5
By News Years Eve, the Division was en route on a five day trip to Fort Dix, New Jersey. Here
furloughs were granted, and liberal passes permitted men to visit New York, Philadelphia, Washington
and Trenton over the weekends. Then came the POM [Port of Mobilization] period which lasted for
almost three months. During this time all companies were reorganized, replacements received and the
multitudinous preparations requisite for a long oversees voyage completed.
The Battalion moved from Fort Dix on the 13th of March, 1944 to a camp "Somewhere on the
east coast" ? in this case it was Camp Kilmer, N. J. Here the final preparations were made. March 21st
the entire Battalion took a train ride to the New York Port of Embarkation.
Loading the ship took up the next two days and then came the day when we all bid farewell to
the Statue of Liberty on March 23rd. We saw that grand old lady a lot sooner than we had expected
when our ship, the SS John Erickson, developed engine trouble about 100 miles out and had to return to
port for repairs. While the trouble was being remedied, the troops stood unhappily on the decks,
watching the pedestrians in the heart of New York, just a short distance away.
Repairs were quickly completed and the boat was on its way again on the 27th. The next 15 days
passed with daily boat drills, a limited training program, and inspections helping to while away the time.
There were the inevitable submarine alerts, but fortunately nothing ever materialized. The ship traveled
in a very large convoy and it was indeed comforting to see aircraft carriers and destroyers on all sides.
After the first few days out, nearly everyone got over seasickness. However, no one ever could get
accustomed to eating only two meals a day ? and English meals at that. A small library and church
services were about the only forms of recreation available and consequently the first sight of land on the
8th of April was loudly cheered.
The Battalion docked in Liverpool, England on the 9th of April, 1944. On the morning of the
10th, all personnel disembarked and went by train through WARRINGTON, CREWE and
SHREWSBURY to the little English town of BEWDLEY. From here, traveling on QM trucks, the
Battalion moved about seven miles west of town to some peaceful English fields called STURT
COMMON. Here pyramidal tents had been setup and this Battalion, plus Regimental Headquarters set
up in "Camp A".
At this camp the Battalion underwent an intensive training program which included speed
marches, calisthenics, close order drill, squad problems and courses on the German army, equipment and
language. On Saturdays, there were trips to BIRMINGHAM, LUDLOW, KIDDERMINSTER and other
neighboring towns. For those who were so inclined, there were six hour passes during the week nights
to visit nearby pubs.
On May 12, 1944 the Battalion moved out of BEWDLEY RR station and boarded another
English Train. After passing through WORCESTER and CHELTENHAM we detrained at SEVERN
JUNCTION, just East of BRISTOL. From here, we moved some twelve miles by truck to a marshaling
area in SE Wales. The camp was called LLANMARTIN and was a fairly permanent one with all troops
being billeted in Niessen huts. At this camp, we dug air raid slit trenches, held innumerable TE 21's, and
went on some twelve mile endurance marches. These endurance marches had to be made while wearing
impregnated underwear, full packs and in addition, four hand carts per company had to be pulled. The
country covered during these hikes was quite hilly.
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