Christmas with the GIs: How American soldiers proved a huge hit with British families during WWII

The Daily Mail ^ | 12-26-13 | Lucy Crossley

[afraidfortherepublic]

Bearing gifts of extra rations, Coca Cola and nylon stockings it is no wonder that American GIs were popular house guests among British families during the Second World War.

With British soldiers away in Europe, war-hit families were issued with an urgent plea to invite their US colleagues to share their Christmas celebrations.

Faced with the prospect of their guests bringing extra food with them, families jumped at the chance to welcome the Americans into their homes, with some 50 invitations being offered for every GI, or Government Issue.

For troops serving in a foreign land, far away from home, Christmas was a difficult time.

Around 60,000 had reached Britain by December, with the majority being stationed in East Anglia, where they had been tasked with building airfields for American planes.

As many soldiers and airmen as possible were given the day off, and advised to spend the day with British families, 'Filling the chairs left empty by British fighting men'.

Posters were put up around bases bearing the message: 'GIs spend your Christmas at home with a British family'.

The soldiers who took up the invitations were given special ration packs to share with their guests, containing sought-after items such as fruit juice, evaporated milk, bacon, coffee sugar, rice, peas and lard.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Full Title: Christmas with the GIs: How American soldiers proved a huge hit with British families during WWII as they 'filled the chairs left empty by British fighting men'

[afraidfortherepublic]

A look back...

[Sacajaweau]

Forgot a biggie....chocolate...

[TADSLOS]

Courtesy ping.

[rktman]

We pulled in (actually anchored out) to Southend On Sea in ‘68 and were told we were the first US ship to be there since WWII. We couldn’t buy a meal or a movie ticket or a pint the 3 or 4 days we were there. Seems like most everybody remembered the “yanks” well and were almost dragging us off the streets to eat dinner or lunch or whatever. Good time to say the least.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Thanks for the ping. Those are some great old photos at the linked article. I wonder if G.I.’s were quite so popular by Christmas ‘43 as they were in 1942. From 60,000 American visitors in 1942 to what - approaching a million in 1943?

[Buckeye McFrog]

I knew an old guy who flew B-17s and came home with a British War Bride. According to him the Yanks wore out their welcome for that very reason....more appealing to the local girls than the British men were.

“Overpaid, Oversexed....and Over Here!” was the common complaint.

[TADSLOS]

England was busting at the seams by then, not so much after June, '44. I always thought this post invasion scene from Band of Brothers was one of the most powerful of the series:

Band of Brothers Laundry Scene

[Crapgame]

From the snarky writing, I’m guessing the attitude a year later was a bit changed. The article is poorly written and alternately whiny and wondrous. The comments afterwards are worth a read though..

[elcid1970]

My Dad’s division staged in Britain prior to D-Day. He said that by then the young Englishwomen had heard every come-on line including “Please, darling, help make what could be my last night on Earth a memorable one!”

Dad said the reply was usually “Oh, sod off, Yank, I’ve been ‘earing that rot since Dunkirk!”

The expression about Yanks went, “Overpaid, overfed, oversexed, and over here!”

[hinckley buzzard]

Considering the numbers and the times, it is no surprise that there were mixed reactions. Not every GI was a good guy. But there were large numbers who came home married, so I guess we weren’t all bad.

[virgil283]

I enjoyed reading this AFR...But I detect? a little low blow here in perhaps suggesting the Brits only wanted the ‘fruit juice, evaporated milk, bacon, coffee sugar, rice, peas and lard.’ and weren't truly appreciative of their America ‘cousins’ sacrifice. I think not. Most of the British understood how close they were to annihilation...

[Cen-Tejas]

Thank you so much for posting that....can’t see well right now!

[DFG]

The comments by the Brits are interesting.

The Americans were “Overfed, Oversexed, and Over here”. The Brits were “Underfed, Undersexed, and Under Eisenhower”.

[afraidfortherepublic]

LOL!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wasn’t there a movie, starring Cary Grant, called “I was an English War Bride” that was about a British man who married an American nurse?

[afraidfortherepublic]

And nylons. Don’t forget the nylons!

[bandleader]

“Overpaid,Oversexed,and Over Here”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Peter Libra]

Time for me to weigh in. I was 8 years old when war was declared. Father was at Dunkirk and survived. Now to things American. My first ever contact with Americans.

There we were underneath the viaduct carrying the electric train service, going to school. South Ruislip, Middlesex. A three foot concrete wall was handy. Some kids put up tin cans on the wall and we started pitching stones. Suddenly three uniformed figures appeared. We started to scatter as the usual British adult would have chased us off. "Ere, wot are you kids doin?"

"That's ok kids" a rather different voice yelled. Then one of the men joined in and started to try to knock of the cans. That stuck with me, I will go there someday thought I. Indeed, had a nice treat at Brimley, Michigan at their casino, Christmas day. (saves my wife cooking). Anyway, no way this snot nose will get unpleasant here.

For the 'elp given in the bloomin war, Thanks USA!

[virgil283]

"Don’t forget the nylons! You're right of course... but I expect that Nylons weren't used for a 'house warming' gift......Ah.. I better stop there.