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The first men of the United States 82nd Airborne Division set foot in Northern Ireland on December 9th 1943. By the end of that day, 12,000 troops arrived in the province with over 4,000 being stationed across the North Coast including Portrush and Portstewart. On 11th of March 1944, they left Northern Ireland for England and their final preparations for the invasion of Europe, D-Day and the Normandy landings.

Fast forward 66 years, the 82nd Airborne troops once again arrived on the North Coast as the Wartime Living History Association (WLHA) commemorated the "all Americans" through a project known as Operation Pilgrimage.

On Saturday 22^nd May, members of the WLHA, dressed in full WW2 82nd Airborne kit, hiked the coast road path from Mill Rest Youth Hostel in Bushmills to the 82nd Airborne display at Dunluce Castle and the 82nd Memorials at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush Town Hall and finally, Cromore House - formerly known as Camp Cromore, where many of the paratroopers were based. At each of the three memorials, WLHA members stopped to remember and reflect upon the thousands of men who stayed here and went on to fight and die for their freedom.

Due to the extremely hot weather and time constraints, the troops covered just less than 12 miles on foot in full WW2 82^nd Airborne uniform which included helmets, boots, jump jackets, jump trousers and combat webbing. Pretty much everything the paratrooper would have worn in combat except for weapon and ammunition. What they achieved as untrained, averagely fit guys was in itself quite remarkable!

Michael Gilmore, the event organiser commented: “The WLHA has been delighted by the support it has received not only from its members, but from Hostelling International Northern Ireland.....I can’t thank Mary, Mill Rest and HINI enough for their support in this weekend. The guys were impressed with the standard of accommodation, the facilities and the welcome provided by Mary.”

“We are probably one of the more unusual groups encountered by Mill Rest and HINI. It was definitely strange seeing the lounge littered with helmets, webbing, holsters and canteens but I can say for certain, our day could not have succeeded the way that it did without the “bridgehead” that was Mill Rest.”

The WLHA is delighted to add a number of new events and displays in 2010 across Northern Ireland. They include the Northern Ireland International Air Show in Portrush, Newtownards and Ballyclare.

Further details about the Wartime Living History Association can be found by visiting www.wartimeliving.co.uk. For information or to book HINI’s youth hostels including Mill Rest, please visit www.hini.org.uk.