Article: Herald Express
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Wartime memories and a trans-Atlantic connection were revived at the Brixham Battery Heritage Centre where the guests included American-born Aviva Pearson, Torbay's new head of tourism.Centre supporters sponsored a free talk entitled "The Yanks in Devon and Cornwall in the Second World War" where the VIP speakers were Plymouth-based Jim and Margo Stanger.

Both are members of the US Army 29th Division Veterans' Association and act as British liaison officers in the region, hosting visiting American veterans.

They spoke about what it was like for US servicemen stationed in South Devon for battle practice in the years 1943-44 in the run-up to D-Day and the Liberation of Normandy.

They looked at the experiences on both sides as the young soldiers mixed with a different culture in wartime Devon.

Centre chairman Phil Trayhorn said: "Many of those young men were killed on D-Day when the 29th Division assaulted Omaha Beach and suffered the greatest number of casualties on that day.

"We were delighted that more than 50 members of the public attended the talk including Aviva Pearson who was born in Florida. She just popped in for 10 minutes but ended up staying for the full two hours of talk and displays."

Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund announced in the summer, a new exhibition centre is under construction by S Fox and Sons to cater for both casual visitors and school parties.

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