#WW2 The Experience Of Foreign Troops & Civilians In Great Britain During The Second World War

P-51's at Bottisham Airfield, Cambs, found at:http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81299000/jpg/_81299349_bottisham_cambs_then_freeman_collection_duxford.jpg

Living next to any military base in the Second World War had many advantages, especially if you were young. My father often used to tell me he'd scrounge big tins of black treacle from a nearby base to take home for his Mother, this will have been greatly appreciated due to sugar being rationed.
The Americans were generous to the locals, Harry Willoughby in Wing & A Prayer writes that at his base they threw a big party for 150 children. They also held regular dances at many bases which proved popular...

 If you were female and looking for a potential husband then you would be spoilt for choice, Americans were popular due to their higher rate of pay and being available, unlike many British soldiers who were in North Africa. Over 60,000 women would marry U.S servicemen and emigrate during the Second World War
http://www.nww2m.com/2012/01/january-26-1942-american-soldiers-arrive-in-great-britain/

British G.I. Brides & Babies, found at:http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63887000/jpg/_63887709_getty_gibrides_3281302_464.jpg

It was not all a romantic haven in Britain, even after war in Europe had ended. Canadian soldiers rioted in Aldershot, on one occasion causing £15,000 worth of damage http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/canadian-army-aldershot.htm.
African Americans and other servicemen received a mixed response from both civilians and military. West Indian serving in Britain's armed forces also experienced a mixed response, Billy Strachan a native West India, volunteered for the RAF and served as a gunner and pilot in bombers. When the war finished a Padre asked him when he was going home. They often felt appreciated during the war, but the mood changed when hostilities finished, as though their sacrifice had been forgotten and they were not wanted anymore.http://www.blackpresence.co.uk/black-british-soldiers-the-forgotten-fighters/

This is a brilliant propaganda film called West Indies Calling, made in 1944, about West Indian men and women helping the war effort in industry and the armed forces.




For African Americans segregation was still practiced in Britain, which often shocked locals and was even discussed in Parliament. The video below has first hand accounts of U.S troops and civilians.



Polish troops and other foreigners were received warmly when they arrived in Britian, no matter how scruffy their appearance. 8,400 made it to Britain to fly in the R.A.F. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/the-polish-air-force-in-world-war-2.aspx . 3, 300 Czech soldiers made it to Britain to fight alongside other allies in 1940 after France was defeated. http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/czechexiles.aspx, as were 140,000 French soldiers.