Wexford: When the Americans came to Town

[barryqwalsh]

In May 1918, the US Navy commissioned a sea plane station on the shores of Wexford, in the south east of Ireland. By autumn, the planes stationed there targeted German U-boats whose commanders were trying to stop supplies from reaching Britain.

The station was a large complex of hangars, barracks and streets. Hundreds of naval personnel were stationed there. They played baseball against other US Navy units, organised concerts and mingled with the people of Wexford.

The skies above Wexford were busy with British air shops and US sea planes. For local people, it was an entirely new experience. After the war ended, the buildings on the naval base were dismantled and sold off at auction. Several local businesses ended up using the hangars.

Nicholas Furlong is a retired journalist whose aunt worked in the naval base.



AUDIO
Wexford: When the Americans came to Town, World War One At Home - BBC

 

[barryqwalsh]

World War One At Home

BBC Radio Ulster


Places in Ireland that tell a story of World War One



AUDIO
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01p33l4

 

[Auld Phart]

The Overs.

Over paid
Over sexed
and
Over here

 

[barryqwalsh]

The Overs.

Over paid
Over sexed
and
Over here

In World War One, the service men were much tamer. And societies, on both sides of the Atlantic, were much more restrained back then.