EXPLORING D-DAY LAKES WOODCHESTER MANSION
I thought it would be appropriate to explore these lakes as D-DAY 6th June is a few days away.
So, what were US forces doing hidden away from prying eyes in the secluded and remote setting of Woodchester Park? At the time, the park was bristling with barbed wire and high security sentry posts. Life was all very top secret as the soldiers were preparing for the invasion of Europe and the D-Day landings.
Woodchester Park has six man-made lakes (a footpath now runs alongside all of them) which were ideal for training engineers to build temporary bridges and pontoons. In March 1944, the 1278th Engineering Combat Battalion arrived from their encampment at Lypiatt Park, Stroud.
They were later replaced by a detachment of the 505th Light Pontoon Company whose task was to practise constructing the M3 type pontoon bridge. On the third of June, the men left for Southampton and sailed for France, arriving at Utah Beach three weeks later.
There were reports of a tragic accident on the lakes before they left for France. One of the armored vehicles is said to have been crossing a pontoon when it fell off and plunged into the water.
Between two and perhaps as many as 20 men were believed to have drowned in the ensuing drama, their bodies laid to rest in the cold of the game larder at the mansion.