The Jackson Sun (June 27, 1943)
Military police and Negro troops in overseas brawl
London, England (AP) – (June 26)
Five U.S. enlisted men and one officer were reported today to have been injured in a fight between military police and Negro troops in northwest England last night.
A statement issued by headquarters of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations said early reports indicated that “the fight began when military policemen remonstrated with Negro soldiers behaving in a disorderly manner” in a town street.
Headquarters said:
The situation was never out of control, it was stated by the local commander.
It reported that one of the Negroes was wounded seriously.
The text of the statement:
An investigation into a fight between military policemen and a small group of Negro soldiers was being conducted tonight by headquarters of the European Theater of Operations of the United States Army.
Early reports indicated that the fight began when military policemen remonstrated with Negro soldiers behaving in a disorderly manner in the street of a town in north-northwest England.
The situation was never out of control, it was stated by the local commander.
Injured in the fight were five enlisted soldiers and one officer.
One man, Pvt. William Crosslands, colored, was stated to be seriously injured.
The officer is Lt. David D. Ousset. His injuries were not considered serious. The other enlisted men were not badly hurt.