A WRITER with links to Launceston is researching the outcome of an incident that occurred in the town in 1943.

Kate Werran has been fascinated with the story of a ‘shoot out’ between American GI soldiers in Launceston Town Square since she was eight years old.

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 the living quarters.

One Saturday night, September 25, 1943, a shoot out occurred between the black and white soldiers. As a result the men involved were charged with mutiny, but it is unknown what became of those men.

Kate explained: “At that time the ‘Jim Crow laws’ were in place in America, which was segregation in all but the name.

“When the American soldiers came over they were really expecting the British to treat the black soldiers the same way they would back home. The Americans were horrified when the British began treating them as equals.

“However, one day five black GI’s 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.

“They later had to have a court marshal because they had a number of civilian witnesses. All 14 men involved were found guilty but no one seems to know what happened to them afterwards. Censorship back in the day wouldn’t have allowed details like that to be published but in those days you were hung for crimes like mutiny though.”

Kate explained why she was so interested in this story: “My dad is a Cornishman, he and my mum live on Dunheved Road. Dad’s father worked in the war office, so my father spent most of the war up in London. When he was eight they came down to Launceston — this was around the time the incident happened.

“It really became the talk of the town, everyone knew about it and it was gossiped about a lot.”

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.

Kate said: “We moved around the country a lot but when I was eight we went back to Launceston on holiday and visited the White Hart Hotel in Launceston. It was then that my Dad told me the story and I felt the bullet hole in the [Lloyds bank] wall.”

Kate said the story ‘captured a generation of boys living in Launceston’ and it also captured her imagination too. She said: “Several years ago I applied for freedom of information so I could read through the court marshal document — it really was a fantastic read. But then after one thing and another I had a child and the report got ‘filed’ under my bed where it stayed for several years.

“Recently however, now that my child is at school, I started looking into it again and wanted to find out more stories from people who might have been there at the time.”

Kate said she is hoping to get some 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 passed away.

Kate said: “Joan Rendell was actually a witness. She told me she had been on her way to meet her father off the train and was in the market square when the shoot out started — she has given me a very vivid account.”

She added: “I want to get more accounts like this. I am also reaching out across the Atlantic to people in America with the hopes of getting stories from them.”

Kate says she has high hopes for the information she is collecting: “I am a TV producer by trade and think this could one day potentially be made into a really nice radio documentary and then later into a book.

“I am a long way off that yet as I still need to collect more stories but I am speaking with a radio producer and a publishing friend and really hope this can go somewhere.”

If any readers can share their memories of this event contact the Post on 01566 778214 or email [email protected]