US Army in Northern Ireland, 1941-1945

In 1942 the first American Troops began to arrive in the UK and some were garrisoned in Northern Ireland. Here are a few photos of US troops stationed in Ulster from the US Army website: Photos From World War II Ireland

 

As can be seen from the pictures the British-style helmets were still in use. Anyone know when the US army changed over to the more familiar style of helmet?

 

It was very early 1942, Gott. I'll see if I can find a date.

M-1 STEEL HELMET

The Army M1 steel helmet was standardized on 30 April 1941 and was approved on 9 June 1941.


It obviously took a while for them to "get to the field". I suspect it was issued to troops as supplies of them were available.

 

Wish I could get hold of this WW2 movie.
The Digital Film Archive: Northern Ireland


The Digital Film Archive: Northern Ireland

Some great scenes in it.
Views of Strabane , Londonderry / Derry , Carrickfergus , Giants Causeway - troops on Exercise , Mournes etc.
Starts off with an officer asking two men why they have not been writing home , they good naturedly agree that they should and these filmed images are what they "write home about".

 

Here's an interesting article on Baseball games by US troops stationed in Northern Ireland from 1942-44: http://www.garybed.co.uk/eto.htm

 

I'm sure I posted about the GI helmets on here

 

wLetter from Ulster
Could once be had on VHS from Amazon much to my surprise - would be worth digging out a VHS for that or getting it transferred to DVD !
Sorry I missed it. .

It has been shown once or twice on UTV in the distant past - very much
" Hey , I notice that you boys havn't been writing home"
"Gee sir...we have been kinda busy"
" Make time to write to the folks at home , and tell them what you are doing here son , you know your Mom would like to know what a swell place this is"
"Your right sir , Mom and Pop would love to know"

( Mom's apple pie any one ?? The nature of how the show but a great view of the past and how the US got its message across).

After The Battle - issue 27 mostly given over to the Americans in Ulster - some great views of troops marching up Cookstown Main Street , and sadly the darker side of life.
The murder of a young child near Cluntoe Airbase in Tyrone.
the perputrator was hanged for the murder at Shepton mallet.

BBC - WW2 People's War - American losses in N Ireland

BBC - WW2 People's War - Photo Gallery: Northern Ireland

 

I'm sure I posted about the GI helmets on here
Andy, I'm sure you did. I was merely musing aloud and Geoff answered the call. I should have searched first!

 

Andy, I'm sure you did. I was merely musing aloud and Geoff answered the call. I should have searched first!


I ment on this thread .......I think its gone to thread heaven I bloody searched for ages for the info too and now I can't remember the site where I found it.

I was basically along the lines of there was a massive surplus of the WW1 helmets and the new M-1 GI Helmet started filtering through to units in 1941 but it was late 1942 before the WW1 'doughboy helmet' was completely replaced.

I remember seeing the old WW1 helmets in use in archive footage in the Pacific theatre specifically footage from the Battle at Midway.

Cheers
Andy

 

The original pics got me thinking, especially the one with the Irish girls on.

War Brides ?

Found this

Photo Album: American War Brides Experience


Peter

 

From one of the links posted earlier
Local children were treated to sweets, chewing gum and free trips to the cinema. Adults got cigarettes, nylon stockings and cosmetics. A certain amount of jealousy on the part of local men was only to be expected as needless to say these glamorous foreigners were regarded as rivals by some local men.

My dad has told me of numerous 'altercations' that occurred between the local men and the 'Yanks'. But having said that he also recalled many times when he was given patches and berets by the American soldiers.

While in Lurgan the soldiers where billeted in Brownlow House.
Various contingents of British and American troops were stationed in Lurgan between 1939 and 1945 and when the United States forces were billeted in Brownlow House, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander is said to have spent at least one night there with his men. The corridor to the room in the House where he slept is still called the Officer's Corridor. One of the stained glass heraldic panes on the grand staircase was removed then reputedly by the Yanks as a memento of their stay. It has however been replaced by a replica.
BROWNLOW HOUSE, LURGAN

 

My Grandfathers two sisters married two US Navy men then moved to America never to be seen again. Anyone know how I might go about tracing the sailors? I have their names and know that they were stationed in Derry during the war.

 

Further to my earlier post this is Brownlow House - possibly one of the plusher places the American soldiers bunked

http://www.imagesireland.net/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=media;id=59
http://www.imagesireland.net/MGalleryItem.php?id=59

 

also : http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/other-research/15368-african-american-soldiers-based-briatin-during-ww2.html

 

The building was, until 1939 the Musgrave Park Protestant Boys Industrial School (Borstal to thee n me)
Taken over by 5th (Harvard) US Gen Hosp and 23 (I think, all my paperwork is back in Lisburn - and Im in Hull) Brit Gen Hosp
Staff photo


There is a very small part remaining of the large Nissan Hut extension that was built, and stayed well into the late 1990's. You can find it, its the corridor between the Withers and Acquired Brain Injury Unit

 

NI was invaded by over 120,000 US troops - and many displaced Europeans too

Morale was at a low with the yanks - so the hallowed turf of Windsor Park became a Baseball ground

 

The first american to set foot



the yanks on the move - passing city hall




upper and lower photos were taken at initial deployment - where as the march past must be later, as they have moved to the more recognisable GI uniform