Keep ’em Rollin’, Keep ’em Shootin’, Keep ’em Supplied (Gloucestershire)

“Keep ’em rollin’, keep ’em shootin’, keep ’em supplied” was the motto of the U.S. Supply depot G-25, which was situated in Ashchurch, Gloucestershire during World War II. Its role was to supply U.S. troops in the U.K. and Europe with vehicles and armaments from 1942 until the end of the war. The depot, which had originally been a British Army supply depot, was entrusted to the U.S. forces as part of an agreement between British and American planning committees. G-25 soon became the largest U.S. military supply depot in the U.K.

In 1943, as a result of British production plants being unable to assemble enough military vehicles for the U.S. forces imminently expected in the U.K. as part of Operation Bolero, a military vehicle assembly plant was established at the base. After D. Day, the demand for military vehicles declined and by mid-1945, the depot’s main mission was to pack and return U.S. military equipment to the U.S. with a work-force consisting mainly of German P.O.W.s and civilian workers. In May 1946, the depot was handed back to the British Army.

This book chronicles the wartime activities of G-25 and its satellite camps using archive materials and photos as well as stories from local people and G.I.s who served there. It also looks into the impact the soldiers (both white and black) had on the area around Tewkesbury.