ANGLO-AMEIRICAN RELATIONS IN THE NORTH EAST REGION

The history of the activities of the North East Region in the Anglo-American hospitality field is confined, in the main, to the work at Harrogate for the two large American general hospitals established there for a period of some ten months - from July, 1944, to May, 1945. Small American contingents have been located at Penistone and at Hull, but the numbers there have been so small that no strain was exerted on local amenities, and no special action was required, except to put the troops in touch with local welfare organisations.

The arrival of the hospitals at Harrogate called for immediate action. The hospitals were the 115th and 116th U. S. General Hospitals, under the commands respectively of Lt. Colonel Spearman and Lt. Colonel Hornisher. Together they were equipped to deal with 2,800 patients, many of whom were convalescent, while the staff or personnel numbered between 600-700. In normal times Harrogate would have been an ideal centre for the provision of entertainment and amenities of all kinds, but wartime Harrogate presented a very different picture. Practically every hotel was (and still is!) commandeered by the Government, either for the Services or Government Departments. The population of the place was more than doubled and it was difficult to obtain even a meal in the town. The need for prompt action to cope with this new strain on Harrogate's already over-taxed resources was therefore apparent.

On August 10, 1944, a Conference of official and voluntary organisations was held at the Municipal Offices, Harrogate, by kind permission of the Mayor. The R. I.O. presided and there were present representatives of the British Army, Harrogate Local Authority, the British Council, W.V.S. and the Red Cross, while from the two American Hospitals came the Commanding Officers, the Special Service Officers and representatives of the American Red Cross.

It was agreed that Mr. W. Preston, the Honorary Secretary of Harrogate Local Information Committee, should act as Secretary to the Conference, and be the channel through which requests for help, not obviously the concern of any individual body, should be referred to the appropriate source.

At the invitation of the Chairman, the American visitors made statements of their most pressing needs. It became clear that the American Red Cross representatives were most concerned to obtain material and equipment of all kinds in order to start their work among the patients. Arrangements for hospitality and outings were discussed, while it was also agreed that concert parties, speakers and lecturers should be sent to the hospitals, and that efforts should be made to provide instructors in wood-work, handicrafts, drawing, etc.

The Conference provided an excellent framework for all subsequent activities, but day-to-day arrangements were made through constant visits to the hospitals of members of the staff of the Ministry, Mr. Preston and representatives of the British Council. At the outset, it was apparent that the work of the American Red Cross was completely held up by lack of materials. They had been promised supplies from central sources, but these were very slow in arriving. Appeals were therefore made for pencils, wool, writing paper, Perspex, wood for carving, the loan of tools, glue, paint brushes and a wide variety of materials. The response on the whole was satisfactory - sufficient to tide over the period until the American Red Cross had their own supplies available.

For patients unable to leave their beds, ward shows and entertainments were necessary. These took the form of visits from local entertainers, ward shows by M.O.I. 16 mm. mobile projectors, gramophone recitals, conjuring performances, etc. The need for a small piano that could be moved from ward to ward became apparent, and it was found possible to hire one in Leeds and have it conveyed to the hospitals.

For the convalescents and members of the personnel, tours to places of local interest were a great attraction. The British Council rendered yeoman service by taking parties to local beauty spots and places of historic interest. The M.O.I. made a feature of visits to factories in the Region, 67 2.where the Americans were given a warm reception and substantial hospitality. Organised visits to football matches were extremely popular, and the highlight was a visit to Stockton Races, when some 50 convalescents were entertained by Northern Bookmakers, who provided not only free entrance to the Grandstand, but also dinner for the party on the return journey. Through the W.V.S. and the Red Cross local hospitality was made available, but offers of hospitality for the weekend from the Home Guard in the surrounding districts wore not taken advantage of. Week-end leave was, in the main, available chiefly to the personnel, and when they had such leave they wanted to get further afield; in particular to London or the big towns.

Dances were arranged in considerable number, both in Harrogate and in Leeds, with the object of allowing the Americans to become acquainted with Yorkshire people. The provision of alcoholic refreshment, particularly whiskey, was always a problem, and some central arrangements for the provision of small quantities of whisky would have been advantageous. Later, the hospitals opened their own bars, inside the hospitals, and appeared to be well supplied.

For those who wished to play golf or tennis, to shoot or fish, local offers of hospitality were forthcoming in sufficient number to meet all needs. In the early days there was a shortage of books, and the W.V.S. and the local Library made collections. The Leeds Central Library kindly lent books on specialised subjects for students at the hospitals. Books on local topography and history were in great demand, and there was some difficulty in meeting this.

Visitors to the hospitals were numerous. The Princess Royal visited both hospitals and remained to lunch on August 29, 1944, and subsequently invited the Commanding Officers and chief Nurses to lunch at Harewood House; this visit was a source of great satisfaction to the Americans. The Mayor of Harrogate, the town Clerk and Members of Parliament, and other local notabilities also visited the hospitals and extended invitations to the Americans to visit them in their homes. Visits were also arranged for members of the stage playing in Leeds; notably Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine who went to the hospitals and presented shows on each of their visits to Leeds.

Experience proved that the American Red Cross was the most effective organisation with which to work inside the hospitals. The Special Service Officers, who were responsible for amenities of the personnel of the hospitals, were frequently charged with other tasks and had little time for their public relations work.

On their departure, the Mayor of Harrogate gave a farewell reception party to the Americans, and from what was said on that occasion, and from letters that have subsequently reached Harrogate, it is apparent that the Americans had made many warm friends and received the happiest impression of Yorkshire hospitality.