How can I find an American Soldier?

[Ladkyis]

My Aunty had a secret and she held onto that secret until she was in her eighties and probably would not have said anything if she hadn't fallen and really hurt herself. She thought she was dying - everyone thought she was dying and so (being a bit dramatic as all the family are inclined to be) she did the deathbed confession and told my cousin that the man she had known as Dad for fifty years was not her real father. This honour went to an american soldier called Bill. This was a bit of a shock to her family and they didn't pump her for information (not trained family historians you see).

Anyway, she didn't die. She recanted her confession and made my cousin swear that she would not tell anyone about it. Cousin swore that she wouldn't tell anyone else (she had already told all of us!) now that aunty has passed on my cousin would like to try and find out more.

Is there anywhere I can find out which American units were camped near Newport Mon in 1943 -44. My cousin was born in December 1944.
I know it's probably a hopeless task but I have to try if only to bring an end to a lifetime of wondering.

[Barnzzz]

Hello, while I can't help in your search at all unfortunately, I thought I must tell you my mother in law's story which is very similar. My husband's elder brother looks nothing at all like his siblings and this is because his father was an American soldier called Vince. His mother didnt tell him until he was about 45 years old so you can imagine this came as a bit of a shock ! In fact apart from telling him his father's name she then wouldn't discuss it at all, which he wasn't pleased about and caused a family rift.

Another shock came a few years later when mother in law announced that earlier in the war she had a daughter she had given up for adoption. Her father was a french baker, who went back to France not long after the war started.

All sorts of shenanigins went on in those days !

Sue

[Mutley]

I cannot really help regarding those camped at Newport but I do remember reading that American soldiers that were wounded were sent to a Hospital in Newport. I cannot for the life of me remember the name. Something??? House Hospital. May be not a hospital now, a museum!!!

A really long shot, but he could have been a wounded GI, don't suppose Aunty was a nurse?

[Ladkyis]

Well the old workhouse became a hospital and was known as Woollaston House - at least that's what my dad always called it. It is still a hospital and is called St woolas hospital now.

There was an army camp at Malpas, near the drill hall and I am told that it was used by the Americans in the build up to D-day. I believe a lot of troops went from Newport after D-day. My dad went on either 16th or 19th June I think... Oh that would be too spooky if he went on 19th!


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Ladkyis/xmda.gif

[Stephen M. Kohler]

It was very tempting not to answer this in the usual Yankee fashion. Thank Goodness my mother raised a gentlemen. To get you started a few thoughts come to mind: Local libraries will contain a wealth of information. Speak to the owners and managers of the services that soldiers used such as laundry, postal, pubs, etc. Find out what the unit patches and creast looked like. There's an enourmaous amount of preserved knowledge concerning the Heraldry of military units.

/R

Stephen
Washington, DC

[Ladkyis]

All those people are long gone and to ask them if they remember an amrican soldier named Bill is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack but I want to give it a try for my cousin.

If we could find out which units were around Newport it would narrow down the number of Bill ? we had to look for.

[Stephen M. Kohler]

Ladkyis, I am not familiar with the geography of Wales and do not know where the geo-political borders are located. However, although not conclusive these are some of the US Army units stationed in Monmouthshire from 1943 through 1945. Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

Stephen
Washington, DC

They are listed by Place, County, Type/Remarks, Units, and Dates. I assume that where the information for Type/Remarks, Units, and Dates is omitted there is evidence that units may have trained there briefly and or units remained overnight at a temporary bivouac area before moving on.

Abercarn Monmouthshire Pontllanfraith Tented Camp
Abercynon Monmouthshire
Aberdare Monmouthshire HHC, 11th Port (of E)(Mobile) 440408-440621.
Chepstow Monmouthshire Chepstow Race Course, camp.
Clytha House Monmouthshire
Court-y-Gallen Monmouthshire
Govilon Monmouthshire The 7th Fld Hosp (135 beds) 430914-441011, the 21st Hosp Train 430926-431024, the 29th Field Hosp (380 Patients) 440523-440616, the 45th Hosp Train, 430926-431119 and, the 50th Gen Hosp (1500 bed) 431224-440206.
Llanmartin Monmouthshire
Monmouth Monmouthshire Monmouth Town Block, hutted camp, the 8th Ital Ord Med Auto Maint Co 441115-441229 and, the 14th Ital QM Svc Co (+US Pers) 45011-450126.
Newcastle Monmouthshire
Newport Monmouthshire The 4th Armd Sig Bn 4404320-440615, HHC, 11th Port (of E)(Mobile) 430717-440408, HHC, 12th Port (of E)(TC) 430717-440408 and 451008-451230 redep, 17th Postal Reg Sect 431230-440411, the 24th Postal Reg Sect 450501-450506 and, 65th APU 440521-440720.
Newport Monmouthshire Llanmartin
Newport Monmouthshire Llantarnum Summer Tented Camp
Newport Monmouthshire Malpas Court, camp. The 20th Postal Reg Sect 431212-431221.
Newport Monmouthshire Tredegar Park Depot 36th Ord Bomb Disp Sq (Sep) 431222-440126.
Pontllanfraith Monmouthshire The 15th Spec Svc Co 440616-440822.
Pontypool Monmouthshire Pontypool Hutted Camp
St. Mellows Monmouthshire (AAF-516).

Below is a list of abbreviations and there meanings.
AAF - Army Airforce.
APU – Army Postal Unit
Armd Sig Bn – Armored Signal Battalion.
Fld Hosp – Field Hospital.
Gen Hosp – General Hospital.
HHC – Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
Train –Medical Personnel and Logistics Transport.
Port (of E)(Mobile) and Port (of E)(TC) are
Postal Reg Sect – Postal Regulations Section
Ord Bomb Disp Sq - Ordinance Bomb Disposal Squad
QM – Quarter Master
Spec Svc Co – Special Service Company

[Ladkyis]

Well that gives me something to show my cuz and then it's up to her what the next move is.

[Stephen M. Kohler]

Oh, Sorry! I started a thought and did not finish it.
Port (of E)(Mobile) and Port (of E)(TC) are Embarkation elements of the Transportation Corps and / or special Engineer units. What most folks do not know - Used to be that the US Army had the largest water craft (small boat) navy in the world, i.e., landing craft, tug boats, engineer craft, working boats,, barges, (divers, cranes, gun boats), etc.

I'll be glad to answer questions about the US Army.

/R

Stephen
Washington, DC

[Ladkyis]

The Malpas Court camp or the Tredegar Park camp would be the obvious ones. Now How do I find out about the 20th Postal REgt or the 36th Ord Bomb Disp Sq.

I do realise that this will not get use anywhere but I need to try for my cuz to know that all avenues were searched before we gave up.

[Stephen M. Kohler]

The U.S. Army Adjutant General Corps at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland have multiple websites. Google them! On these websites you can access the Post Historian's contact information.

/R

Stephen
Washington, DC

[Ladkyis]

Thank you Stephen for giving me so much of your time, I am really grateful.
I will let you know how I get on with the search