US soldiers remember 'weak beer' and 'overcrowded' Taunton

The County Gazette has tracked down some transcript from some of the soldiers who were in the County town between February to April in 1944.

Most interestingly they describe the pub culture in the town and, of course, the fish and chips.

The private diary of Tech Sergeant Gellish, Clerk-typist for the 510th has the private home said: “In early February we were billeted in private homes of Taunton.

"The boys rapidly familiarize themselves with the English “Pubs” weak beer, rough cider, bitters, fish and chips, fish paste and marshmallow sandwiches, and the overcrowded town.

"Air raid alerts were common, and the flickering torches (flashlights) on blacked out streets will long be remembered.”

Another report from confirmed there were many soldiers in Taunton during the first half of 1944.

Captain Jack Snyder, 510th Ordnance Company Commander, said in his US Army morning reports: “Between 1 April 1944 and 30 June 1944, officers and men were quartered in private billets in the town of Taunton, Somerset.

"Messing facilities were provided by a consolidated mess operated in the town of Taunton."

We obtained these brilliant pieces of historical reference to Taunton thanks to a new friend in America.

Malcolm and June (nee Tortolano) Windsor contacted us to ask for any reference in our archives to the US Army in Taunton.

June's late father was part of the earlier mentioned 510th company and he too was stationed in Taunton in private homes.

Malcolm Windsor told us that: "My wife’s late father, when he did talk of the war – he was very reticent about most of it – stated that he stayed in a house whose family consisted of a mother, father, and, perhaps, a disabled daughter, although our memory is somewhat hazy on the daughter’s condition or even if she was disabled.

"The 510th company was under strict orders to only sleep at these accommodations. They were also not to eat with the individuals as well."

This was because, according to documents, the 510th company was very well aware of the ultra-strict rationing of the British.

"Also June’s father was not wishing to impose a huge burden upon the people that he was staying with," Mr Windsor said.

The photo of the soldier in this article is indeed June Windsor's late father.

The pictures are taken in the old American G-50 headquarters and also on Camp Lingston Liberty.

Unfortunately no pictures of the US Army in Taunton have been recovered or pass down.

Mr Windsor said this was because of restrictions.

"We are assuming that photographs were strictly forbidden during their time in Taunton, or at least, perhaps, the 510th enforced that blackout, thus we have no pictures of his stay in England.

So how did the County Gazette accommodate the American soldiers back in 1944?

Taking a look back through the archives there were frequent mention of the US Army.

To start, in every edition of the paper while the US Army were in Taunton, a message of support was printed.

It read: "To our American friends; This is the County Newspaper of Somerset, and offers you the best news and publicity service in the area, our general printing department can help you, too, in all your Club activities. Write or phone Taunton 2225. We are at your service."

There was also mention to a young lady official from the US who gave an address to representatives of local schools in Taunton.

The County Gazette reported: "The address on Youth Work in America by Miss Louise Morley, a young official of the United States Office of War Information at the Wyndham Hall on Thursday evening of last week, was attended by representatives many local youth organisations.

"Mr. D. Crichton-Miller, headmaster of Taunton School, presided. Miss Morley said that the majority of Hollywood films unfortunately led one to false impressions of American youth.

"The youth of America and Britain differed in a few fundamentals only, and it was incorrect to think that all American youths were jitterbugs.

"Regarding educational and religious freedom she declared that the high ideals of their British forefathers had been preserved."

Another thing to point out is the amount of weddings between US Army soldiers and local women in Taunton and Somerset.

One cutout reads: "In the presence of many friends and well-wishers a very pretty wedding took place on Saturday at St, Mary's Church, Taunton.

"The bride-groom was Winiam Junior Nelson, of USA, and the bride Miss Madge Mary Giles, of Gloucester-street, Taunton.

"The bride was met at the church entrance by the choirboys, and the marriage service was choral, with Mr. Herbert Knott, F.R.C.O., at the organ."

Do you have any relatives that remembers the US soldiers in Taunton? Feel free to get in touch with us at the County Gazette - newsdesk@countygazette.co.uk.