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Marines - Beech Hill Hotel
U.S. Navy Established First European Base in Northern Ireland
On 5 February 1942, the U.S. Navy established its first base on the European side of the Atlantic, in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the banks of the River Foyle. That forward base had become necessary because the fleet could not operate efficiently for any length of time more then 2,000 miles from a naval base.
Orders quickly followed for a Marine unit to provide security for this "Naval Operating Base" (NOB) and the 1st Provisional Marine Battalion, was organized in 1941 at Quantico, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Lucian W. Burnham. His executive office was Major Louis C. Plain.
In preparation, the Marines of that battalion received some rigorous and varied training, because one could not predict what duties their assignments would require of them.
The 400-man battalion left the U.S. in May 1942, on the Santa Rosa, a converted Cruise Ship of the Italian American Line, and headed across the North Atlantic for a destination known to very few. A month later, an augmentation force of 152 enlisted Marines arrived on board the SS Siboney, led by Second Lieutenant John S. Hudson. Upon arrival in Ireland, the unit was designated the Marine Barracks, NOB, Londonderry, and assigned the mission to guard the dispersed facilities of the large base, which was about three miles from the city.
Original Marine Barracks
Initially, the Marine Barracks was organized as follows: Headquarters and Service Company, under command of Major James J. Dugan; Company A, commanded by Captain John M. Bathum; and Company B, with Captain Frank A. Martincheck in command.
In late October 1942, another draft of more than 200 men, with Second Lieutenant James B. Metzer in charge, arrived from the States on board the U.S. Army transport Bonnguen. It became Company C. Meanwhile, several promotions took place in the unit - Bathum to Major. Plain and Dugan to Lieutenant Colonel, four company officers to Captain - and the battalion reorganized at add an additional company. Captain Donald R. Kennedy took over Company B and Captain George O. Ludcke received command of Company C.
Headquarters and Service Company was billeted at Springtown Camp, as was Company B, which was assigned to guard the repair facilities. Company C, which guarded the Quonset Storage ammunition dump at Fincairn Glen (five miles outside 'Derry), was billeted on the grounds of an old estate called "Beech Hill". Company A guarded the Naval Field Hospital at nearby Creevagh, a couple of strategically located radio stations, and a major supply depot of Lisahally. Those Marines were billeted in Quonset huts on the grounds of "Lisahally House" an estate on the River Foyle.
Marines Protect from Local Infiltrators Too
The Marines were needed in Londonderry not only to protect the naval base from Sabotage from German units which might have been landed by submarine, but also from local infiltrators. The Irish Free State (Eire), just across the border from Ulster maintained its neutrality throughout the war. With German and Japanese embassies in full operation in Dublin, there was the fear of sabotage attempts against Allied installations, prepared with the cooperation of militant elements of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
There were no IRA-supported sabotage attempts, however, and history reveals that the number of voluntary Irish enlistments in the British Army from Erie equaled the number from Ulster, where the draft was in effect. An interesting incident took place during this period, which under-scored the high degree of cooperation between the two Irish governments. A New Zealand bomber crash landed in Erie and its crew expected to be interned for the duration of the war by the Irish Free State. However, with the unofficial blessing of the Irish Government, the RAF, with the assistance of a detail from the Marine Barracks, dismantled the plane and removed it and it's crew across the border.
Major James J. Dugan, the barracks adjutant, was a colorful member of the original " Irish Marines", a nickname given to the Marines serving in Londonderry. He was a red head from Boston who brought with him several members of his Boston reserve unit. He retained good rapport with the Irish and formed, from the barracks drum and bugle corps, a Bagpipe Band which became a trademark of this unit.
The Marines were a welcome sight to this area, which had sent most of its young men off to war in 1939 in the British Army, and from which many never returned. Since rain falls, on average, 240 days per annum in this area, Marines learned quickly to do without clear days.
The Marine On-Shore Patrol Duty, commanded by Captain William P. Alston, established a good working relationship with the RUC, and also with Garda Superintendent Tom Collins, from Londonderry's neighboring County Donegal, who became a frequent guest at battalion social events.
The Marines Return to Celebrate Every May
The US Navy Marine Friendship Association was developed to remember those US Marines based at Beech Hill during World War II. Every May we hold an event of celebration, music, craft fair and commemoration service at the Hotel for all to enjoy.
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Beech Hill Country House Hotel - 
