The Six Triple Eight
17th May 2019
Y8 and Y10 students attended the premier of The Six Triple Eight on behalf of The American Battle Monuments Commission - Cambridge American Cemetery and the Embassy of the United States of America.
In February 1945, the U.S. Army sent 855 black women from the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) to Birmingham, England to clear the severe backlog of mail in the European Theatre of Operations. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the Six Triple Eight, was the only all-black female battalion to serve in Europe during WWII. Confronted with racism and sexism from their own leadership and troops, they served with honour and distinction completing their mission in six months. By war’s end, the 6888th had cleared over 17 million pieces of backlogged mail ensuring the troops stayed in touch with their loved ones back home. The last of the women returned home in March 1946.
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