Lieutenant General George S. Patton, ‘Old Blood and Guts’, arrived in Britain in January 1944 after becoming Commanding General of the U.S Third Army.

General Patton made personal inspections of his troops throughout the United Kingdom. Tall, trim and distinguished in appearance with short cropped hair he was always an inspiring sight. He would arrive,
immaculately dressed, in a well tailored, form fitting, brass buttoned battle jacket, whipcord riding breeches and gleaming riding boots.

He made two visits to Camp Bewdley, the first was on 8th May 1944 for a briefing with the XII Corps staff. On his second visit he delivered a characteristic speech to the troops.

Patton’s Speech

A member of the XII Corps Headquarters was able to take down the speech word for word in shorthand, and later circulated copies of the transcription and description of the events leading up to the speech.

“The Camp buzzed with tension. For the hundreds of eager rookies, newly arrived from the States, it was a great day in their lives. Gold braid and stripes were everywhere. Soon the hillside was a mass of
brown. Across the field a British farmer was calmly tilling his soil.

The moment drew nearer and necks craned to view the tiny winding road that led to Stourport on Severn.
At last a long black car roared up the road. General Patton mounted the special platform with Lt. General Simpson, Commander of the Fourth Army and Major General Cook , XII Corps Commander.”

“We are here” said General Simpson, “to listen to the words of a great man, a man who will lead you all into whatever you face with heroism, ability and foresight, a man who has proven himself amid shot and
shell”. General Patton arose and told his audience to be seated. The General’s voice rose, high and clear:”

Speech extract.

“Men, this stuff we hear about America wanting to stay out of the war, not wanting to fight, is a lot of bull ….. All Americans love the sting and clash of battle. When you were kids you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the big league ball player, the toughest boxers. Americans play to win…all the time. I wouldn’t give a boot in hell for the man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost, nor ever will lose a war, for the very thought of losing is hateful to an American ……..”

The General continued, his language growing more ‘colourful’ by the minute.

General Patton was a controversial character worth reading about but generally acknowledged to be one of the best field commanders in World War 2. He went on to command the Third Army in the “Breakout” from Normandy and on into Germany. He died in a vehicle accident in Germany in December 1945.