U.S. Poster commemorating Pearl Harbour.

Click to hear the song "Over There" (1917) by George M. Cohan. (510kb .au)

Dousing the flames on the battleship USS West Virginia during the Pearl Harbour attack.

American warplanes.

American soldier guards a lonely post.

Japan attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7th 1941 and America immediately entered the war.

Soon the first American troops (black and white Americans) arrived in Bristol and were stationed in a large tented camp adjacent to the Patchway bypass, about two and a half miles from our house. This was the first time we had ever seen such large numbers of black men, and we were not fully aware that they were segregated in the camp.

We used to cycle to the camp and hang around the entrance watching the lorries entering with supplies. Jeeps seemed to be buzzing in and out all the time, and drivers and passengers (who always seemed a happy-go-lucky lot) would throw us the occasional packet of chewing gum - a real treat for us.

Jeeps tearing around Filton soon became a familiar sight, and we used to sit in them when they were parked outside the pubs. My father, who was working permanently on the night shift at Rolls Royce and had a part-time job delivering bread in the morning, also had a part-time job during weekends as a barman in the local pub.

He told of the early days, of the Americans first visit to the pub. They had pockets full of English money, but no idea whatsoever of the value, and after ordering a drink (usually whiskey - they detested English beer) they would hold out both hands full of notes and coins for the barman to take the cost of the round. It goes without saying all the barmen were scrupulously honest!!

The Americans, having quite a smart uniform - much better than the English "Tommy" -and plenty of money, quickly attracted the local girls. It soon got around that as well as money, they seemed able to get unlimited supplies of nylon stockings (a real luxury for girls in wartime) and stacks of chocolate. It's no exaggeration to say that some of the girls were "queuing up", much to the annoyance of local boys and service men home on leave.

The Americans, now known as "G.I.'S" fitted in well with the local community, attending dances, etc as well as getting involved in the odd Saturday night "punch-up".

On one occasion a travelling fair arrived on the local common for a few days, which was an immediate attraction for us boys, and for the Americans with their English girlfriends.

One particular ride, which was a very fast roundabout type, together with a switch-back up and down action proved very popular with the G.I.'s who, unlike the English lads, could afford to stay on for as many rides as they wanted. This ride was of great interest to us lads as spectators. Due to the speed of the ride, and with a light breeze blowing, as the two-seater cars came spinning around holding a G.I. with his arm firmly around his girl, we were treated to some exciting sights. At a particular point on the ride the girls' skirts would blow up in their face exposing legs clad in nylon stockings held up with suspenders. We didn't know if they were showing off the nylons, their legs or both but we were rooted to the spot as they flashed by laughing and screaming - I can still see those girls now!! As a group of l4 and  l5 year old boys standing and staring  we were slowly beginning to realize that girls are different to boys - such innocent days!!!!

The British servicemen on leave didn't stand a chance against the G.I.'s  - they had the uniform, the money, the nylons the chocolate AND the girls. The Americans were paid around forty pounds a month while our men only got a few shillings. Towards the end of the war, before D-day there were approximately two million Americans based in Britain.

At the end of the war some of the Americans returned to Filton and married their English girlfriends, taking them back to the States. These girls were then known as G.I. brides.

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