We Remember our Yank Herbert Sanborn
by The Rickards
The Yanks Arrive
American Soldiers marching through Gowerton, towards Penclawdd
Doreen Marley described the impact of the US Army on the small village of Grovesend: ‘To our surprise we all awoke one morning to learn that hundreds of “Yanks” had moved in through the night. There was great excitement for a while. The campsite was quite large and Americans were everywhere’. Local cinemas, cafes, shops, and dance halls did well while the GIs were there.
Typical tented accomidation
GIs 'Grin & Bare it', despite the weather
A Hospitality Ration Pack
Conditions were not ideal for the soldiers, who were billeted in tents during the wet and cold winter weather, although the headquarters, mess halls, stores and kitchens were in Nissan huts. The Officers at the camp therefore published an appeal 'for locals to take in one or two soldiers to share their hospitality, home life and a meal.' They were allowed to take a ration pack from their mess,
Herbert Sanborn, was welcomed by the Rickard Family into their home in High Street, Grovesend. Daughter Margaret, recalled that the American GI spent some leisure time with her parents and she remembered that there were two photographs preserved in the family album. and shared them with reseacher John Powell, when they met in 2015.
The first photo which was sent to her parents in February 1944, was a souvenir of Herbert, when he was training in California in 1942.
Written on the back was
'To the Rickards, with my best wishes for their agreeable hospitality.
This is my souvenir of California in 1942. With Miss Jane Withers while she was making he picture 'Johnny Doughboy'.
Herbert J Sanborn, ph [sic] A-Co 336 Eng. Feb. 1944.'
This revealed that he was serving in the 336th Combat Engineers, part of the 5th Engineer Special Brigade, which were training on the beaches of Gower, about 15 miles away from Grovesend, as well as on the mountains nearby.
The second photo is of Herbert and was sent on 30 March 1944.
'Mch. 30 1944.
The situation is serious.
To my good friends Mr and Mrs David Rickard,
your hospitality is appreciated.
Herbert J Sanborn.
ph [sic] A Co APO # 230 U.S. Army.
Margaret revealed,
‘Prior to leaving Wales for the South Coast, where he was to board his transport for D Day, he left all his valuables which included his gold watch, in an envelope, with my parents. With the request that should he be killed in the war, that they would send these effects back to his aunt, who had raised him in Connecticut.
At the end of April, the Combat Engineers left for Swansea, to travel by train for Dorchester, on the south Coast and the camps which were the staging areas for the invasion of France. There, they were briefed in their various tasks and given instructions for D-Day. Herbert sailed with his unit from Portland Harbour, Weymouth, for Omaha Beach.
6th June 1944
The D Day Normandy Landings
Herbert was in one of the first units to land on Omaha Beach on D Day,
It was on the beach that Herbert was wounded, when he stepped on a land mine, after which he was evacuated back to the UK and treated for his wounds at a London Hospital, where he died over a month later, on 13th July 1944. His next of kin, an Aunt in Kansas, Connecticut, who had brought him up, was informed of his death, but the Rickards were not informed as they were not next of kin.
His name is inscribed on the 5th Engineer Special Brigade Memorial, which is situated above Omaha Beach.
This Memorial commemorates the 5th Engineer Special Brigade for their actions on Omaha Beach during Operation Overlord. They were tasked with and succeeded in the removing of beach obstacles and building of roads to move supplies and troops up the beach.
Margaret said ‘the envelope which Herbert had left with my father was sent to his aunt in America. The scarf she holds in the photo, is one of the presents his aunt sent to my sister and me.
. . . ‘Although, at the time we were just babies and I can't imagine we were very pleased to have received a leather handbag and silk scarf as presents!!
Over the years, we also received other items including Christmas cake, which we probably appreciated more!
As I was child at the time, it is only now that I understand the full story behind the presents, the photos in our family album and the words written by Herbert J Sanborn on their backs.
'We should have realised that he originated from Kansas as the scarf I was given as a baby shows Petticoat lane, Kansas City.
Contact with his aunt in America ended when she must have passed away, and we know that she was never able to visit Herbert’s grave.'
Margaret reflected that, ‘If my parents had been informed that Herbert was in hospital in London, then they would have wanted to visit him there.’
In 2015, research by Glenn Booker, the Chairman of Barry Island War Museum, revealed that Herbert was buried at the American Military Cemetery at Cambridge and the sisters talked about what they wished to do with this new information.
Bearing this in mind, the sisters came to a decision.
She says- 'No one has ever put flowers on his grave. My sister and I feel we would like to put that right.'
After 71 years, in September 2015, Margaret Thomas and her sister Norma Rees (nee Rickard) were at last able to visit Herbert’s grave and place their flowers in commemoration of this brave soldier.
The American Military Cemetery at Cambridge
Postscript:
Several years later, Margaret Thomas and her sister Norma Rees (nee Rickard), journeyed to Omaha Beach, to remember their American Soldier.
They visited the Fifth Engineer Special Brigade Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, above what is now known as, 'Omaha Beach,' on which Herbert J. Sanborn is named.
'We found the whole experience very moving.'
Fifth Engineer Special Brigade Memorial
Norma Rees, has her finger on the name,
Herbert J. Sanborn.
A Company 336th Engineer Special BattalionTheir journey was now complete.
Units assigned on D-Day, 6 June 1944
Brigade Headquarters37th Engineer Combat Battalion336th Engineer Combat Battalion348th Engineer Combat Battalion61st Medical Battalion391st Medical Collection Company392nd Medical Collection Company395th Medical Collection Company643rd Medical Clearing Company210th Military Police Company30th Chemical Decontamination Company294th Joint Assault Signal Company251st Ordnance Battalion616th Ordnance Ammunition Company3566th Ordnance Medium Automotive Maintenance Company26th Bomb Disposal Squad4042nd Quartermaster Truck Company533rd Quartermaster Battalion4141st Quartermaster Service Company4142nd Quartermaster Service Company4143rd Quartermaster Service Company131st Quartermaster Battalion (Mobile)453rd Amphibian Truck Company458th Amphibian Truck Company459th Amphibian Truck Company619th Quartermaster Battalion97th Quartermaster Railhead Company559th Quartermaster Railhead CompanyCo. A, 203rd Quartermaster Gas Supply BattalionBack to-- : American GIs in Mumbles, Swansea & Gower