Victory in Europe was declared on 8th May 1945.

Immediately the flow of troops began to be reversed and American soldiers began to return to America to be demobbed or to join the fight against Japan. However, it was 1946 before a series of ceremonies and celebrations took place to mark the exit of the last of the American troops from Southampton, and the departure of the Fourteenth Major Port of the United States Army.

Colonel Kiser unveils plaque

The Southern Daily Echo reported that on 14th March 1946 the Transportation Corps had been ‘accorded the privilege of marching through the town with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying’.

To celebrate their return home and to express gratitude to the people of Southampton, the port commanders, Colonel Sherman Kiser and his deputy, Colonel Leo Meyer, placed many plaques around the city. Many of these can still be seen today, for example on Dock Gate 8 and another on the Mayflower Memorial near Town Quay.

The atmosphere was one of relief that at last the war years could really be put behind the city, the process of reconstruction begun and the streets reclaimed. However, there was also real sadness about the end of an era. For nearly three years the American Port personnel had been part of the city and many ties had been made in that time.

[19014] Queen Mary returns troops to New York

Queen Mary takes American troops home

With mixed emotions the people of Southampton said goodbye to soldiers, husbands, friends and recovered their City. Liners such as the Aquitania, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth shared some of the task of taking the troops back home.

The first Americans

Soldiers in the streets

Time to go home