On June 24, 1943, white American military policemen (MPs) opened fire on Black soldiers stationed during World War II in the village of Bamber Bridge, England, killing a Black serviceman named Private William Crossland.

That night, two patrolling white MPs were angered that a group of African American soldiers, members of the all-Black 1511th Quartermaster Truck regiment, were socializing with white British soldiers and civilians at a local pub. During the war, many American military officials sought to impose on allied communities overseas the same racial segregation mandates—including separate eating and drinking establishments—that existed in the U.S. It became a source of frustration that some municipalities, like Bamber Bridge, refused to comply and instead welcomed the Black U.S. troops stationed there.

The MPs attempted to break up the gathering and arrest one of the Black soldiers, Private Eugene Nunn, claiming he was out of uniform and without a valid pass. When patrons of the pub objected to the treatment of Private Nunn, a fist fight broke out, and the MPs left to find reinforcements.

Outside the inn, the MPs grappled once more with a group of Black soldiers. Drawing their pistols, they opened fire into the group, wounding several Black GIs, who retreated to their camp.

As word of the confrontation spread, a larger group of armed white MPs drove several jeeps, including one with a machine gun mounted on top, to the Black soldiers’ camp. Fearful that the firing would resume, Black GIs grabbed arms. Gunfire was exchanged throughout the night, during which a white MP fatally shot Private William Crossland in the back. Several other Black and white soldiers were wounded.

Though a U.S. general concluded that nearly all of the blame for the escalating conflict rested with the white MPs, the response of the military court did not reflect this. No MPs were ever prosecuted, while 28 Black soldiers were court-martialed, convicted of participating in a “mutiny,” and sentenced to months of hard labor.