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The American Military Remembered
in South Wales
Newton Village Hall, Mumbles, Swansea - Barry - Whitchurch Common, Cardiff - Carew control tower - Llantrisant Common
By David Watkins
One night just after Xmas 1943..my sleep in the small back bedroom of our Council House in Park View was disturbed by the constant rumble of heavy lorries in low gear as they descended the steep hill.
In the morning I went outside and found a crumpled Camel Cigarette pack.
They trained for D Day in South Wales and share their stories there
OVER HERE IN SOUTH WALES
But why remember the Americans who were "Over Here" in WW2?
and Does it matter? YES! and Why?
Because they made quite an impact upon the people of South Wales!
and... Because they were here to do a very important job...
together with their Allies they changed the course of World History...
One wedding concerning Swansea is well worth a read-
Comments or news appreciated-
Glenn Booker is our Historical Adviser as well as Chairman of Barry War Museum
Glenn Booker: contact details
Website editor John Powell: j.powell20@ntlworld.com
New-
by Len Emmanuel
While serving in the RAF near Florence, in 1945, Len always remembered the event when he met General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Glenn's visit to Devon D Day 2016
Almost a quarter of the fourteen thousand American soldiers who attended this training centre, between September 1943 and March 1944, to learn the arts of war, became casualties on the Normandy beaches in one day and few of the survivors lived to see the war’s end in 1945.
The Devon D-Day & Saunton D-Day event
Format for the weekend is usually: Camping on the beach, convoys across the American D-Day training grounds and along the practice assault beach. Saturday's involve evening live entertainment, pyro skirmish and beach assault. Assault Training Center Friends >
You can discover
interesting insights into the experiences of American Servicemen in south Wales from 1942 to 1945, who were far from home and preparing to go to war on the continent. The occasional GI can be seen slouching at the Museum . . . or reading Yank magazine.
Please contact Glenn if you would like to assist at the war museum at any time.
A community announcement
Are you looking for your GI Father or grandfather?
All help is free
Please join the private Facebook group FIND MY GI FATHER. You don't even need a name, our experienced and friendly volunteer researchers will help you search via DNA. All help is free, and we will assist you to access your father's war records, which are available to you free of charge under the War Babes Act. You just need to take an Ancestry DNA test to get things started.
Check us out on Facebook at Find My GI Father. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindMyGIFather/
NEW BOOK
Details: OXWICH TO OMAHA American GIs in South Wales
by Phil Howells
The Invasion of Northern France, but seen from a South Wales perspective.
Facts and figures, convoys and the ships involved, camp locations, exercises, planning, concentration, marshalling, embarkation and the units involved. Where did they come from, where did they then go?
This detailed, well researched, fascinating narrative, not covered in one volume before, combines Operations BOLERO, OVERLORD and its naval off-shoot NEPTUNE –
From Swansea Boy to American GI:
Cliff Guard, aged 93 in 2016, is an American GI, born in Swansea, called 'GI Limey.'
Two Local War Museums with information and displays
Please click the website link and check on the latest opening hours
Explore, discover, learn
Opening Times
Wednesday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Second Sunday of the Month 11:00am - 4:00pm
Please check the BWM website for the latest events
Located within the historic Barry Island Station the Museum is run by the Barry at War Group as part of the Barry Tourist Railway.
Come along and see how folk coped "back in the war". and the wartime displays.
Free admission, of course, but donations to the ongoing work of the Barry War Museum would be much appreciated!
More info: barryatwarmuseum@gmail.com
Barry at War Group
aims to research, preserve and promote the wartime history of the town.
They have a new Facebook page at Barry at War History Group | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BarryAtWarHistoryGroup
Barry at War History Group. 5
NEWS - November 2021 - MUSEUM IS LOOKING FOR A NEW SITE
1940s Swansea Bay museum on Fabian Way, has closed while searching for a new site for its extensive collection. mail@1940sSwanseaBay.co.uk
