The Historical Association: The First Friendly Invasion: the US Military in First World War Britain

This one-off lecture explores the arrival of the American Expeditionary Force in Britain during the First World War and examines why it is sometimes described as the first friendly invasion. The talk looks at where the US military was based across Britain, how the troops experienced life here, and how local communities responded to their presence.

The lecture also considers the wider legacy of this episode, including the memorials and monuments connected with the American presence that can still be found across the country. It is a history-focused event for anyone interested in the First World War, transatlantic military history, and the social impact of wartime arrivals on local communities.