In recent years, the stories of Black British servicewomen such as Lillian Bader and Amelia King, who served during the Second World War, have gained increasing recognition. However, the contributions of African American servicewomen stationed in the UK, especially the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, remain largely unknown. Tyler Perry’s latest film shines a spotlight on the remarkable, little-known story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. This pioneering, all-women, predominantly Black unit became the first and only Women’s Army Corps (WAC) battalion of colour to serve overseas during WWII.
"I seldom heard anything about Black women serving in World War Two; it's like they were deleted from history," said Col Edna Cummings, a retired US Army officer who served for 25 years.
The film was inspired by an article in WWII History magazine by Kevin M. Hymel, which detailed the accomplishments of the 6888th. As depicted in Perry’s movie, the women of the "Six Triple Eight" served with exceptional commitment, surpassing expectations despite relentless discrimination and doubt. While the film captivates audiences with its drama, the true story of the 6888th is equally extraordinary.
In 1941, as America entered the war, women across the country fought for the right to enlist in the military. Leading the movement were trailblazers like Dovey Johnson Roundtree—one of the first Black female officers in the US Army—and Civil Rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune (portrayed by Oprah Winfrey). Bethune partnered with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Susan Sarandon) and Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers to draft the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) resolution.
The resolution passed in 1942, and by 1943, the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was established, granting both white and Black women the right to serve. Initially, only white WAC soldiers were deployed overseas. But thanks to the advocacy of Bethune and Roosevelt, this policy changed, paving the way for the formation of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.
On 3 February 1945, the Six Triple Eight boarded the liner Île de France. During their transatlantic journey, they faced the constant threat of German U-boats. Halfway across, the women were informed they were bound for Britain. The ship docked in Glasgow on 11 February, and the battalion travelled by train to Birmingham in the Midlands.
Upon arrival, the women were struck by the extensive bomb damage the city had endured during the war. Despite these challenges, the local community greeted them with a mix of curiosity and warmth. While some locals harboured racist views, many extended invitations and welcomed the newcomers. African American troops had been stationed in Britain since 1942, though they were mostly concentrated in the South-West and East of England.
In Birmingham, the Six Triple Eight were billeted at King Edward’s School in Edgbaston, a boys’ boarding school requisitioned for wartime use. However, the facilities were poorly equipped to accommodate women. Evelyn Johnson, one of the battalion’s new arrivals, recalled the difficulties of adapting to such conditions.
Discrimination extended beyond living arrangements. The American Red Cross refused hotel accommodations to Black auxiliary corps members, instead designating a separate facility for them in London. Furious, Charity Adams, the battalion’s commanding officer, led a boycott of the organisation’s facilities. “The Red Cross wanted to set up another hotel for the Black WACs, and I promised them that it would be over my dead body before anybody slept there. And nobody slept there to my knowledge,” she stated in an oral history recorded by the US Army Women’s Museum.
Despite these obstacles, the 6888th operated as a self-sufficient unit. They established their own dining hall, medical staff, and military police, the latter receiving jiu-jitsu training instead of weapons. Yet working conditions were far from ideal.
When the battalion arrived in Birmingham, they were confronted with the monumental task of clearing a two-year backlog of 17 million pieces of mail. The morale of U.S. troops in Europe had been severely affected by the lack of communication from home, and the 6888th was charged with rectifying this situation. The battalion’s motto became “No mail, low morale,” and they worked tirelessly in difficult conditions. There were at least six warehouses full of undelivered mail, including many packages containing spoiled food, such as cake and fried chicken, which had grown mouldy and attracted rats. Once the mail was ready for sorting, the women worked under blackout conditions, with factory windows painted dark to shield their activity from German forces. Eye strain became a frequent issue among the clerks.
The freezing winter weather added to their challenges. The warehouses lacked heating, forcing the women to wear ski trousers, field jackets, and other cold-weather gear just to stay warm while working.
Despite these hardships, the 6888th defied expectations. Under the leadership of Major Adams, the unit worked seven days a week, in three shifts, to process 65,000 pieces of mail per shift. They implemented their own efficient systems, cross-referencing incomplete addresses and using military serial numbers to ensure that mail reached its rightful recipients. What was supposed to be a six-month assignment was completed in just three months, with the battalion clearing the backlog by May 1945.
Early in the operation, a general attempted to send an officer to "tell them how to do it right", but Major Adams responded, "Sir, over my dead body, sir!" By the time the same general visited the unit in France, his attitude had changed, and he appreciated the 6888th's accomplishments.
After clearing the mail backlog in Birmingham, UK, the women of the 6888th moved on to Rouen, France, where they continued their work. Tragically, while in France, the battalion suffered its first casualties when Private Mary Bankston and Private Mary Barlow were killed in a vehicle accident on July 8, 1945. Sergeant Dolores Browne also succumbed to her injuries five days later. Despite these losses, the battalion persevered and cleared the mail backlog.
Despite their heroic efforts, the 6888th received little to no public recognition for their service at the time. They were disbanded at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and the significant contributions of these women remained largely overlooked for decades.
It wasn’t until 64 years later, in February 2009, that the women of the 6888th received the recognition they deserved. A ceremony at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery honoured their service. Of the 855 women who comprised the 6888th, only three survivors could be located and brought to the ceremony: Alyce Dixon, Mary Ragland, and Gladys Shuster Carter. Dixon and Ragland were also honoured by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009.
The battalion’s legacy continued to be honoured in subsequent years. In 2016, the 6888th was inducted into the U.S. Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame. A monument dedicated to the battalion was unveiled at Fort Leavenworth in 2018, and in 2019, a blue plaque was presented at King Edward's School in Birmingham, commemorating the women's stay there during the war. On March 14, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888th, marking the culmination of years of advocacy and recognition.
But the story of the 6888th’s contributions has now reached a global audience. In 2023, the descendants of the women visited Birmingham to trace their ancestors’ steps, with local historian Garry Stewart helping to organise the tour. The visit underscored the significance of their service, not only in shaping the lives of their descendants but also in impacting the Black community in Birmingham.
West Midlands local historian Garry Stewart said: "For us here in Birmingham, it's a really important story. We're able to show how Black heritage in the city is established as far back as 1945 and way beyond that."
On May 13, 2019, the US Ambassador to the UK presented a blue plaque to King Edward's School to commemorate the 6888th's achievements while in Birmingham. The plaque is now on the itinerary of guided tours organised by Birmingham's Black Heritage Walks Network.
Olivia Brechon-Smith, a maths teacher at King Edward's School (KES), said: "The impact that an all-black battalion of women stationed at KES means so much to me, it's inspiring as a Black woman. Coming from a family descended from the Windrush generation, it's such a big community in Birmingham but isn't publicised as well as it could [be], and people knowing about the 6888 being here is so prominent in Birmingham's history."
Their story is set to be told on both the stage and the screen. Blair Underwood is an executive producer of a Broadway musical about the battalion, while prolific film director Tyler Perry has brought their story to the global streaming platform Netflix. The movie debuted on 20 December 2024, attracting 52.4 million views and spending four weeks in Netflix's global film top ten.
The women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion overcame immense challenges during World War II, breaking barriers for Black women in the military. Their remarkable contributions are finally receiving the recognition they deserve, ensuring their legacy will inspire future generations for years to come.
Sources:
Photo Credits:
1.U.S. National Archives
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