Mourne Observer readers are being asked to help identify a young boy photographed in Castlewellan during the Second World War. The image captures the child leaning nonchalantly against the window of the town’s ‘Arcade’ as three US soldiers pose for the photographer a few yards away.
The Main Street premises, formerly occupied by dressmakers E.S. McEvoy, had been requisitioned as an Army Post Office, as signified by the ‘A.P.O. 251’ signage above the doorway. The photograph was sent to the Mourne Observer by Andy Glenfield, who runs a Facebook page called ‘The Second World War in Northern Ireland’, and he is keen to “give the young boy his name”.
The Bangor man explained that, through research, he learned that “the United States Army Post Office Number 251 was opened in May 1942” and that this coincided “with the arrival of various U.S. Army units in Castlewellan”. Headquarters (1st Armored Division) arrived that month, and it was followed later that year by Headquarters (Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division), Headquarters (Artillery Command, 1st Armored Division), and 141st Signal Company (1st Armored Division).
Units to arrive in the town in 1943 included the 705th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company, the 5th Infantry Division, and the 307th Quartermaster Sterilization Battalion (Company C). The following year, Castlewellan hosted platoons from the 19th Special Services Company, the 307th Quartermaster Sterilization Battalion (Company A), the 4234th Quartermaster Sterilization Company, and the 4236th Quartermaster Sterilization Company.
“All of them had moved on to bases in England prior to June 1944 and the Allied Invasion of Occupied Europe in Operation Overlord,” added Andy. “It would be wonderful if we could identify the young boy, and perhaps he and/or other people will remember the American soldiers in the area. If any of your readers have information and/or photographs relating to the Second World War, I can be contacted at ww2ni@btinternet.com.”
A second photo shows five US soldiers outside the post office.
To read the digital edition, download the Mourne Observer app – for apple click here – for android click here
