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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: mlrsuperstar on Tuesday 13 May 14 15:22 BST (UK)
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Hi I am trying to find out the names of the units of the American Armed forces that were based or Billeted in the Bridgend/Maesteg/Porthcawl /Port Talbot areas in the run up to D-DAY.
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there may be something on this site
http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/Island_Farm_Camp.htm
or here
http://www.kenfig.org.uk/waryears/#.U3JAwI1OW1s
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I think that a lot of them were stationed at Margam Park in Port Talbot. I vaguely remember seeing some photos of the camps on a Port Talbot memories page on Facebook, so it may well be worth checking that as the members on the page are closely associated with Port Talbot Historical Society
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Thanks both I looked at the Island Farm website and have spoken to Brett Exton the webmaster who is very knowledgeable on the subject. I am now trying to find out if there is anyone else or organisation who may have more information.
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I Hope after 4 years there is someone who might now have the answer to this question ?
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I have used this list for US Army and Air Force units in East Anglia so it may be of help
US Army/Army Air Force: Units from UK Station List
www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/documents/US-units-March-44.doc
You will get a Word document to download. You have to enable editing and you can then use Word's search facility.
I search by county as some place names aren't obvious!
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Many many thanks I am very grateful.
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Have you tried the following web-site, page down until you come to Glamorgan it does list some of the American units stationed around Glamorgan.
www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk/forum/war-office-and-army-units/3848-army-camps-barracks-wales
Hope this helps.
West.
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Thank you West I will research it now.
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Afraid I can't help with names of American units stationed in South Wales during W.W.2, but I do have a clear recollection of U.S. troops stationed at Margam Castle, Port Talbot. For security reasons, access to the Margam estate was restricted, but as my great-aunts lived in the West Lodge (demolished in the 1960s to facilitate construction of the M4) on the estate my father had a permit to enable him to visit them and, as a child, I used to accompany him. An American sentry was posted at the white gates outside the Lodge at the western entrance to the estate and we were able to walk a certain distance up the drive, though not as far as the Castle. In the months leading up to D-Day, there was a long line of military vehicles with American insignia parked along the length of the drive. Memories of childhood are not always reliable with the passage of years but, if mine are correct, I believe that these vehicles were painted yellow, which suggests they may have been brought from the campaign in North Africa, but that is only my guess. Anyway, one day they were no longer there - I assume that they had moved on as a result of D-Day. I hope this may be of some general interest, even though it does not answer your specific question. At least, it enabled me to go on a nostalgia-trip!
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Many thanks Cymro to for sharing.
Diolch yn fawr.