An American Uprising in Second World War England - Mutiny in the Dutchy

On the evening of Sunday 26th September 1943, the market town of Launceston in Cornwall, England was rocked by the sound of gunfire. The violence that flared was not due to enemy action, but was actually due to an incident between men serving with the US Army. The episode was considered mutinous and soon came to trial, arousing questions over the Anglo-American relations, and drawing attention to the strained relations amongst the men of segregated US Army of the time. For the two groups who came into conflict that night were members of a white US Military Police detachment and men of the black 581st Ordnance Ammunition Company.

For a brief period, national newspapers in both the UK and USA featured headlines on the supposed 'mutiny', much to the displeasure of the US Army, who wanted to downplay the events, and particularly draw attention away from the focus on their segregated Army. Soon the story was inevitably replaced by the news of D Day and the invasion of France, and the incident was forgotten.

Only a few local people in Launceston recalled the events, and the event slipped into obscurity.  
However, Kate Werran grew up with stories of the incident, and was spurred on to find out the truth. She has gone to great lengths to investigate what happened that night, using details from wartime cabinet documents, secret government surveys, opinion polls, diaries, letters and newspapers as well as personal accounts from the few who recall what happened. The three day trial of the fourteen GIs accused of mutiny is described in great detail, including the discrepancies in statements and dubious questioning of witnesses, and this combined provides a fascinating book which sheds new light onto this little known aspect of the Second World War.

While Kate Werran has done a highly commendable job of bringing this story to a wider audience, this was sadly not an isolated incident. Therefore the true extent of conflict within the US Army during the Second World War is a story that still needs to be told.

Thanks to Pen and Sword for the review copy.

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