops arrived in Ulster. Major General Russell P. Hartle, Commanding the 34th Infantry Division, became the first Commander of USANIF and Headquarters were set up on January 28, 1942, on an estate seven miles southwest of Belfast.

“With the first troops to arrive was the 10th United States Army Station Hospital, followed a month later by the Fifth General Hospital, first U.S. Hospital to land in Europe in World War 1. Other Hospitals to land in Northern Ireland in 1942 included the 6th, 7th, 9th and 12th Field Hospitals; the 28th, 36th, 68th and 317th Station Hospitals, and the 2nd and 79th General Hospitals.

“When the second large contingent of U.S. troops arrived on March 2, 1942, USANIF had already mushroomed into a full-fledged operating base. Nissen huts awaited the incoming troops, and 242 other necessary installations were in the process of being completed.

“As more troops continued to arrive USANIF was sub-divided into a combat force and a base supply and installation Headquarters. On June 1, 1942, NIBC - Northern Ireland Base Command was activated under Command of Brigadier General Leroy P. Collins to handle all problems of supply and installation.

“During the spring and summer of 1942 American combat troops were kept in fighting trim by participating in manoeuvres with British troops.

“It was also in the summer of 1942 that Langford was activated as a receiving point for Flying Fortresses, Liberators and P-38 Lightnings arriving from the United States. The operations subsequently carried on at Langford included reassembly and modification of aircraft, super charger and propeller repair, miscellaneous forward echelon aircraft repair and experimental modification and testing.

“In the fall of 1942 the 34th Infantry and First Armoured Divisions embarked from Northern Ireland to participate in the invasion of North Africa, and on December 9, 1942, USANIF became the North Ireland District, Western Base Section.

“As the build-up for the invasion of Western Europe got under way more and more troops arrived from the United States, and on October 2, 1943, Northern Ireland District, Western Base Section, became North Ireland Base Section. During the build-up period prior to D-Day more than 90,000 troops were billeted in Northern Ireland.

“The invasion of Normandy emptied the base of combat troops, and a few days after D-Day, on June 15, 1944, NIBS once more became North Ireland Base Section, Western Base Section.”

With such vast forces stationed in Ulster from time to time it is quite obvious that they were not confined to any particular part of the Region. In fact there were few U.S. Army personnel in the great city of Belfast, but in all the less frequented parts of Ulster United States Army establishments and giant air bases sprang up to make new “American cities” in the midst of green fields and pleasant farm lands. Off-duty entertainment of the troops was in a large measure supplied on their stations. People lucky enough to visit the U.S. air bases and army establishments in Ulster were amazed with the ingenuity with which a simple Nissen hut was transformed into a “wonder theatre” complete with a beautifully decorated foyer and lighting from gaily decorated former canisters.

There were, of course, thousands of Servicemen whose one desire was to see around and Belfast as the largest city was the magnet which drew these men from the furthest corners of Northern Ireland. On a “forty-eight” an American soldier would make a hundred mile journey to Belfast. This is where the vast hospitality organisation of the American Red Cross Service Club, supported by the Ministry's many voluntary Hospitality Committees throughout the Region, could play a hand in easing the lot of the Serviceman thousands of miles away from home. We had in Northern Ireland the first American Red Cross Service Club, which was housed in the once famous Plaza ball- room building in Belfast. This building was partly destroyed by fire before the Americans arrived, but it was taken over for the American Red Cross and renovated into a perfect club which won the admiration, not only of thousands of Servicemen, but of high ranking U.S. Army officers, including the Supreme Commander, who always made a point of visiting the Club. There was also an American Red Cross Club in Londonderry, where large numbers of American sailors from 243 the joint Anglo-American U.S. Base in Derry were constant visitors. There was also at Londonderry the U.S. Marine Corps’ Base and in the height of the Battle of the Atlantic the Londonderry Club, which was smaller than the Belfast Club, was just as busy. The third Club in this Region was at Bangor. This was introduced much later in the war.

The “invasion” of Ulster was not by G.I.s and their officers alone. The presence of the U.S. forces brought to Northern Ireland at different periods in the war famous American statesmen and generals and one other very popular visitor who made a lightning tour of American camps - Mrs. Roosevelt. Among the Americans who visited the Region to see their fellow countrymen in training were General George Marshall, General Eisenhower, who did a secret tour shortly before D-Day, Mr. Harry Hopkins, the Lend-Lease Administrator, Mr. Averill Harriman, President Roosevelt's personal envoy to Britain, and the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Winant. At one time General Marshall, Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Harriman were in Ulster at the same time and together visited regiments in training and saw U.S. artillery men under instruction in the handling of 25 pounder guns in the Sperrin Mountains.

At Bellarena in County Londonderry, then a camp on the secret list, the Chief of Staff took the salute at a parade of two infantry regiments and an artillery regiment. Accompanying him were the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and Lieut. General H.E. Franklyn, G.O.C. British Troops in Northern Ireland. The first Commander of the U.S. troops here, General Hartle, was also present. At the parade there were two full bands and the infantry marched past in “columns of companies in mass”. Before the parade dispersed General Marshall complimented the officers on their efficient turnout and the state of discipline displayed in their training. He also referred to the cordial and complimentary references to the conduct of the command and to the good relations with the civil population. There was a brief tour in connection with the visit of the Chief of Staff. One day on a mountain range he and his party watched an artillery battery in action with live 25 pounder shells. He stood with war correspondents and officers behind the lip of a mountain with live shells screaming overhead to targets down the valley. I remember arranging interviews for the Press and after one of them Mr. Hopkins expressed to me the view that even then there was no supply problem and that the war was largely a war of transportation. He said that the war would be won by getting the required amount of men and material to the right place at the right time, and ships and other forms of transport were the only means of achieving this end.

Mrs. Roosevelt's tour was a lightning affair and her arrival in Ulster would have been the subject of great newspaper headlines had a veil of secrecy not enshrouded the arrival. Mrs. Roosevelt flew in General Spaatz’ plane and in a thick fog the pilot brought the plane over what is known as the Black Mountain to Langford. The plane appeared out of the mist dead on time, to the amazement of the waiting crowds of Service chiefs and Government officials. The weather really was bad and a large party of Pressmen in a following bomber plane had to be diverted and landed at Ballyhalbert in County Down. But a small plane later got through to Langford with four Pressmen in it. Imagine the difficulties of the Ministry's conducting officer who had the responsibility of keeping up with Mrs. Roosevelt with his motor transport, which was all at Langford waiting for the Press that never came. There was a humorous side to Mrs. Roosevelt's lightning visit. The American first lady went to Government House for lunch and then to Belfast to a general hospital. I think 1½ hours was allowed between her arrival at Langford and her visit to the hospital, which was to be followed by a visit to the American Red Cross Service Club in Belfast, then a dash back to the air base and a flight to Londonderry. Mrs. Roosevelt was on time but the Press never caught up with her on the first day. When they arrived at the hospital Mrs. Roosevelt was on the point of leaving, and there was a good lunch laid on for the Press. 244 After lunch the Press raced to the American Red Cross Club to see Mrs. Roosevelt leaving again. They eventually caught up with Mrs. Roosevelt at Breakfast the following morning after spending the night at the U.S. Marine Corps camp at Springtown, Londonderry. Commander Vining from the U.S. Embassy did a grand job on the facilities side of this visit. At breakfast the Press photographers took pictures and following the meal Mrs. Roosevelt appeared in the grounds and stood for about half-an-hour while representatives of different Services, British and American, were photographed with her. She was the only person who remained on every photograph and the Press photographers must have taken at least fifty, all of which would find a clamouring public in the home town newspapers back in the States. This was typical of Mrs. Roosevelt's charm and she impressed everybody with her friendliness and obvious deep interest in the seemingly little problems of men separated from their families by the Atlantic and hundreds of miles of land.

All the important American visitors were very “easy to get on with” and they were all impressed by the friendliness of the Ulster people to the American sailors and soldiers. I think that they, like the American troops, went away as friends of Ulster and therefore as unofficial ambassadors in the sphere of international relations. Their attitude made the pleasant task of the Ministry of Information easier and gave encouragement to our efforts to make Ulster as homelike as possible to the representatives of a great fighting ally.

The Americans arrived on January 26th, 1942, and a year later in Belfast a token stone to mark the first anniversary was unveiled. This stone stands immediately in front of the City Hall, Belfast facing along Belfast's main thoroughfare. The ceremony of unveiling was attended by Sir James Grigg, then Secretary of State for War, and at the ceremony messages were read from President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill. General Hartle spoke for all the American forces when he said: -

“From a personal point of view, and likewise from that of the troops who accompanied me and those who followed them to Northern Ireland, I wish to reiterate my sincere thanks and lasting gratitude to the Government and citizens of this hospitable country for their productive efforts to make us welcome and comfortable. We thoroughly appreciate your many kindnesses and the facilities you have put at our disposal. I, in leaving, leave with a heavy heart.”

When the Americans arrived in 1942 they were welcomed on behalf of the British Government by the then Secretary of State for Air, Air Archibald Sinclair, and by the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, then Mr. J.M. Andrews. Their arrival was kept a close secret and, as there was a little enemy air activity over Ulster at that time, the authorities were prepared for German air activity on the date of the arrival. It was assumed that the large convoy had been sighted on its journey across the Atlantic. Three hours after the arrival of the first American ships there was an “alert” in Belfast but no bombs were dropped.

Subsequently as large contingents of Americans arrived the Ministry issued each soldier with a Welcome News Sheet. In Britain these News Sheets had a front page photograph of the Prime Minister with his message. The Ulster one was adapted and carried a message from the Northern Ireland Prime Minister and inside on Page 2 was a map giving the important cities in the United Kingdom. Up-to-date news was printed in the News Sheets. For security reasons they were not printed in Belfast as the ordering of the sheets would have given advance information of the number of United States troops and the date on which they would arrive. The Northern Ireland editions were printed in Glasgow, shipped to Belfast under seal and 245 distributed on trains. Many thousands of these were issued during the war and they were greatly appreciated by the Americans.

The United States Forces officially said farewell to Northern Ireland at a ceremony at the American Red Cross Service Club on August 6th, 1945. Four U.S. Generals and five Northern Ireland Cabinet Ministers attended the ceremony, which was organised by Mrs. Marcia Mackie, Hon. Director of the Club. Lieut. General John C.H Lee sent a message to the ceremony, in which he said:- “The ties that have bound us through the centuries have been strengthened through our living together, training together, and fighting on to victory in a common cause.... Typical of the fine British partnership has been the initial reception and unfailing understanding of the people and Government of Northern Ireland. May this great partnership ever endure.......”