By Alice Millard, archivist
October is Black History Month (BHM) across the UK. This year, the theme is ”Honouring Our Communities’. The archive is full of documented communities from across West Sussex, from the Anglo Saxons to the present day. However, archives across the UK have historically neglected collecting documented histories of Black and Asian communities. This is beginning to change. This BHM, we’re highlighting a series of 50 photos taken by George Garland in 1944 of Black American soldiers, who served in Petworth and contributed to Operation Overlord, launching the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe.
In the lead up to Operation Overlord, which commenced on D-Day on the 6 June 1944, thousands of servicemen and servicewomen descended upon the South Downs. The landscape and positioning provided a perfect strategic stage for planning manoeuvres. Journeying from across the country and overseas, regiments and units from allied forces came together from February 1944 to plan the invasion. Camps, billets and headquarters were established across West Sussex, including around Petworth and joining the already established Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. A small town, Petworth eventually hosted around 21 different groups from British, Canadian and US forces across Limbo Farm, Beechfield, Flathurst Stables, and more than three camps sprawled across Petworth Park.
In one of the camps stationed in the Park was the 9th US Air Force. The 9th had served in North Africa and the Mediterranean throughout 1942-1943, and in October 1943 they moved to Britain where their numbers expanded rapidly over the winter. The 9th likely moved into Petworth around the same time as the 27th and 30th Armoured Brigades in February 1944, providing specialist technical support.
Local photographer George Garland documented many events and day-to-day life in Petworth during the Second World War. It has been suggested that Garland branched into photojournalism and War work during this period (Petworth Magazine no.100, June 2000). Here at the Record Office, we hold tens of thousands of his photos in the Garland collection, including hundreds from this period. Included are a series of portraits of servicemen from allied forces including the 9th US Air Force.
Of this series, a significant portion (around 50) are portraits of named Black American servicemen of the 9th, many non-commissioned officers. The US Military was highly segregated prior to and during WW2, and the experience of Black American personnel stationed in Britain has been widely recorded and written about [external link]. Though largely consigned to service and support roles, the contribution of Black Americans was critical to success in France. But their experience of life in Britain could be complicated. Many reported enjoying the relative freedoms of an un-segregated society, despite the fact many military segregation measures had travelled with them. Some also faced occasional racial prejudice from the communities they were stationed in.
Looking at the uniforms of these servicemen can tell us about their roles. The majority of them have an arm patch of the 9th US Air Force, though there are some who wear an unnumbered US Air Force patch. Interestingly, many also have a lapel badge of the US Signal Corps; as the 9th grew rapidly, soldiers from other branches of the US Army were seconded. As D-Day was being planned, specialist knowledge of communications and forecasting was crucial for planning air and sea operations.
Some portraits have been taken in a way that obscures the rank insignia, but many are visible. Amongst the servicemen were 3rd, 4th and 5th grade technicians (two or three chevrons with a ‘T’), staff sergeants, and a technical sergeant. Technicians were not combat trained but possessed a specialist skill. They included radio operators, mechanics, and electricians, but had the authority of a private but with higher pay. Given the complexity of Operation Overlord, it made sense to have as many trades on hand as possible.
Other details include medal ribbons. Many have one for the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign which signifies that they may’ve served with the 9th when stationed in North Africa and the Mediterranean in 1942-1943. Some are also wearing a ribbon for good conduct.
Other interesting items include the military police helmets worn by two portrait sitters. The above is a double portrait of Staff Sergeant Williams, who also wears a whistle on a metal chain.
Despite what I have managed to find out, details about what these American servicemen worked on during their time in Petworth is, at best, difficult to ascertain. Garland recorded their surnames and rank, but little else. Secrecy around the camps would’ve been paramount, and few traces of their activity have been left in our archives aside from what we can infer from their portraits.
If you are reading this and know of anything that may help us understand who these men were, or what work they were undertaking in Petworth, please get in touch. Any details shared will provide us with a fuller picture of their lives, both within and outside of West Sussex.
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