The American GIs in Swansea
by Jim Owen
GI, Peter Sloboda at Mumbles, 1944
Graham Davies recollects......."Considering the influences of the war on life in general, the arrival of American servicemen in 1944 had quite an impact - Hersey's Chocolate, chewing gum ('Got any gum chum?) - American Rugby at St.Helen's - not to mention the effect on the young ladies in Swansea."
John Exall recalls the American Army base near his home.......
"In Spring 1944 Singleton Park was full of American soldiers. It was the main U.S. Army base before D.Day."
Love and Other Bruises
The American army and airforce poured into Britain in 1943 and although greeted with much goodwill, some of the population harboured a deep seated resentment to their presence.
Well fed, smartly dressed and better paid than their British counterparts, pleasure-seeking 'Yanks', with their glamorous film star auras, proved irresistible to many young women. American 'Hollywood-style' glamour was powerful and unwanted competition for war-weary British servicemen home on leave. Local young women, married and unmarried, were always getting 'involved' with American servicemen and there were the inevitable explosiveconfrontations and pub brawls over female partners.
The potential for trouble in the vicinity the Patti Pavillion - a popular dance venue - and the Cricketer's Hotel was ever present. On Friday and Saturday nights groups of young women 'dressed up to the nines' descended on these places, from all over town, for a good night out. The US Military Police were also there in force to keep the peace, but the mixture of young British and American servicemen, young ladies, music and booze was a powder keg.
heavily on their fertile imaginations.
An American Jeep
The author recalls..........
"In the earlier hours of the evening, when things were busy but under control, us kids from the Avenue would sit on the wall watching the crowds parading up and down. The pickings were rich as far as receiving chewing gum from passing US servicemen was concerned. However, as it got nearer our bedtimes, and people got more boisterous with drink, we could see the situation hotting up.We never saw any fights on the street, but some nights we were woken by men shouting and brawling in the lane behind the 'Cricketers'."
Murder in Brynmill
Around this time, though not necessarily in any way associated with the what has been described above, the body of one young woman was found at the end of Rhyddings Park Road in a little alleyway at the rear of houses on King Edwards Road. Her character was discussed widely amongst adults and kids listened intently. Kids were fascinated by this crime and often visited the scene of the murder.The experience played
The Americans came after its heaviest bombing raids were over. The centre of the town was a mass of rubble with well defined streets.There were two large US Army bases - one at either end of the town - and there were jeeps and American servicemen everywhere. Kids and yanks were a great social mix.
Alfred John Whitby remembers the generosity of American soldiers........
"By the time I was eight or nine years old the Americans had built an army base opposite Townhill which is now the Gendros/Penlan area of the city. We, as children, used to visit the army base during the day and were very often given tins of 'Bully Beef ', which was their version of our corned beef, and chewing gum with names like 'Ukatan/Dentine', 'Juicyfruit' etc.."
Cyril Gronert recalled how kids hung around the same army base and ran errands for the soldiers. Apparently fish and chips were very popular with the Yanks. Cyril also recalls a famous visitor to the American troops. His friend actually shook hands with the great Joe Louis - the world boxing champion - outside a club in Morriston where he'd come to meet the US servicemen.
Hallowed Turf and Generous Yanks
The generosity of American servicmen to British kids was legendary.
John Exall recalls....
"....the American soldiers were very generous....it was a bumper day"
"I went to Brynmill School which was just around the corner from where I lived. Our teacher Mr.W.G.Williams was a rugby enthusiast and one day he took us on a school trip to St.Helen's Rugby Ground. The highlight of the visit was to stand near the pitch at the Mumbles End to see the spot where Denny Hunt had scored the winning try for the All Whites against New Zealand.
I was standing at the back and so edged forward onto the pitch to see the hallowed piece of turf. Mr. Williams pointed at me and bellowed: 'Don't you ever put a foot on that rugby ground unless you are playing'.
Not long after that incident the American Army touring rugby team, 'The Screaming Eagles' played a selected team from the Army Base in Swansea. It was probably the biggest attendance ever seen at St.Helen's before and since.
In the first ten minutes, after a crash tackle, one of the players broke his leg and had to be carried off. From the Mumbles End an old MASH type ambulance appeared and the stricken player was placed inside. Surprisingly the ambulance did a lap of honour around the ground before leaving and I watched it churn up the wet ground exactly on the hallowed piece of turf in the corner. As a 12 year old I wondered what Mr. W.G. Williams would say.
I was a programme seller at the ground on that day. Twopence a copy - old pennies. As usual, the American soldiers were very generous and on a number of occasions I was given a half-crown or two shilling piece and told to keep the change. It was a bumper day. I earned over £8 in tips which was an enormous sum. It was over three times the weekly £2.3.6. my Mum received from the Forces Allowance for the upkeep of herself and three children. I went home very pleased with sagging pockets."
A Welcome Gift
John Exall remembers a thoughtful priest and his generous gift........
"Father Schultz saw to it that we weren't short of equipment
"The name of the Roman Catholic padre with the troops was Father Schultz and he struck up a friendship with Father O'Keefe of my church, St. Benedict's.
As a result of this friendship many young American soldiers used to attend evening service in the church and then stay on afterwards to join us in the Youth Club, I got to know quite a few. Father Schultz saw to it that we weren't short of equipment. In typical generous American style he arranged for a load of sports equipment to be delivered to the Club Hall; baseball bats, balls, catching gloves, pads, boxing gloves were piled in the centre of the hall. It sounds ungrateful, but we weren't able to use them. The American rugby balls though were used and we used to throw them to each other in the hall."
A mystery solved
"After the war, when I was a boy scout at St Benedicts, I remember seeing this American sports equipment in a room off the church. I often wondered how it got there. It was never used by the scouts."
Republished with the permision of the author Jim Owen
A selection from Frontline Kids SWANSEA 1939-45
Recollections of children in World War Two
Back to- The Second World War 1939 to 1945
A co-ordinator of this project, is Mumbles born John Powell,
who can be contacted on 01792 520540 and email:j.powell20@ntlworld.com
He can keep you up to date and is always willing to receive information regarding
GI veterans who served in the area of Swansea & Gower.