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This story is from Robin George. I remember non-combat corps troops preparing for the US troops to arrive. The Americans came with bulldozers and scrapers, and blew out bits of big trees. Local people could collect the wood, which was very popular! The Americans visited the New Inn (now closed) on the main road. This pub was owned by Harry Wathen, who had to keep separate nights for white and black US troops, because if they all came on the same night they might fight.
Before the camp had water connected, the troops used to go round with a bowser to all the locals. Everybody had a pump, with lovely, ice-cold water, and this would be decanted into the bowser and taken to the camp.
The Americans were very generous with their candy, and they held children's parties at the Morton Camp - it was out of this world! We found it strange to have jam with savoury food. My father was friends with an American who was camp cook, and gave us things from the cookhouse, like canned fruit for Sunday tea - a big treat.
Nearly all the US troops disappeared for the Normandy landings. My father tried to keep in touch with some of them; but, sadly, many had been killed.

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