Praa Sands Historical Society

On the wide, wind-swept shores of Praa Sands in the 1940s, life moved to the rhythm of the tides and the distant echoes of a world at war. For one young girl growing up in this quiet Cornish village, the arrival of American GIs from the 29th Infantry division based at Praa Sands and Marazion ready for D Day, brought a moment of unexpected wonder — a simple stick of chewing gum pressed into her hand by a smiling soldier far from home.

It was a small gift, but in a time of rationing and uncertainty, it felt extraordinary. She savoured it carefully, and when it was gone, she kept the wrapper — a treasured reminder of kindness, curiosity, and a smile from a kind soldier that would stay with her for years to come.

This is her story — a memory of wartime Cornwall, of innocence and generosity, and of how even the smallest gestures can leave a lasting mark. Here is a exert from the people's war by kind permission of the BBC.

Above is 'WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar'

The 29th Infantry Division was officially formed on 18th July 1917 as part of the US Army National Guard. It was first organised at Camp McClellan in Alabama. The division was mainly made up of soldiers from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

They soon became known as the “Blue and Gray Division.” This name is very special because it represents American history. During the American Civil War, some of these states had fought on opposite sides. The Union soldiers wore blue uniforms, and the Confederate soldiers wore grey uniforms. By bringing men from both sides together into one division, the name “Blue and Gray” showed unity after a divided past.

Their shoulder badge is a circle split into half blue and half grey, with a green outer edge (it was originally black).

The division’s motto is “29 — Let’s Go!” This famous phrase came from a speech made by General Eisenhower to the division before D-Day. Heres a photo of Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower below inspecting his troops before the biggest Amphibious invasion ever undertaken in human history, launched from Devon, Cornwall and Southern England.

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