D-Day

Towards the end of the war, Broadmayne was 'invaded' by some 1200 American Troops awaiting embarkation from Weymouth for the D-day invasion of Normandy. In ‘Frontline Dorset – A County at War – 1939 – 45’ (George Forty), details are given of the 1st (U.S.) Infantry Division Location Statement in Dorset. The Divisional strength as at 5th June, 1944 (the day before the sea and air armada and the Normany Landings), was shown as 34,142 men and 3,306 vehicles. There were three Infantry Regiments (16/18 and 26) within the Division. The 2nd Battalion and Canon Company forming part of 18 Infantry Regiment was located at Broadmayne and West Knighton.

The Old Barn on Main Street, now converted to a private dwelling with ‘bed and breakfast’ facilities, was used by the Americans as a vehicle repair workshop for jeeps and other military vehicles, in the run-up to D-day. About a week before D-day, the village suddenly became quiet. All personnel were confined to barracks. It was a case of the lull before the storm. Then, quite suddenly, the tanks and armoured vehicles began to thunder through the village all through the night and the next day. The Americans threw money and sweets to the children. It was the prelude to the sea and air armada and the Normandy Landings on 6th June, 1944, D-day. On the long climb up Chalky Road to the ridgeway, a bend to the left and another to the right, have triangles of scrub left at their elbows, where sharper bends were cut off to ease the D-day traffic to the coast.

The Great War (1914 - 1918)
Second World War (1939-1945)
RAF Warmwell