The Allies Strike Back, 1941-1943 by James Holland

Author:James Holland [Holland, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780802190147
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Published: 2017-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 29

The Vicious Circle

BRITAIN AND THE United States may not have been formal allies but General Eisenhower, now promoted from Deputy Commander to Allied Commander-in-Chief for Operation TORCH, had made it a central tenet that unity between the two nations was of paramount importance. Time and again he reiterated to his staff the need to work together. There would be testing moments, undoubtedly, but whatever the problems, he told his subordinates, they had to be overcome, and especially at the start of this joint venture; it was essential, Eisenhower correctly believed, to get the foundations right and parameters established from the outset. When Major-General Mark Clark, also promoted and now overseeing the planning for TORCH, mentioned the difficulties of getting American and British personnel on his planning team to gel, Ike told him to make changes until the right personalities were found.

Eisenhower also recognized that British public perception of both him and all Americans was very important, and even sought the advice of an American academic at Oxford University. ‘The relations between the American Army and the English people is a problem of outstanding importance,’ Professor Arthur Goodhart told him, ‘because it will affect not only the immediate conduct of the war but also Anglo-American co-operation in the future.’ It was imperative, he told Ike, that US troops should be happy in Britain and that British people liked them.

A booklet was written and issued to every US serviceman arriving in the UK. A Short Guide to Great Britain was full of explanations of British currency and practical advice about how to come to terms with this strange – and tiny – country and its even stranger people. ‘Britain may look a little shop-worn and grimy to you,’ it wrote. ‘The British people are anxious to have you know that you are not seeing their country at its best.’ It might look like it needed a lick of paint, the guide continued, but this was because the paint factories were making aircraft instead. There was also a list of important dos and don’ts. They were not to rub it in that they were better paid than British servicemen: ‘Play fair with him. He can be a pal in need.’ It was also important not to ‘swank’, as the British called it. ‘Don’t try to tell the British that America won the last war,’ it advised, ‘or make wisecracks about the war debts or about British defeats in war.’ And most importantly, ‘NEVER criticize the King or Queen.’

As it happened, American troops were proving rather popular in Britain. Most were well-mannered and friendly. Henry Bowles, now training in Britain with the US 1st Division, certainly tried to behave in such a way. ‘And we were there for a purpose,’ his brother, Tom, pointed out. They were generous, too, with their cigarettes and chocolate. ‘Oh yes,’ added Henry, ‘you could go and get cigarettes and different kinds of candy bars’ – which were scarcer in Britain.

It was higher up the chain where potential tensions were more likely to express themselves.

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