2024 is the centenary of Devoran Village Hall (April 1924) and also the 80th anniversary of D-Day 6 June 1944.
The number of veterans from D-Day is steadily and inevitably dwindling.
Like many areas of the south coast, Devoran and nearby villages had many American troops or GIs (both black and white) stationed or camped nearby. Many visited village hall dances, some were welcomed into people’s homes as guests far from home and there was even the odd romance with local girls.
Americans had access to foods that were then scarcities in rationed Britain. Without letting slip why, some of this lavish food was shared with the welcoming local population in May 1944 …
A farewell party was held in Devoran Village Hall in May 1944 as a thank you for the hospitality the men had received in the area.
Jean Nunn remembers the “wonderful food” and the room beautifully decorated with flowers from the gardens of Tregye and Killiganoon, where medical units had been stationed.
Black GI troops were also stationed at Tullimaar and Perranarworthal.
Quote / memory and information from Viv Acton and Derek Carter, Operation Cornwall (1994). There are several more recent slim paperback volumes about Cornwall or Falmouth and D-Day available from local bookshops. Maps show where some of these camps were such as Tregye.
In the recent 2023/24 A30 road dualling, a D-Day era US Army repair camp and its rubbish pits was unearthed near Chybucca, the other side of Truro.
Trebah Gardens (with its embarkation ‘hard’ concrete matting on the beach) has a small memorial to these many brave young Americans and to the British airborne forces.
Blog post by Mark Norris as part of DVH100 Devoran Village Hall centenary, 19 April 2024.
Devoran War Memorial Cornwall 