An often forgotten....

cemetery near Cambridge is the final resting place for nearly 4,000 United States' servicemen and women. Madingley is in the care of the American Battlefield & Monuments Commission and was opened in 1956 to receive the remains of American's who had died of wounds in the UK. Many of those buried here are United States aircrews who were wounded or killed on board their bombing raids - a large military hospital was nearby and temporary burial grounds were needed during 1943 and 1944. Indeed my mother, now aged 96, can recall that the wounded and killed on these raids were moved in the middle of the night so the losses were not seen as they drove through the villages of Norfolk and Suffolk from which the majority of the 8th USAAF airfields were operating during 1943 and 1944.

I am particularly attached to Madingley for two reasons - firstly my childhood visits there with my mother and father (Dad had served in the German and Polish Army during the war) and I have memories of the amazing marble wall with tiny brass aircraft dotted all over it showing where the raids were mounted. Secondly, my 2024 book The Empire Javelin covers the landing of 1st Battalion of the United States 116th Infantry on Dog Green Beach at OMAHA on 6th June 1944 - 82 years ago today. Their commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel John Metcalfe - a very highly respected and popular officer who survived the horror of D Day, when most of his command was killed, and then was himself wounded on 29th June and brought back to Cambridge but passed away on 15th July - he is buried at Maddingly Cemetery. As with all such places managed by the United States, Madingly is serene, beautiful, moving and impeccable and I strongly recommend that you visit if you can.

Lieutenant Colonel John Metcalfe U.S.Army