Preparing for the Invasion: The 2nd Infantry Division in Northern Ireland and Wales 1943–1944

After crossing the Atlantic in convoy, the men of the 2nd Infantry Division reached the Irish Sea off Belfast on October 17, 1943, beginning their six-month stay in Northern Ireland. From the port, the Division’s units moved by rail into County Armagh and County Down, where they would spend the following months preparing for the invasion of Europe. Division Headquarters was established in Armagh, while the soldiers were quartered in a variety of places, including Nissen huts, factories, manor houses, and castles. The 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, for example, was stationed at Gosford Castle near Markethill. Officers used the castle itself, while most enlisted men lived in Nissen huts scattered around the grounds.

The Irish weather soon became part of everyday life. Rain, mist, fog, and mud were constant companions. At Gosford, the artillerymen later recalled that the asphalt yard used for gun drill was never completely dry between October and April. Despite the weather and limited training space, the Division’s program was intensive. Large-scale maneuvers were difficult in the densely populated and cultivated countryside, so much of the emphasis was placed on small-unit and individual training. Selected men attended an intensive Special Ranger Training Course, where they practiced night patrols, map reading, terrain appreciation, camouflage, hand-to-hand combat, bayonet and grenade fighting, and the use of explosives. The course built on similar training first conducted at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, in 1943. Artillerymen worked on map reading and terrain identification, while engineers trained in bridge construction, river crossings, mine laying and removal, and clearing roadblocks. Much of this preparation would later prove valuable in Normandy.

When they were off duty, the soldiers became familiar with everyday life in the local communities. They quickly became familiar with Northern Irish life, from railway carriages and unfamiliar expressions to local pubs, tea, and traditional dances. Passes allowed them to visit Belfast and nearby towns and villages, while many were welcomed into local homes. Dances were particularly popular. The Americans taught the jitterbug, while joining in Irish country dances themselves. There were also sporting events, card games, darts, movies, Red Cross and USO entertainment, and excursions into the countryside. Some soldiers bought bicycles to get around, while others spent their free evenings in local pubs or fish-and-chip shops. Friendships developed between soldiers and local residents, and many romances began during these months. Many Northern Irish families welcomed American servicemen into their homes, and some of the friendships formed during this period lasted long after the war.

As spring approached, the pace of preparation increased and more emphasis was placed on night operations. On April 1, the entire Division assembled on the Mall in Armagh for an inspection and address by General George S. Patton. It was an occasion that neither the soldiers present nor many of the local people who gathered to watch were likely to forget. Patton’s speech was famously hard-edged and filled with profanity, with the General making little effort to spare the enemy in the language he used. Some residents listened from nearby buildings, while the troops heard the kind of speech that would become part of Patton’s reputation. Two weeks later, the Division began leaving Northern Ireland. The men traveled by rail to Belfast and crossed the Irish Sea to South Wales.

The weeks in Wales were different. The focus now shifted increasingly toward the coming invasion. At Bridgend, the 12th Field Artillery Battalion waterproofed its vehicles and guns, prepared camouflage, checked equipment, and calibrated its howitzers. Staff officers studied maps, aerial photographs, intelligence reports, and the German defenses. Some men finally learned the secret they had been waiting for: the invasion would take place in Normandy. Security was strict. Sensitive maps and documents were kept under armed guard, and only those whose duties required it were allowed access to the details of the operation.

At St. Donats Castle, the final preparations continued. Equipment was checked and waterproofed, maps and plans were reviewed, and anti-aircraft machine guns were positioned around the castle and along the nearby cliffs. Eventually the area was closed and the men were no longer permitted to come and go freely. They spent the remaining days writing letters, playing softball and volleyball, and waiting. The 2nd Infantry Division had been assigned to V Corps alongside the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions. After months in Northern Ireland and several weeks in Wales, the soldiers were fully equipped and ready to move. Normandy was next.