"APRIL 17, 1944" (Post #42)

APRIL 17, 1944

52 DAYS

Before we can read the next letter from Uncle Charlie, we must discuss a very important date. This date will change my uncle's thoughts, fears, expectations, and will happen before he writes his next letter home. The last letter we read was written on April 11, 1944. The next letter he writes will be dated April 24, 1944. Almost two weeks since his last letter? What happened during those two weeks? We will read from the 15th Field Artillery Battalion Yearbook my uncle had in his World War II collection. The day we will read about is APRIL 17, 1944.

I will quote from page 12 of the yearbook that is entitled 

"Resume of Combat Action"

     "With the invasion on everyone's mind and inner restlessness for combat, the 15th Field Artillery moved on April 17 through Belfast where it embarked on the "James T. Parker" for a short voyage to the Bristol Channel and a marshaling area at Porthcawl, South Wales (333 miles). With tactical training complete, the unit billeted in a group of resort hotels along the Esplanade overlooking the Bristol Channel and began specialized training in waterproofing vehicles and test-driving in fresh water pools. Every man took his turn in garnishing nets to camouflage vehicles and installations for the vaunted Luftwaffe. (The Luftwaffe was the aerial warfare branch of the German military forces during World War II.) After a month of preparation the battalion moved to Barry, South Wales (19 miles) for final staging in anticipation of the coming invasion. The area was prepared with ample foxholes in anticipation of an enemy threat to hamper the coming operation. Here the infantry-artillery combat team was concentrated and made up into priority groups of tactical demand. After being addressed by the 1st Army Commander, Lt. General Omar Bradley, and inspected by various general officers, the forward echelon of the battalion moved by rail to board the USAT Goethals on 2 Jun 1944 in Swansea harbor. The unit material and remainder of personnel was loaded on the USS Chas. Sumner."

I would say that my uncle left his Northern Ireland base, went to Belfast and boarded the USAT James T. Parker on the 17 April 1944 and traveled 333 miles to Porthcawl, Wales. Any letters written until about 17 May 1944 will be written from Porthcawl, Wales while being billeted in resort hotels on the Esplanade. Uncle Charlie is waterproofing vehicles and camouflaging the vehicles by some type of net to confuse the Luftwaffe. It will be interesting if the tone of his letters change knowing he is approaching the day of being on a battlefield doing real combat against an ominous foe. Will his training payoff?

Possible route that they took.

USAT James T Parker used to transport to Porthcawl, Wales

 PICTURE OF SHIP BY ROBERT HURST

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/092204601.jpg

INFORMATION https://www.508pir.org/odessey/eto_transport/usat_parker.htm

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1138&bih=507&q=old+porthcawl&oq=old+porthcawl&gs_l=img.12..0l2.596200.612524.1.617943.16.10.1.5.5.0.215.1166.1j8j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.47.img..4.25.2475.1fEULI4ese8#facrc=_&imgrc=chD78KhjWDB4sM:

Muzzle of a 105mm Light Artillery Gun pokes through camouflage netting in a field

The Esplanade where 15th FAB was billeted
Two "possible" places are below

Esplanade Hotel

https://elwyjones.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/dsc_0096-e1410635734869.jpg 

Seabank Hotel

https://elwyjones.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/dsc_0093.jpg 

USAT General George S. Goethals

Flag from USAT General S Goethals

                                   Courtesy of Museum in Salem of Salem VA                                     http://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/arts/arts-extras-salem-museum-to-open-d-day-troop-transport/article_ef047164-e75f-11e3-8f34-0017a43b2370.html

Yearbook Hardcover

Title Page of Yearbook
where today's information was obtained