- Contributed by
- Lancshomeguard
- People in story:
- John and Sarah Stretch and Peter Tickle (Grandson)
- Location of story:
- Cuddington, Cheshire
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A4605699
- Contributed on:
- 29 July 2005
This story has been submitted to the People’s War website by Peter Quinn of the Lancs. ѿý Guard, on behalf of Peter Tickle and has been added to the site with Mr. Tickle’s permission………
In 1944 a large number of American GI’s were billeted near my Grandad Stretch’s farm in Cuddington. Gran Sarah had lots of hens that ran free during the day. Nearby the GIs used a local sand quarry as a firing range.
One time getting bored with stationary targets a group of them saw Gran’s hens from a distance and eagerly had their own private “turkey shoot”.
With nearly 40 casualties on her hands, Gran went berserk, to say the least, and sent Grandad up to the nearby American Transport Base (Delamere Park Camp) to complain.
The C.O. claimed his men were innocent but Grandad produced a few corpses — with neat rifle bullet holes in evidence.
The C.O. came back to the farm to view the scene of the crime and had to admit their guilt. For weeks after a food parcel of chocolate, oranges, gum etc., arrived at the farm to my great delight. The C.O. and Grandad became firm friends from then on.
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