American troops passing through Southampton for D Day

On October 25, 1944, Private Paul Shimer Jr, of the 15th Infantry, 3rd Division, Seventh Army, stepped through the counting machine in Southampton to become the millionth American.

Sergeant Murray Ley of the 14th Port Transportation Corps took him to a makeshift stage, where he stood alongside dignitaries, including Southampton's mayor, Rex Stranger.

With a sign around his neck, announcing "The Millionth Yank", Shimer had to make an impromptu speech. In saying farewell to him the mayor promised to provide for the soldier’s daughter should anything happen to him.

Paul Shimer Jr lived in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Marion, and Patricia Ann their three-year-old daughter. He was an assistant manager in a JC Penney chain store. Leaving his small town of 1,700 people, Paul Shimer underwent training at Camp Walter in Texas before crossing the Atlantic to Britain in October 1944. Sadly, many of the details of Paul Shimer's army life were lost when a fire destroyed a US Army Records Depot in the 1970s.

Paul Shimer arrived at Cherbourg then went by train to the front. Within days the "Millionth Yank'' and his company were engaging the Germans.

Sergeant Shimer was slightly wounded in combat on January 27, 1945, and was decorated with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for "meritorious achievement".

By coincidence his brother John Shimer was also in Southampton, near the 'Two Millionth Yank', when they embarked for France on January 16, 1945. A third brother, Bill, also served in France.

In 1944/45 Southampton ranked fourth among the 60 US Army Ports operating around the world. The US Army 14th Major Port Transportation Corps had arrived in Southampton in the summer of 1943 to coordinate the shipment of American troops, military equipment and stores. Their headquarters was in the Civic Centre. Officers were billeted in the Polygon Hotel, and the men at Blighmont Barracks in MillbrookRoad. They also had a hutted camp in Hoglands Park.

Sgt Shimer lost his life on April 14, 1945, just 24 days before the end of hostilities. He subsequently earned a second, posthumous, Purple Heart. Sgt Shimer's war grave is one of 10,000 situated at St. Avold in France.

In 1947, the Southampton war-time mayor, Rex Stranger, visited Chambersburg to meet the Shimer family.

The ex-mayor and his wife wanted to do something to commemorate the death of the young man he had shaken hands with three years previously in Southampton docks.

They decided to place £1,000 in a trust fund for the daughter's education. This would be worth around £50, 000 today.

The local citizens, not to be outdone, raised $3,000 for Rex Stranger to spend on worthy charities in England. In 1957, they also sent a large consignment of 600 bushels (around 19,000 pounds or 8,600 kg) of apples from local orchards as a gift to 25,000 Southampton children from Pennsylvania, USA.

Paul Shimer's wife Marion later remarried and moved to Maryland and then South Carolina where daughter Patricia received a college education thanks to the money given to them by the mayor.

Paul’s sister, Kathryn S Ruggiero, who lived in Chambersburg, said of Rex Stranger who visited several times: "He always brought a British wreath with him that he and my mother placed during the Memorial Day ceremonies at McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Trudy were certainly lovely people."

At Bassett Green School as he gave away some of the fruit, Councillor Stranger said: “Every apple which is being distributed comes to you with the love and affection of the people of Chambersburg.”

Wonder if anyone reading this remembers receiving an apple all the way from America?

Martin Brisland is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .