barry gi brides magazine - American War Bride Experience

BARRY
GI BRIDES
MAGAZINE
June 2010 Number Eight
Porthkerry Road Methodist Church, Barry
BARRY GI BRIDES MAGAZINE
JUNE 2010
NUMBER EIGHT
Welcome to B.G.I.B.M. Number Eight!
This month the spotlight is on some of the US Army officers of the Quartermaster
Section @ G-40 who married locally, two of them doing so at Porthkerry Road
Methodist Church, Barry (see front cover). QM personnel seemed to be stationed in
the area for a long time compared with other US servicemen, giving them more
opportunity to meet the locals.
These officers were attached to the Quartermaster Section, G-40, as
of April 1st, 1944. Those highlighted tied the knot...
Colonel Pilkington,
George C.
Commanding Officer
Major Stoltz,
Otto W.
QM Supply Officer
Captain Pendley,
Alva E.
Executive Officer
Captain Zackary,
Walter G.
Regular Supplies
Captain Goretzke,
Everette T.
Subsistence
Captain McKeown,
Samuel M.
C&E
First Lieutenant Caramia,
John A.
Mess Advisor
First Lieutenant St. Clair,
Forrest W.
Property Officer
First Lieutenant Weihrauch,
Othmar H.
Sales Store Supplies
First Lieutenant Passman,
Peter P.
Cold Stores Officer
Second Lieutenant Garnhardt,
Lawrence A.
Sales Officer
Second Lieutenant West,
Floyd A.
Asst. Subs. Officer
From another list (undated):
Captain Karcanew,
James C.
Deputy QM
First Lieutenant Napier,
Thruman*
Admin Assistant
Or “Thurman” … See below…
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Friday September 17th, 1943
NAPIER – TYLER
Miss Doris E. Tyler, second daughter of Mr and Mrs H Tyler, Romilly Park, Barry,
was married on Thursday to Lieutenant Thurman* William Napier, US Army, only
son of Mrs C H Baker and the late Mr W B Napier, Aztec, New Mexico. The
ceremony took place at Porthkerry Road Methodist Church, Barry… Lieutenant
O Weihrauch, US Army, was the best man and the ushers were Lieutenant
Scharaga, US Army...
Lieutenant Napier worked @ G-40, as an “Admin Assistant”.
Friday August 9th, 1946
WEIHRAUCH – STURGESS
Mr and Mrs W S Sturgess, Newlands Street, Barry, announce the engagement of
their daughter, Mary, to Captain O H Weihrauch, elder son of Mr and Mrs O.
Weihrauch of Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.
Friday December 20th, 1946
WEIHRAUCH – STURGESS
On December 13th, 1946 at Porthkerry Road Methodist Church, Captain O. H.
Weihrauch, eldest son of Mr & Mrs O. H. Weihrauch of Erie, USA, to Mary, only
daughter of Mr and Mrs Sturgess of Newlands Street, Barry.
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BARRY GI BRIDES MAGAZINE
JUNE 2010
NUMBER EIGHT
Monday November 6th, 1944
PENDLEY – ROBERTS
On November 5th, at Connaught Nursing Home, to Joanne, (nee Roberts), wife of
Captain A K Pendley, US Army, gift of a son, Christopher Scott.
Captain Pendley, it seems likely, married a Cardiff woman as their son was born
eight miles or so from Barry.
Another Quartermaster Officer:
Thursday April 12th, 1945 – SWE
KARCANES – BUTLER
At Woodlands Road Nursing Home, April 10th, to Mavis and Major Karcanes, US
Army, a son, Charles James, first great-grandson of Mr and Mrs F Butler, Lombard
Street. (Barry)
According to the above records, one Captain James C. Karcanew worked @ G-40,
as Deputy Quartermaster. So, was it Karcanes or Karcanew?
Feedback:
Mrs Denise Llewellyn who was a WREN during WW2 and was based in Cardiff
Docks @ Mount Stuart Square wrote: “I do congratulate you on your initiative in
researching all this material. I had often wondered how the girls who married GIs had
fared…” Especially as for some it did not work out.
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Lieutenant West looked east to the town of Penarth for a bride:
Thursday October 12th, 1944
WEST – KIDNEY
The wedding took place by special licence at Cardiff yesterday of Lieutenant Floyd
West, US Army, only son of Mrs Fedelia West, Virginia, USA, and Miss Patricia
Kidney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kidney, 29, West Terrace. Penarth...The
best man was Captain Keresky.
As of April 1st, 1944, according to US Army’s records these two officers were working
at G-40 in the Quartermaster Section:
Captain Everette T. Goretzke, was the Subsistence Officer and Second
Lieutenant Floyd A. West, was the Assistant Subsistence Officer.
So has Goretzke become Keresky? Or Keresky Goretzke?
Thursday May 9th, 1946
LEFT PENARTH FOR USA
Another well known Penarth lady, Mrs Mary West, formerly Miss Kidney, of 29,
West Terrace, has left Penarth to make her home in America. She sailed in the
Saturalia on Good Friday and arrived in New York on Saturday, where she was met
by her husband. Her new home will be in Virginia.
Mrs West was married a year last October, her husband being Lieutenant Floyd
West, of the US Army.
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NUMBER EIGHT
A Brief History of G-40, activated August 14th, 1942
(from Uncle Sam’s records)
"Situated on the south-eastern side of the town of Barry, in Glamorganshire, South
Wales, G-40 embraces the area and buildings which up to time of handing over to
U.S. Army, was used by the British Army as a supply depot and was known as No. 2
Supply Reserve Depot. This was a British project before the war commenced and
was intended to be used as a supply reserve depot, i.e., a depot supplying overseas
garrisons with subsistence and disinfectants. It actually functioned in June 1940,
before its scheduled time."
On August 14th 1942, Major James H. Finnerty... Quartermaster Corps, reported
for duty and was designated commanding officer of G-40... Colonel William R.
McMaster... QMC, reported for duty and was designated commanding officer of G40 by letter... dated August 21st, and Major James H. Finnerty was relieved as
commanding officer. On September 15th 1942, Lt. Col. George C. Pilkington...
QMC, reported for duty, and assumed command of G-40...
Improvements continued to be made and on or about September 25th, 1942, the
camouflaging of the depot became complete. The civilian staff had been gradually
absorbed by G-40, and on October 28th, 1942, all remaining civilians were
transferred to G-40. On January 1st, 1943, the portion of No.2 Supply Reserve
Depot, with the exception of No.5 Nissen Hut and Group V Officers Quarters, was
officially handed over to U.S. Forces at general Depot G-40. Officers and enlisted
personnel continued to arrive for duty at the depot, and on August 25th, 1943, Farm
Camp Sully, now known as Farm Camp, was taken over by U.S. Forces to house
troops. It has continually expanded to present date (April 1944) to approximately
2,200.
The Red Cross Club opened November 28th, 1943 at Farm Camp for the use of
military personnel, and at present is supervised by two Red Cross girls and a staff of
British workers.”
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JUNE 2010
NUMBER EIGHT
Mr Stuart Farmer (with the Wales shirt!)
and Happy Friends @Brynhill Golf Club House
In May 19th, 2010 I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr Stuart Farmer of
Longview, Washington state, USA, at the Brynhill Golf Clubhouse, Barry. Stuart
was back home visiting friends and showing his new wife, Elaine, the Land of His
Fathers and England and Scotland, too!
I first met Stuart two years ago in “cyberspace” (thanks to Mr Steve Williams and
his really useful website http://www.barrywales.co.uk/index.asp,) since when we
have corresponded frequently. Diligent readers
will recall that Stuart left the UK in
1957 to live near his sister Betty Nelson who had migrated to the West Coast over
ten years previously to join her husband Peter. Subsequently their parents joined
them “Over There” to live out their years in the Evergreen State.
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Mr Gordon Lease, USS Landing Ship, Tank 381
...was a visitor to Barry for three weeks in summer 1944. His LST came here for
repairs. He did NOT marry a local lady, but he did date and he did have some
interesting memories...
“My memories of Barry revolve mostly around Knap Gardens and a large building
nearby where ballroom dancing occurred (daily?) Also, at the lower end of the
gardens, there was a sort of ‘Roman’-style covered porch where we and our
dates took shelter from the rains. It seems to me that it rained almost daily while
we were there.
Also, on the other side of the hill from Knapp gardens, there was an impressive
‘Swimming Bath’ which received fresh seawater from the rising tide daily.
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BARRY GI BRIDES MAGAZINE
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The warmth of the people in Barry and the high quality and quantity of the work done
on our ship were impressive and greatly appreciated by us “Yanks.” None of the
repairs failed and we completed many more trips to Normandy and Brittany…”
I have compiled a fuller account of that visit in a 12 page booklet:
OVER HERE: IN BARRY
Mr Gordon Lease & LST 381
SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AGO THIS MONTH,
in the Barry & District News…
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BARRY GI BRIDES MAGAZINE
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ANON
Here are some recollections of a Barry War Bride who shall remain anonymous. I
will call her M. They show how love and romance could overcome initial local
reservations regarding Americans, especially having Americans in the home which
touches on the touchy subject of billeting…
During the Second World War M worked at Barry Docks at the British Army’s Supply
Reserve Depot (SRD) Number Two. With other young girls she used to pack food
into tins, which were then sent to British forces overseas.
It was summer of 1943. The
weather was warm and there
were Americans in town...
One day an American officer and a corporal drove into their shed on business. The
Americans were in the process of taking over the SRD and turning it into General
Supply Depot – G40. The next day the corporal named Alf returned to the depot
and later that afternoon he met M and walked her through the docks past the Barry
Dock Hotel to her home.
When they arrived there he said: "I was at this house today." " Really, why?" asked
M." "Well, we have to have billets. We were coming to get billets, the officer and I."
When the lady of the house had opened the door, she had taken one look at the
Yanks and said; "I have no room! I have no room!” It had been M's mum! She was
terrified. She wasn't going to let any Americans into her house.
But this changed when M met a GI sergeant from 11th Major Port, Transportation
Corps, named Bill, at Barry Island fairground and eventually a real romance began
so that M’s mother’s reluctance to have Americans in her home was duly overcome!
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BARRY GI BRIDES MAGAZINE
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MISCELLANEOUS
Regarding Jack & Sheila Poulosky nee Wiltshire, (see BGIBM Numbers Five &
Six) who married in June 1946 in the USA, and lived in Ponca, Nebraska, I found this
poignant notice on the internet:
Here is another interesting snippet from the post-WW2 press as a mother
ADOPTS HER OWN DAUGHTER!
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BARRY GI BRIDES MAGAZINE
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Another place where Brits and Yanks could dance the night away…
The “Marina” photo was sent me by the late Mr. Ed Doughty, 187th Ordnance
Depot Company @ G-40 in 1944
As usual, if anyone can add anything of interest to any of the people
mentioned in this edition please get in touch.
glenn.booker501@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone - Home: 01446 741886: Mobile: 07790998405
Number Eight was NICELY PRINTED @ COPY-IT, Holton Road, Barry
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