US army artefacts of pair of black war heroes found under Wellingborough community centre floorboards

The event, held on the last day of Black History Month, saw local leaders visit the centre to learn more about the soldiers and better understand their impact on the town’s history.

Mike Parnell, who discovered the artefacts, said: “In the 1990s during building works, some artefacts were discovered at the centre under the floorboards.

"When I started as the new centre manager in 2002, I came across these items, and as they seemed to be of American origin, I asked Robert Wharton, the director of Wellingborough Museum if he could shed any light on their background.

"He explained that during the Second World War the Victoria Centre building was used as a day centre for Black American soldiers. In those days it was the Victoria Congregational Sunday School.”

The Victoria Centre was used as a day centre for black soldiers and the Mighty Eighth Air Force were stationed in the building during the Second World War.

Research was conducted to identify the artefacts, which include cigarette packets, match books, a mess kit knife, button, draughts pieces and .303 cartridges.

Diana Trickett, operations manager at the Victoria Centre, said: “This story has quietly unfolded for many years.

"Today, we show that they are being shared and legacies are being honoured.

“We would like to thank the soldiers, Heather, Edeltraud and Mike for ensuring this story does live on.”

Mike Parnell set about finding out more about the soldiers when the items were discovered, which kickstarted a campaign to learn about the soldiers stationed at the site.

More information was found more than 20 years later, when volunteers found an interview on VE Day with Heather Thies, the director of education and volunteers at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Savannah, Georgia, US.

Heather was able to shed light on the the troops who had been stationed in Northamptonshire and confirmed that the two soldiers stationed at the Victoria Centre would have been members of the 8th USAAF (dubbed ‘the Mighty Eighth’).

A local newspaper article, dated August 12, 1942 from the ‘Wellingborough News’ tells of a young RAF man who witnessed ‘two coloured American soldiers shielding eight girls with their bodies as they lay on the roadside for safety’s sake.’

To recognise the role of these black American soldiers played in Wellingborough during the war and their heroics in 1942, the Wellingborough African-Caribbean Association (WACA) gave their 2002 award to the soldiers.

All these years later, the award will be sent to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, closing a chapter of more than 20 years of local research.

Heather Thies said: “It’s an honour to be here and hopefully this will lead to more information. ”It really comes at the perfect time, as we are at a process where the museum is going to turn 30-years-old and we are revamping old exhibits.

"It’s a true honour to accept this award for our collection and we thank you as these men really do deserve so much attention.”

Sylvia Erskine, deputy mayor of Wellingborough, said: “As a member of the WACA of 37 years, I was so proud in 2002 to recognise the importance of their actions.

“These soldiers show us that courage shows no barrier.

"Black stories are too often left behind and it’s fitting that after all these years we can honour those men and ensure their bravery is not forgotten.”

Myrle Roach, community engagement coordinator for Made With Many and Wellingborough local, added: “There is no colour when it comes to humanity. History is a living thing we need to keep alive.”