The 506th crossed the Atlantic from their final home station at Camp Shanks, Orangeburg, 30 miles north of New York City. They sailed on the 5th September from Piermont Pier, New York Harbour to Liverpool aboard the
R.M.S. Samaria.
The ship docked in England 10 days later on the 15th September 1943.
The Samaria pictured in her Grey Troopship livery
5,000 troops packed the Cunard ship built for 1,000 passengers
After travelling by train the next day, A and B Companies of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Regiment together with all of the 2nd Battalion found themselves in the Wiltshire village of Aldbourne.
Most of ‘A’ Company and some members of ‘E’ Company were billeted in the former stables at Hightown Yard next to the Blue Boar pub. The remainder of ‘A’ Company were housed nearby in cottages on Lottage Road.
The main camp for the rest of the men was housed on farm land and consisted of Nissen-type Quonset and wooden huts.
Pictured next to one of the huts are David Moellenkamp and Rick Feldman both of D/506th
(R. David Moellencamp Collection ©- via Ron Stassen)
Wartime photos Hightown Stables that some of Able – ‘A’ Company, 506th called home for a while.
Left – Robert Impink, A/506th- Right Johnny Powers A/506th – Stable No 9, complete with a couple of Pin-ups.
( Robert Impink Collection©)
Delmar Kennedy A/506th
(Robert Impink Collection ©)
‘Home Sweet Home’ – Aldbourne – some of the stables, with the village Church in the background
(Robert Impink Collection ©)
(Robert Impink Collection ©)
