Wars and ConflictsΒ permalink
Billeting of U.S. Soldiers during WWII
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Message 1.Β
Posted by Laura (U14532132) on Wednesday, 23rd November 2011
I volunteered at a nursing home as a young girl and took care of a wonderful women frome England. I cannot recall the town from which she now lived as I am nearly old enough for a nursing home myself. She told me that her home became a place for a couple of U.S. officers and she married one of them when she had just turned eighteen. she came to the U.S. as a young bride and found out she was pregnant shortly after her arrival or on her way over. She lived with his wealhly parents in New York. He died when his plane was shot down and his body was nevr recovered. How often did U.S. Soldiers billet in Brittish homes. I would like to find out where I could find out more about this and maybe some records. It would make for fascinating reading.
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Message 2
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
Laura
US military personnel were usually only billeted on British families if no military accomodation or hotel accomodation could be found, so it was not a usual occurrence. It normally only happened with advance parties or where an individual or a small group were somewhere where US accomodation was not yet available.
This would seem to suggest that your lady's future husband was one of the early arrivals in the UK.
The other possibility is that he wasn't actually billeted on the family, but was befriended by them. A lot of families made friends with US personnel, and it gave them somewhere off-base to go to relax when off-duty in a domestic environment. Many lasting friendships developed in this way.
I can't recommend a book that deals specifically with this aspect of the war. However, "The Ultra Americans" by Thomas Parrish, which deals with the US Army personnel assigned to the Bletchley Park codebreaking station, does have some descriptions of the experiences of individuals who were billeted on civilians in Bedford before a BOQ was established nearer the base.
You may be able to find some contemporary US government records on billeting policy on one of the official sites.
Regards
LW -
Message 3
Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
Laura, it has always been the custom in the UK for the government to billet military personal in civilian homes during times of national emergency, that was one of the complaints lodged against the Crown by the American Colonists that lead to the War for Independence. The reason for billeting military personal in private homes would be caused by the rapid increase of personal to the Armed Forces in time of War, thus the lack lack of accommodation to house so many in so short a time.
During WW2 some British Commandos were billeted in private homes after being trained, unsure if it was customary. I served with a member of the Pay Corps later he was transferred to the Infantry that's how I met him. He told me after Primary Training he was transferred to the Pay Corps and was billeted with a family and went to work at an Army Post just like a civilian. Strange, I didn't ask him if the family provided meals, but it may have been as in camp, you have all meals at the mess, and sleeping accommodation provided by civilians, they would be paid for housing the person.
Some American Armed Forces personal may have been billeted in private homes for convenience, but many British families welcomed American military personal to their homes and made them feel quite at home. -
Message 4
Posted by Laura (U14532132) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
Long Weekend,
Thank you. After reading the reply and the reply after yours I did remember something else. We were encouraged to read the records of the residents written by the social workers upon the residents' first arrival when the family could add input the resident couldn't remember. I remember that She would have had to meet him, marry him, get pregnant and start to the U.S. all in a matter of about two or three months or less unless he was there before we were actually in the war there. I never got an answer to that question until years later when watching an old movie and a U.S. pilot went to England to fly before we went just because he wanted to and joined his old regiment after they got there sometime later. I am sure some of it may have been embellished but I got the gist of the idea and thought that may have happened there. But the pilot in the movie wasn't billeted.
Laura -
Message 5
Posted by Laura (U14532132) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
Rhmnney,
Thanks for your post. I think I understand a little more between your post and messairlge 2. I had such romantic ideas about wars back then. Ah to be young in the mid 70's again. Now I have my youngest daughter in the Army and while in Afghanistan she met an Infantry Soldier (she's an evac combat medic) She saved his life. While delirious he thought he had died and she was and angel and he wanted to marry her. 6 months later they were wed in an online ceremony in their cmp in Afghanistan. 4 months later, just 5 days before they were scheduled to come home to thier base fort, my daughter found out she was going to have unauthorized personnel. She had to leave the country and went to another safe country for 5 days. The personnel arrived on the 14th of this month. A 9and a half pound baby girl. I believe that is 4.37 kg or approximately. She didn't re-list and will be out of the service and back in University by summer. Her husband plans on staying in till retirement. He had been deployed overseas twice before he was 21. He just turned 22, My daughter 24. I will never rest as long as I have a loved one in the service. I hate war. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like for those of you over ther who had to live through it daily. It no longer holds any romantic appeal. Even the small bit of happiness snatched from daily bleakness was frought with worry when your loved one was out of sight, and then all too often end in tragedy.
Thank you for your help,
Laura -
Message 6
Posted by raundsgirl (U2992430) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
There were quite a few Americans who enlisted long before the U.S. entered WW2. They wanted to be part of the 'adventure'!
The thing you need to understand about the British after the war was that everyone was exhausted with the effort of 'Carrying On', 'making do' and sustaining the tremendous mental and physical effort necessary. We were tired of shortages, a restricted diet, in fact the whole country was just plain tired. By the time America joined in, we had already been working at full stretch whilst being bombed to blazes for 2 years! -
Message 7
Posted by Laura (U14532132) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
My son commented on a rock video by a band whose members would have been about 5 or 6 years old and living in England and Scotland at the time. It was a dark video making references to communism, Nazis, Russia, starving,deathtrains and more horrible things. I showed him what each referenc was. I listened to the same song without aid of video until the 80's when I was youg. He didn't underestand why a rock band would make a song and video about that. I explained how those muscians must have had to grow up. He said "Wow, I get mad when I can't have new brand name shoes." The best thing that ever happened. That son is a hard worker, pays all the bills, won't let his wife pay any of the "Have to" bills. Her paycheck goes for savings and things they want. Finally bought a "Brand New" car for the first time. Soon they will get a house, then a baby. He never again begged me for anything. I raised all 4 alone. He had three jobs during summer vacation and was the man of the house. I would have been lost without him. Who would think a rock video could have such an effect.
Laura -
Message 8
Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Saturday, 26th November 2011
raundsgirl,
American males were conscripted into the British Armed Forces during WW2, there was a post on the message boards some time ago of British males being conscripted into the US Army during 'The War between the States' termed, 'Civll War', and the poster very upset about it. I didn't respond, but at one camp in the British Army during WW2 I was in a barrack room with 33 men of whom 3 were American, in fact just before going overseas I took one of our boys, 'Inside', 'incarcerated' and he was American, a few days later. Sadly they could only envy their countrymen. he did sail with us There is a simple explanation why they were conscripted, they were on a visit to the UK when war broke out and owing to shipping difficulties unable to return home, so when they reached conscription age were drafted. They had letters from Washington but the US authorities could do nothing for them. I never learned if they missed out under the GI Bill, they were American and served with an Allies so should have been granted. I'll inquire. -
Message 9
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Sunday, 27th November 2011
rhmnney
I think your "American males" must have had dual citizenship, or been British citizens awaiting naturalisation in the US when they got stuck over here.
The US was very sensitive about breaches to their neutrality between the outbreak of war and Pear Harbor and there was a constant diplomatic battle over US citizens who volunteered. Conscripting US citizens, with its echoes of The War of 1812, would have been even worse. If the US authorities had claimed them unequivocally as solely US citizens, they would have been released.
Further, if they had been US citizens, they would have been allowed to take passage out. But there were restrictions on British civilians, particularly males of or approaching military age, leaving the country.
British citizens had to have been resident in Great Britain for two years before being liable for call-up, but that would tie-in with your post.
I am not doubting your word, or your comrades' sense of grievance, but I suspect it was more complicated than it appeared.
Dual citizenship, incidentally, was how many US volunteers got round the Neutrality Act. This causes some confusion in assessing, for instance, how many Americans served in the RAF. Men whose families and friends in the USA would regard as American in fact joined up as loyal subjects of the King-Emperor, and went in the records as British.
LW -
Message 10
Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Sunday, 27th November 2011
LW, I just typed a long lengthly reply to your post but I made a mistake and lost the whole thing. I do have trouble posting, as when I leave the message board I have to re-register each time, I've asked twice to a host how to correct this matter, but had no instructions how to remain a poster.
These Americans in question were born in the USA and had visited their grandmothers and relatives and when war broke out, most people in that time in Britain and the USA thought the war would only last for 9 months at the most, and probable just for 3 months, as it was going to be a, "Push Button War". I well remember hearing that when I lived in Britain, and later when in the US of what Americans said during 1939
Another American in training with us was an American volunteer in the RAF an Air Gunner, he done his required Ops and volunteer for some more, he was then transferred to the British Army to Infantry training, his complaint was that because his service was no longer required for the service he had volunteered for he should be discharged and allowed to join the US Armed Forces. Better pay, food, conditions and have women swooning at his feet. (I added the last bit regarding the women)
Of the letters from Washington I read, they were not form letters, each addressing the matters and questions answered, all cautioned against deserting, mentioned if he found himself in a neutral country he may be able to contact the US authorities there and seek their advice and or join the US services there, but if he did ever return to the UK of possessions he would be considered a deserter. They all ended up with a sort we are Allies and probably best to Soldier on. -
Message 11
Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Sunday, 27th November 2011
Laura.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but if Americans had experienced War as the British and Germans did during WW2, (and not of the public's making) I'm sure there would be very long and hard talks before the USA engaged in foreign adventures. As with Vietnam, the civil population was comfortable at home, those who wanted jobs had jobs as they were plentiful, Labor Unions very patriotic, no mention of million or so young healthy 18 year olds taken off the job market. Business thriving, Stock Market on a Roll, only those with loved ones in the Armed Forces had cause for alarm, and for far too many in despair, and sadly still many suffering.
During the war in the UK there was a song I don't remember the words but one part went, "Who don't know enough to raise a cheer", I remember that when one shouts, "Do you want to, "Cut and Run". I would prefer a condition when one does not put themselves in that position in the first place. -
Message 12
Posted by Laura (U14532132) on Sunday, 27th November 2011
rhmney,
I am ever grateful not to have ever been in a country ravaged in every way by war. When I was a little girl in the 60s, I grew up listening to news of Vietnam every evening. My sisters were 10 and 12 years older than i and they often had friends who were drafted, I had friends who's brothers were drafted or worse, killed or missing. I think the worse thing for me was that I didn't know what it was. I thought the "Vietcong" were people with guns right outside my house somwhere and I had my younger brother help me move my bed several timesso as to confuse them if they attemped to shoot me through my bedroom in the middle of the night and always slept with pillows and stuffed toys piled behind me while I made sure I faced the inside of the house. My kids have said that if I take a sleeping pill, I say my prayers shortly after I turn out the light and sometimes they hear me whisper"and please don't let the Vietcong get us during the night". It must be from all the years of sying it as a child. I just cannot even imagine the kind of prayer little boys and girs in the U.K. must have said each evening.
My mother said there was a lot of rationing here during the war. But she said it wasn't really so bad. They were so poor, her family was usually allowed more than they could afford.
The British Isles have always been an attractive prize. It seems like everybody and his brother has attacted you. You have always managed to overcome all hardships. -
Message 13
Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Sunday, 27th November 2011
Laura. when I see the newsreels taken from the air of the bombed out German cities my thoughts are, "Was That Really Necessary, to that Amount?' Sheer revenge, in fact most people in Britain who suffered heavily from the German bombing did not wish it on the Germans or anyone. The USAAC lost many fine men as did the RAF but it was Britain's War not America's, Britain declared War on Germany not the other way around, and at the first setback, Dunkirk, they screamed for American aid and firmly believed that America should have joined them from the start, and still do. I lived through those times, It was the WW1 Allies (not to include the Americans) who caused WW2 for demanding so high a price from Germany after WW1, where in fact they were all equally to blame.
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Message 14
Posted by Laura (U14532132) on Sunday, 27th November 2011
rhmnney,
The problem with us is we think we can beat anyone. We probably can but in doing so we will have to use means that will ultimately beat ourselves as well. It frightens me to think of that. Living during the cold war wasn't so bad because I was happily oblivious to it. I didn't see it on the news as a tangible, bloody , killing war taking prisoners and friends like Vietnam.
Laura -
Message 15
Posted by islanddawn (U7379884) on Monday, 28th November 2011
I do have trouble posting, as when I leave the message board I have to re-register each time,Β
Have you ticked the "remember me on this computer" box that is just under the "sign in" button? Ticking the box keeps you logged in, instead of signing in each time. -
Message 16
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Monday, 28th November 2011
rhmney
The detail about the letters from the US authorities is very interesting. Thank you.
From what you post, it would appear that they believed the British authorities had some claim n these men, although should they find themselves in a neutral state, they could chose to make a claim to their US rights. By "neutral state", I imagine the one the Embassy had in mind was the Irish Free State. I wonder if anyone in this position ever did turn up in Dublin claiming US citizenship? If they did, presumably they would be sent to the Pacific, to avoid complications with the British.
Your story about the air gunner is also very interesting, and the first case of this kind I have come across. US citizens who had volunteered for British service prior to Pearl Harbor were offered the opportunity to transfer to the US service once America became a combattant. Some did not (for instance Joe McCarthy, one of the 617 Sqn pilots on the Dams Raid). Numbers of trainee aircrew and trained ground crew (in particular the RAF Regiment, for fairly obvious reasons) were transferred to the Army in 1944/1945. However, I had not previously heard of trained aircrew with a full tour of Ops being transferred to the Army ( a lot of newly-qualified pilots were assigned to fly gliders for the Rhine Crossing, but they stayed in the RAF). He would have been a "war substantive" sergeant in the RAF and thus not liable to drop in rank unless reduced for disciplinary reasons. Trainee aircrew were AC2s (privates) so not a problem. What rank was he when you met him?
You do seem to have met a lot of wronged Americans!
Cheers
LW
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