The 6th June 2014 will mark 70 years since American soldiers left Saltash Passage to take part in the D Day landings. Recently, the council contacted me because they wanted to erect an information board in the area celebrating the event. The board will also feature photos of the troops. Many people will know that I've put quite a few photos of the American soldiers leaving the passage on my Flickr site which can be found at www.flickr.com/derektaitoldphotos so I was happy to help. While searching through photos, I came across the picture, shown here, of St Budeaux historian, Marshall Ware, complete with the route signs used by the US troops in 1944. I first met Marshall by chance in the late 1990s. A half-witted neighbour took pleasure in scratching cars and puncturing tyres (you know who you are) and I heard that Marshall had several garages so I rented one from him. From that moment on, Marshall told me a lot about the area, lent me his books and showed me photos and cuttings that he had collected over the years. He remembered well the American troops being stationed in Saltash Passage and said that they'd used his field at the Kloof to store their vehicles. When they left, the route signs were left in his shed where they lay for another 50 years. I believe that after Marshall was interviewed by the Herald and had his photo taken, the signs were donated to the Royal Albert Inn but it's a mystery where they are today.
Marshall also told me that the troops had used the patch of land on the corner of Saltash Passage , at the bottom of Normandy Hill. The area has now since been built on. There was also a huge oil tank in the old orchard which was adjacent to the horse field at the Kloof. This has long since disappeared and several houses are being built on the spot at the moment.
People who read my blog regularly will know that I've already written about the American troops leaving Saltash Passage so I won't go into the story too much this time.
I've also written before how Marshall had the first car in Saltash Passage and while walking through the Kloof recently, I found an old number plate, 'ARM 963', which appears to have lain there for well over 50 years. Could this be from Marshall's car?
I learned a lot from Marshall over the years and when he died, his wife, Sally, kindly gave me his books, cuttings and photos, some of which appear in these columns and in my own books. In a way, the person who vandalised my car did me a great favour although I'm sure that wasn't the intention.
Anyway, on the 70th anniversary, I'll not only be thinking of the American soldiers, many who fought and lost their lives, but also of Marshall Ware who meant so much to the area.
