Author Topic: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead  (Read 1425 times)

Offline LEMB

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Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« on: Tuesday 18 June 19 21:27 BST (UK) »
**This has been discussed before but this is a different post now with a little more info/facts and less confusion because i thought he was in a Korean war but now i do not believe this to be true!**

Hello,

Everyone who I could possibly ask about this has died so i'm trying to do the search alone.

My Aunt Joan died in 2018 (BORN 1944) and she never knew her dad, we have recently found out that he was a soldier in WW2. His name was R.G.DUNN which is Robert George Dunn, I think he was born approx 1913 and obviously was with Joan's mum around 1944 too.

Joans mum was Doris Walklate 1920-1983 - not sure if that will help because they didn't marry?

Anyway, from what i've read, i think Robert was an American soldier who had came over to Cheshire and he met Joan whilst he was here for some time. He must have been at an Army base? So when Joan was born, Robert wanted Joan and Doris to go back to America with him but turns out there was a spat with his mum and Doris etc so they did not go. Robert went back to America by himself. Apparently before this all happened, the American troops were given the option to bring family to America, they had to be checked over at an Army base in Tidworth and they were then all put down on some sort of documentation as the American soldiers "children or wife" etc incase they chose to move. Is this anything that anyone has heard of?

Robert must have wanted Joan to know about him because after the war happened and after he had died, a book was delivered to Joan in Cheshire, a book called "Britains homage to 28,000 Americans Dead" with "In memory of R.G.Dunn". Joan was about 11 years old when she received it and the book specifically said that it was for the men who died in war, 1952 and beforehand. So we know he definitely died before 1955 (the year Joan received the book)... and inside, they have put that the soldiers NEXT OF KIN will receive the book if and when the soldier has died. So Robert must have put Joan as his next of kin? The daughter he never got to see?

SO now i'm trying to search for him, to see if there's a picture or just anything to confirm who he was. Apparently he also worked his way up to being Sargent/Captain, not sure if that helps?

I've seen many different stories but they don't match the stories i've now just been told? I've seen that a Robert Dunn was shot by his ex wife and dates seemed right etc but now i'm completely writing that off because he must of died in the war at some point somewhere for a book to be sent out in memory of him under the "Britain Homage to 28,000 Americans Dead"?!

Sorry - I'm wracking my brain on this one!! I just want to find him.

***Also, without wanting to offend anybody, but hopefully it will help, in those years, Robert was classed as a "Negro". I know this will obviously/hopefully help with searches***

Please pleaseeeeeeee if anyone can help or give me any tips or information etc regarding this, please let me know. Has anyone else ever seen this book? It's so interesting!!! THANK YOU :)

Offline les_looking

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 18 June 19 21:54 BST (UK) »
Not going to be much help BUT as far as I can see that book was for American servicemen who served AND Died IN Britain, so him returning to USA maybe a red herring ?

Offline LEMB

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 18 June 19 21:59 BST (UK) »
Not going to be much help BUT as far as I can see that book was for American servicemen who served AND Died IN Britain, so him returning to USA maybe a red herring ?

Yes! Thats what i thought, but now from just scanning the internet a few minutes ago, some other people have the same book for men who died in the Korean war. I don't think my relative was actually in the Korean war but I thought that would have been written off anyway because it wasn't in Britain - apparently not! Also, with the whole moving to America thing, i'm not sure if he went back to America or if he went and then came back or if the plan was, that he wanted them all to move to America AFTER the war but then he died anyway so even if they did move, Joan would have been without her father.

Online Erato

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 18 June 19 22:22 BST (UK) »
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis


Offline giblet

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 20 June 19 07:32 BST (UK) »

Robert must have wanted Joan to know about him because after the war happened and after he had died, a book was delivered to Joan in Cheshire, a book called "Britains homage to 28,000 Americans Dead" with "In memory of R.G.Dunn". Joan was about 11 years old when she received it and the book specifically said that it was for the men who died in war, 1952 and beforehand. So we know he definitely died before 1955 (the year Joan received the book)... and inside, they have put that the soldiers NEXT OF KIN will receive the book if and when the soldier has died. So Robert must have put Joan as his next of kin? The daughter he never got to see?

Is Joan's name actually in the book? If not the book may have been given to her with no pacific reason other than a gift without any blood connection to it at all.

Offline giblet

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 20 June 19 07:37 BST (UK) »
I've seen many different stories but they don't match the stories i've now just been told? I've seen that a Robert Dunn was shot by his ex wife and dates seemed right etc but now i'm completely writing that off because he must of died in the war at some point somewhere for a book to be sent out in memory of him under the "Britain Homage to 28,000 Americans Dead"?!

I wouldnt be so quick to ride this fellow off. On another one of your threads a member had left a post to explain..

Quote from member John 915
Some of those recorded as dying in Korea were actually killed in other military actions or in a few cases, car crashes in other parts of the world. Reading between the lines it would seem to me that the USA lumped them all together as casualties of the Korean war as a political statement.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=790416.9

Offline giblet

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 20 June 19 07:40 BST (UK) »
SO now i'm trying to search for him, to see if there's a picture or just anything to confirm who he was. Apparently he also worked his way up to being Sargent/Captain, not sure if that helps?


A picture such as a photo? There was a picture from a newspaper article posted on another of your threads of him.


Offline giblet

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 20 June 19 07:43 BST (UK) »
I would still try to find out as much as you can on the fellow who was shot.

I found this notice in the newspaper, it does have more names etc noted so might be worth having a dig around on them and see if anything pops up. There is also a picture of him on the link below.

Indianapolis Recorder,Indianapolis, Marion County,
16 December 1950
ROBERT GEORGE DUNN
DUNN - We wish to express our deepest appriecation to our relative, friends and neighbours for their kindness, sympathy, floral offering, telegrams, messages and cards extended to the passing of our beloved son, Robert George Dunn. We especially wish to thank the ministers for their visitations , prayers in our home and consoling words and the loyal members. The Sisters of Help, Ushers, Singers, Pall Bearers, doctors, O.E.S Chapter No. 45, Lavinia Dixon Lewis Board, American War Mothers, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Craig funeral Home  and their staff, donations of cars in any way for their kind and understanding service rendered.
Mother and Foster Father
Grace and John Perry.

https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=INR19501216-01.1.14&srpos=9&e=------195-en-20--1--txt-txIN-Robert+George+Dunn----1950--

On another article mother is noted as Grace Perry, step father, 5 aunts, 3 uncles. [So John Perry is his step father]

Offline giblet

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Re: Britains Homage to 28000 Americans Dead
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 20 June 19 08:48 BST (UK) »
A maybe??

From Familysearch

Name   DUNN ROBERT G
Military Service
Event Date   26 Mar 1943
Term of Enlistment   Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Event Place   Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Race   Negro
Citizenship Status   citizen
Birth Year   1913
Birthplace   INDIANA
Education Level      3 years of college
Civilian Occupation   Checkers
Marital Status   Separated, with dependents
Military Rank   Private
Army Branch   No branch assignment
Army Component   Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source Reference   Civil Life
Serial Number   35138859
Affiliate ARC Identifier   1263923
Box Film Number   09003.322