Steve Wright
proper brummie kid
The Six Triple Eight was an all-Black, all-female, US Women's Army Corps unit that was sent to Birmingham in February 1945 to deal with the backlog of mail which had built up. It was stationed at the old King Edward's School buildings on the Bristol Road. Given six months to complete the task it did it in three. Working a three-shift, seven days a week, rota its members meticulously analysed and readdressed thousands of items of mail and packages, using an in-house developed system, to ensure that they could be sent on to the correct person.
With three others, I have linked up with the US group researching the battalion. We have been able to counter oft-repeated 'facts', such as members working in cold, blacked-out hangars where the mail had been deposited. We have found no evidence of this and have used extant photos and film footage to show that the work took place at the old school. From recent posts elsewhere I have, as yet uncorroborated, anecdotal evidence that some members spent time at the US Army's local postal base on the Pheasey estate.
We have set up a Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Do-you-remember-the-Six-Triple-Eight-in-Birmingham-106494201082518/ - and would be pleased to receive memories of those, or of their relatives/friends, who came across Six Triple Eight members in and around the city.
It would also be good to extend this thread through comment and discussion.
Photos: 1. Leaving New Street Station in the early hours of 13th February 1945 2. Parading in front of their new 'home'
With three others, I have linked up with the US group researching the battalion. We have been able to counter oft-repeated 'facts', such as members working in cold, blacked-out hangars where the mail had been deposited. We have found no evidence of this and have used extant photos and film footage to show that the work took place at the old school. From recent posts elsewhere I have, as yet uncorroborated, anecdotal evidence that some members spent time at the US Army's local postal base on the Pheasey estate.
We have set up a Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Do-you-remember-the-Six-Triple-Eight-in-Birmingham-106494201082518/ - and would be pleased to receive memories of those, or of their relatives/friends, who came across Six Triple Eight members in and around the city.
It would also be good to extend this thread through comment and discussion.
Photos: 1. Leaving New Street Station in the early hours of 13th February 1945 2. Parading in front of their new 'home'
