Black History month: The Battle of Bamber Bridge

With Black History Month coming up in October, we're sure that many schools will be on the lookout for great ideas for a topic to use in Black History Month which also explores local Lancastrian Themes.

The Battle of Bamber Bridge is a classic example of how Lancashire people have always stood up for the rights of the Black and African Caribbean Community, even when it meant putting their lives on the line and facing down armed soldiers, and how the Lancashire village of Bamber Bridge wasn't prepared to put up with segregation or the mistreatment of others!

The Battle of Bamber Bridge, which occurred during World War II, was a racially charged and tumultuous clash that took place in the small town of Bamber Bridge in Lancashire, England, on the night of June 24-25, 1943. The conflict arose primarily between African American soldiers of the 1511th Quartermaster Truck Regiment, a segregated unit of the U.S. Army, and white military police officers from the nearby U.S. Army Air Corps base.

Tensions had been escalating for weeks due to racial discrimination and mistreatment of African American soldiers. The spark that ignited the conflict was a confrontation between a black soldier, Private Eugene Nunn, and a white military police officer, Private William Crossland. Nunn had been drinking at The Old Hob Inn in Bamber Bridge and was confronted by Crossland. This confrontation escalated into a larger altercation involving more soldiers from both sides. Local people in Bamber Bridge defended the Black officers saying that they were welcome in the pub and didn’t approve of the segregation at the base, and events escalated into a gun battle on the street and back at the base.

The Battle of Bamber Bridge resulted in several injuries on both sides and the death of Private William Crossland. The incident garnered significant attention and led to an investigation by military authorities. It exposed the deeply entrenched racism within the U.S. military during that era and contributed to efforts to address racial discrimination within the armed forces.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Bamber Bridge, the U.S. military took steps to address racial segregation and discrimination, though full desegregation would not occur until several years later. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges African American soldiers faced during World War II and their struggle for equality both within and outside the military.

You can find out more about The Battle of Bamber Bridge here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bamber_Bridge or here: https://www.prestonblackhistorygroup.org.uk/the-battle-of-bamber-bridge/

You could do some great activities in schools depending on the age of your pupils, including researching the history of segregation in the US Military, writing a letter from one of the Black Soldiers describing the events, creating a montage celebrating Lancashire's pride about the rights of Black and African Caribbean People or making contact with the Preston Black History Month Group and asking if they might be able to come in and talk to your pupils.