A Pocket Guide to Northern Ireland, for American GIs

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of US troops in Northern Ireland during WW2. More than 100,000 servicemen were stationed in the country at one point.

Read online or download from Ulster Books

Before they landed, they were each issued with A Pocket Guide to Northern Ireland, which set out some background history to Northern Ireland and offered advice to GIs on how they should conduct themselves with the locals.

Originally produced by the War and Navy Departments in Washington DC, the 'Pocket Guide' is a fascinating period piece and is bound to raise a smile so many decades distant. Take this advice about 'The Girls': "Irish girls are friendly. They will stop on the country road and pass the time of day. Don’t think, on that account, that they are falling for you in a big way."

The Pocket Guide to Northern Ireland has been re-issued by Ulster Books as a free Kindle or e-pub download, or you can read it online.