VIRTUALLY all of the photographs and movies showing the American and Canadian D-Day beaches (Omaha, Utah and Juno) were taken by journalists who were billeted in Clevedon for several months prior to June 6, 1944. Their story is a fascinating one.
In December 1943 a U.S Army jeep appeared on the Six Ways interchange in the town. The occupant, Major Barney Oldfield, and his driver, Corporal Max Shepherd, were scouting for 'a village site in the West Country' which would take about 700 men.
They encountered a man in a top hat and tails wearing a morning coat – rather formal, thought Oldfield, who nevertheless stopped his vehicle and approached the man in question.
"I told him they were media people, and that they would form the press facilities and support for the American and Canadian field armies when Europe is invaded – no convoys of lorries, just the odd two and half ton truck".
Omaha Beach, one of the key D-Day landing sites. (Image: Phil Curme)
The unit, which arrived in Clevedon following Oldfield's recce, was pretty unique. The Publicity and Psychological Warfare Battalion consisted of a mixed bag of journalists, photographers, PR men, linguists, radio operators and drivers.
Oldfield's conversation with the smartly dressed man on Six Ways brought the required result.
"He faced down each of the streets, punched his clenched fists in the air and lo, the streets were full of ladies – some with babies in prams, a-wheeling kids or scooters. He had a village map of housing available showing the number of rooms in each building suitable for offices and lodgings.
"We were taken to the bar at the Pier Hotel. There were nearly 200 locals down there with great smiles and I was introduced as 'a fine American chap!".
Barney Oldfield's book, Never A Shot In Anger. (Image: Phil Curme)
The unit was in town for almost six months, and by all accounts made quite an impression. Oldfield felt that as a result of the incursion, Clevedon 'became a highly sophisticated – even intellectual – centre'! When the press camps left to join their First and Third Armies on the eve of D-Day Clevedon apparently became 'a ghost town'.
Local resident Val Seeley remembers the American soldiers. "Some of them were billeted in the Walton Park Hotel and they used to walk past our house on Wellington Terrace. We quickly learnt to say; "got any gum, chum?" and they always had sweets for us kids. Lovely guys".
So where did this eclectic mix of characters go when the war moved onto the European continent?
The American unit was in town for almost six months. (Image: Phil Curme)
After landing with the frontline troops on the beaches code named Utah, Omaha and Juno and by parachute at Sainte-Mère-Église, the men of The Publicity and Psychological Warfare Battalion were to serve their cause with distinction throughout the remaining period of the European war. With the invading troops on D-Day, through to the liberation of Paris, onwards into Holland (Oldfield with the Ninth Army) and then reaching Berlin after hostilities had ended - prompting some interesting interactions with the Red Army.
Colonel Barney Oldfield (since promoted) recounted his exploits in his book 'Never A Shot in Anger'. The short stay in Clevedon obviously left a strong impression on him and he spoke of the town in glowing terms.
Colonel Oldfield returned to Clevedon for a visit in 1951. He was working in London on a NATO project and decided to call 'Ma' Coles at the Pier Hotel.
The Bayeux Memorial in northern France. (Image: Phil Curme)
"Ma started to cry and she said over and over - Barney you get on the next train at Paddington Station and come on down here. My son Jack will meet you at Bristol Temple Meads Station. So, I went. Jack met me in a top hat and morning coat and a chauffeured 1926 Rolls Royce. The whole town was there to meet me when I reached Clevedon, and I was showered with 'what happened to' questions."
"Late that evening I stood at the big window with Ma, watching ships outbound from or inbound to Bristol, Cardiff and Newport. Ships always blacked out before, sparkled like a country fair."
Let us also remember the Clevedonians who served in the Normandy campaign, three of whom never returned. Robert Attwell (Royal Navy), Douglas Blake (Dorsetshire Regiment) and Gilbert King (royal Engineers).
By Phil Curme
walkingthebattlefields.com
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