Archived Topic
Topic ID 159
14/04/2004 by cjc1998
help
can anyone tell me if there is a U.S. military base close to Hertford? I am trying to find an old friend from college.
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 816
14/04/2004 by Admin
Not that I'm aware of.
Reply ID 817
14/04/2004 by Frenchie
Ive never heard of one either.
Reply ID 818
14/04/2004 by sloopjohnb
I wrote an article on Thomas Clarkson and in my research came accross a note in an old copy of the local History Society monthly mag in which they refer to an incident regarding his monument at Wadesmill on the A10 out of Ware:
My article states: 'The connection between Clarkson and Brown as anti-slave campaigners might have ended there but for a mysterious event at Wadesmill. The commemorative stone had gradually fallen into disrepair when overnight, sometime in 1956 it was noticed that the railings had been repaired and the stone cleaned.
A local researcher was told by a villager that the work had been carried out by a group of coloured US Air Force men stationed close by. A letter describing the incident was printed in the Times and some thirteen years later the story resurfaced in the Daily Mail. It was the stuff of modern myth and fitting that the repairs were carried out by descendants of African slaves. The facts however, were more mundane.'
Can't recall if the airmen were a figment of the imagination or not. The work had been carried out by a descendant of Clarkson. Hope this helps but I think not.
Reply ID 821
15/04/2004 by skanky
None in Hertfordshire. The closest that used to be USAF bases as far as I know were Wethersfield (used to Matching) just east of Harlow, one near Saffron Waldon, then you're into East Anglia and Cambridgeshire (Lakenheath, Alconbury, etc.).
There could have been small US detatchments stationed at UK run bases, but again, they would be closer to other towns of comparable size to Hertford.
There may have been some nearer ones in wartime and shortly after. Stansted and Haverhill areas,...I guess it depends on what you mean by "close".
Do you have his unit?
Reply ID 822
15/04/2004 by skanky
Just remembered, there was also Chicksands in Bedfordshire, near Biggleswade. Again, not particularly close but q reasonable sized one. Dunno if it's still operational.
Reply ID 823
15/04/2004 by justin
henlow, maybe???
Reply ID 825
15/04/2004 by skanky
I don't think there's ever been a US contingent there - http://www.rafcaa.org.uk/admin/henlow.htm
Of course, there could have been a small one and it isn't far from Chicksands.
7 replies