Discover Chipping Sodbury's American past at 1940s themed Big Lunch

First major exhibition of US troops stationed in Chipping Sodbury before the D-Day Landings to feature at The Big Lunch

12:10pm Wednesday 14th May 2014 in News By Alexandra Womack

The Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch this year takes on a 1940s theme

THE first major exhibition of an important part of Chipping Sodburys past will be held during a war-themed event next week.

A collection of rare photographs of the American signal company stationed in the town during World War Two will be on view to the public during this years 1940s-themed Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch on Sunday, June 1.

Put together by local historian Jim Elsworth in conjunction with Sodbury and District Historical Society, the exhibit will include 100 pictures taken during the seven months prior to the D-Day Landings of 1944 when 62 US Army soldiers from 165 Signal Photo Company made Chipping Sodbury their home.

The troops became familiar faces to many in the town and organised events including American film screenings and tea parties, the likes of which many residents had never seen before. They also brought Coca Cola, chewing gum and a smooth American drawl previously only heard on the wireless.

Jim, who has collated the exhibition with help from the 165 Signal Companys official archives, said: People who were children at the time will recall the soldiers being here, but did not realise the special role they played on D-Day and the liberation of Europe. All they knew was that got any gum, chum would result in a gift of chewing gum and of course the soldiers organised films, tea parties and other entertainments for children.

Around 100 photos and the associated stories will relate the events from their arrival in Chipping Sodbury, interaction with our town and friendships made, and their operations in Europe.

He added: A major part of the exhibition will tell the amazing story of those 62 men. It is a sobering thought that of the 62 men, seven were killed in action, 14 were wounded to the extent they had to be repatriated and three were taken as Prisoners of War.

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Discover Chipping Sodbury's American past at 1940s themed Big Lunch