the Gambia was also home to 55 British General Hospital from 1941 to 1942, 40 British General Hospital from 1942 to 1943, and 55 British General Hospital again from 1945 to 1946. During World War II, the Gambia also formed an Auxiliary Police, who, among other things, helped to enforce the blackout in Bathurst. Many air raid shelters were built across the Gambia too. In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States, stopped overnight in Bathurst en route to and from the Casablanca Conference. This marked the first visit to the African continent by a sitting US president. The visit hardened his views against British colonial rule. Appalled, as he was, by the poverty and disease that was present there, he wrote to Churchill describing the territory as a "hell-hole".
the gambia was also home to 55 british general hospital from 1941 to 1942 40 british general hospital from 1942 to 1943 and 55 british general hospital again from 1945 to 1946 during world war ii the gambia also formed an auxiliary police who among other things helped to enforce the blackout in bathurst many air raid shelters were built across the gambia too in 1943 franklin d roosevelt the president of the united states stopped overnight in bathurst en route to and from the casablanca conference this marked the first visit to the african continent by a sitting us president the visit hardened his views against british colonial rule appalled as he was by the poverty and disease that was present there he wrote to churchill describing the territory as a "hell-hole"