The Experience of Black GIs in Britain During World War 2

After the bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japanese in 1941, the USA joined World War 2 on the side of the Allies.

]In preparation for the invasion of mainland Europe over a million American servicemen and women came to Britain. At this time segregation was still commonplace in the USA something which did not exist in 1940s Britain. As a result of this towns like Kington had to enact segregationist policies including having “Whites Only” pubs. This page and its resources explore the impact that this had on Britain both during the war and afterwards.

LHS A-Level historians interviewed local people and tracked down children born to local mothers with African-American GI fathers. The two military hospitals at Kington Camp and the thousands of US servicemen and women billeted around Kington had a significantly transformative effect on the local people.

POWERPOINT – The Experience of Black GIs in Britain During World War 2