YESTERDAY (Wednesday) marked the 75th anniversary of the ‘shoot out’ between American GI soldiers in Launceston Town Square — and writer Kate Werran, with links to the town, is renewing her search for photographs from the time for her research.

Kate said the story ‘captured a generation of boys living in Launceston’ and it also captured her imagination to.

Kate’s fascination with the story of the shoot out started at the age of eight. She said: “I remember when I was eight going around the town with my father who showed me where the bullets had hit the walls and it really sparked an interest in me.”

The incident left its mark on Launceston, not just in the minds of locals but also left scars where shots missed and ricocheted of buildings.

Marks can still be faintly seen on the outer walls of the White Hart Hotel, Lloyds Bank and Specsavers (formerly Hicks & Son’s premises).

Paul Hicks, of Hicks & Son, said his father always told the story of how they had one of the bullets in the shop front when it was situated in the square.

They got compensation for the broken glass but before they had time to mend it they had ‘a Yank lorry’ go into it.

Mr Hicks said he can’t remember if it was one or two bullets that hit the store but said it ‘left a nice neat hole’.

Through her research, Kate has been able to find out a lot more about what happened that infamous night on Saturday, September 25, 1943, and hopes that by Christmas she will have more to share.

So far she has discovered that during World War Two, American GIs were brought into Launceston and were billeted at Scarne cross No 406 for administrative purposes and Pennygillam No 257 for living quarters.

It is documented that a shoot out occurred between the black and white soldiers. As a result, the men involved were charged with mutiny.

Although the Americans were treated mostly as equals by the British, unlike the segregated treatment they received back home, one day five black GIs were refused entry to a local dance and after uttering something like ‘we’ll get revenge’ they later returned armed with ammunition, rifles and tommy-guns and shot military policemen in the centre of town.

The Americans were later court martialed due to the large number of civilian witnesses. All 14 men involved were found guilty. However, not a lot is known about what happened to the men afterwards as censorship wouldn’t have allowed details to be published.

Kate said she has been lucky to receive a number of first-hand accounts from people who remember the scene.

Kate’s own great uncle was based in Launceston at the time and remembers the events of the day and she has spoken at length with Arthur Wills, Launceston historian, who provided her with details.

Kate was also lucky enough to speak to Joan Rendell, historian and Cornish writer, some ten years ago before she died.

Kate said: “I am, now three quarters of the way through the writing stage — I’ve been able to collect a lot of information, it is great.

“However, I am lacking photographs so if anyone has any from that time it would be great to have some to illustrate what it was like.”

If any of our readers can share their memories of this event or provide some images from the time, contact the Post.