American GIs in Northern Ireland

American GIs officially arrived in Northern Ireland in 1942. Private Milburn H Henke set foot on Dufferin Dock, Belfast on 26th January and the story began.

American Football at Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast, Co. Antrim

American Football at Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast, Co. Antrim

7th March 2018

The first game of American Football in Europe during WW2 was played at the Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast between "Yarvard" and "Hale" on 14th November 1942.
Baseball in Northern Ireland

Baseball in Northern Ireland

2nd March 2018

By 1942, America had joined World War Two and those men based in Northern Ireland brought some home comforts including the national past time of baseball.
US Army segregation in Northern Ireland

US Army segregation in Northern Ireland

7th March 2018

During World War Two, over one million black servicemen served in segregated US Army regiments. Many of those men were briefly based in Northern Ireland.

Lisnabreeny American Cemetery, Rocky Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Lisnabreeny American Cemetery, Rocky Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim

54.566605, -5.88688030000003

Lisnabreeny in the Castlereagh Hills once was the site of an American Military Cemetery in Belfast. 148 servicemen were buried there between 1943 and 1948.
Eisenhower Pier, Bangor, Co. Down

Eisenhower Pier, Bangor, Co. Down

54.66719399999999, -5.671999300000039

General Dwight D Eisenhower, President of the USA visited Bangor on the 18th and 19th May 1944 leading up to D-Day. The northern pier now bears his name.
City Hall, Donegall Square, Belfast, Co. Antrim

City Hall, Donegall Square, Belfast, Co. Antrim

54.596484, -5.9300530000000435

Belfast City Hall opened in 1906 and has come through much in its history. There are several connections with World War Two, many are still standing today.
Ballyholme Bay, Bangor, Co. Down

Ballyholme Bay, Bangor, Co. Down

54.6679494, -5.6533885000000055

In 1944, Ballyholme Bay in Bangor was a hive of activity. Shipyards carried out work for the Admiralty and US Navy landing ship craft beached off the shore.
Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company HQ, Belfast

Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company HQ, Belfast

54.5678202, -5.887372899999946

Between 1942 and 1944, Northern Ireland hosted tens of thousands of US troops. The 3878th Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company were based at Lisnabreeny.
Tollymore Forest Park, Bryansford, Co. Down

Tollymore Forest Park, Bryansford, Co. Down

54.21999510000001, -5.942907699999978

The spectacular scenery of Tollymore Forest Park is heavily featured in Game Of Thrones and remains mostly unchanged from what greeted the US Army in 1942.

The US Army based in Northern Ireland

307th Quartermaster Sterilization Battalion in Northern Ireland

19th November 2018

In November 1943, 307th Quartermaster Sterilization Battalion arrived in Northern Ireland finding themselves throughout the province in the run up to D-Day.

Quartermaster Depot Q-111 in Northern Ireland

23rd November 2017

On 23rd November 1943, a directive from the US Army established Quartermaster Depot Q-111 at Belfast, Co. Antrim with subordinate depots throughout Ulster.
United States Army Rangers in Northern Ireland

United States Army Rangers in Northern Ireland

2nd March 2018

Sunnylands Camp near Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim was the setting for the activation of William O Darby's 1st Battalion United States Army Rangers on 19th June 1942.

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