United States Navy Base Two: Americans at Rosneath 1941-45

by Dennis Royal

Book Review by Alistair McIntyre

In writing about the American military presence on the Rosneath Peninsula during World War II, the author Dennis Royal has tapped a rich though surprisingly neglected seam of history.

While it is well known that the Americans stationed in Britain during the War played an important part in the downfall of Nazism, very little has been written about the local situation, this despite the fact that at its peak, the Base housed over 6000 American troops.

American help against Germany was solicited by Britain right from the outset of war, but U.S. neutrality in the conflict until the attack on Pearl harbour in December 1941 meant that initially at least help was limited. Notwithstanding, through the lend-lease agreement, it was decided that a number of advance U.S. bases could be built in Britain. As the top priority, Londonderry was selected as the site of Navy Base One, while Rosneath was designated Navy Base Two.

The first Americans arrived in July 1941, with civilian contractors being employed. However, after the entry of the US into the War after Pearl harbour, overt military control became established. Construction work peaked in Spring 1942, resulting in hundreds of Quonset huts (the American verion of Nissan huts) being erected, the main concentration being at Green Isle, although there were others, as at Portkil, where a field hospital was established. Part of the Base was occupied by the RN as HMS Louisburg, but as preparations for the amphibious landings in North Africa gained pace - the project being codenamed "Operation Torch" - the Base came totally under American control in August 1942.

By early 1943, the Americans had no immediate use for the Base, beyond Submarine Squadron 50 (based at Rosneath from the end of 1942 until June 1943) and the Seabees at Clachan House. Accordingly, much of the site was re-commissioned by the Royal Navy at HMS Rosneath. However, with the frenetic activity leading up to the Normandy landings of 1944, the Base once again reverted to U.S. control. The Americans finally withdrew in June 1945. The site had by then passed back to RN jurisdiction but as time went on, RN control was also relinquished.

Such is the basic plot. Dennis Royal has written a most engaging book, using a style which is lucid and easy to follow. Books of this kind often seem to fall into two camps: they can be shallow and lacking in substance, or they can get bogged down in technical detail. In this case, Dennis Royal has proved himself to be far too skilful and polished to fall into traps like these. Indeed he has most successfully brought the results of documentary and archival research together with the fruits of his efforts in seeking out and talking to people who were there at the time, mostly in anecdotal form.

Another master touch by the author is the keen sense of humour which pervades the book, though in no way does it detract from the theme or content of the book. For example, a document appears in which a man from South Dakota refers to his stay at Rosneath. He describes his homeland as a place where "the men are as hard as nails and the women drive them home".

The book is also remarkable for the extensive collection of photographs, almost all of which have never before appeared locally. In this respect, and in that of the archival research, the author pays generous tribute to the co-operation he received from the American military authorities.

As far as the reviewer is concerned, Dennis Royal has produced a work which is factually extremely accurate, has been written with conviction and a real sense of preserving a slice of local history, and yet can hardly be put down once picked up. The key to the real quality of the book lies in the fact that the human touch is always there. We learn about the Americans as real people, about their generosity, their hopes, their fears, their aspirations. Truly well worth a read.

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	United States Navy Base Two: Americans at Rosneath 1941-45 by Dennis Royal Book Review by Alistair McIntyre In writing about the American military presence on the Rosneath Peninsula during World War II, the author Dennis Royal has tapped a rich though surprisingly neglected seam of history. While it is well known that the Americans stationed in Britain during the War played an important part in the downfall of Nazism, very little has been written about the local situation, this despite the fact that at its peak, the Base housed over 6000 American troops. American help against Germany was solicited by Britain right from the outset of war, but U.S. neutrality in the conflict until the attack on Pearl harbour in December 1941 meant that initially at least help was limited. Notwithstanding, through the lend-lease agreement, it was decided that a number of advance U.S. bases could be built in Britain. As the top priority, Londonderry was selected as the site of Navy Base One, while Rosneath was designated Navy Base Two. The first Americans arrived in July 1941, with civilian contractors being employed. However, after the entry of the US into the War after Pearl harbour, overt military control became established. Construction work peaked in Spring 1942, resulting in hundreds of Quonset huts (the American verion of Nissan huts) being erected, the main concentration being at Green Isle, although there were others, as at Portkil, where a field hospital was established. Part of the Base was occupied by the RN as HMS Louisburg, but as preparations for the amphibious landings in North Africa gained pace - the project being codenamed "Operation Torch" - the Base came totally under American control in August 1942. By early 1943, the Americans had no immediate use for the Base, beyond Submarine Squadron 50 (based at Rosneath from the end of 1942 until June 1943) and the Seabees at Clachan House. Accordingly, much of the site was re-commissioned by the Royal Navy at HMS Rosneath. However, with the frenetic activity leading up to the Normandy landings of 1944, the Base once again reverted to U.S. control. The Americans finally withdrew in June 1945. The site had by then passed back to RN jurisdiction but as time went on, RN control was also relinquished. Such is the basic plot. Dennis Royal has written a most engaging book, using a style which is lucid and easy to follow. Books of this kind often seem to fall into two camps: they can be shallow and lacking in substance, or they can get bogged down in technical detail. In this case, Dennis Royal has proved himself to be far too skilful and polished to fall into traps like these. Indeed he has most successfully brought the results of documentary and archival research together with the fruits of his efforts in seeking out and talking to people who were there at the time, mostly in anecdotal form. Another master touch by the author is the keen sense of humour which pervades the book, though in no way does it detract from the theme or content of the book. For example, a document appears in which a man from South Dakota refers to his stay at Rosneath. He describes his homeland as a place where "the men are as hard as nails and the women drive them home". The book is also remarkable for the extensive collection of photographs, almost all of which have never before appeared locally. In this respect, and in that of the archival research, the author pays generous tribute to the co-operation he received from the American military authorities. As far as the reviewer is concerned, Dennis Royal has produced a work which is factually extremely accurate, has been written with conviction and a real sense of preserving a slice of local history, and yet can hardly be put down once picked up. The key to the real quality of the book lies in the fact that the human touch is always there. We learn about the Americans as real people, about their generosity, their hopes, their fears, their aspirations. Truly well worth a read.