In the midst of World War II, as millions of American GIs passed through Britain, a little-known chapter in history unfolded. At least 2,000 babies were born to white British women and Black American soldiers stationed in the UK during the war. These children, dubbed “brown babies” by the US press, increased the Black British population by around 25 percent. While many were given up for adoption, one unique orphanage in Somerset became a haven for these mixed race children: Holnicote House.
The Double Stigma of Being Mixed Race and Born Out of Wedlock
The “brown babies” carried a double stigma in 1940s Britain. Not only were they mixed race at a time when the country’s Black population was minuscule, but they were also born outside of marriage. Authorities treated them as a problem, unsure of how to handle the situation. Most of these children found themselves as the only person of color in predominantly white rural areas, facing discrimination and isolation from Black communities.
A Culture Clash: American Segregation in Britain
The arrival of American troops, including around 840,000 Black soldiers, brought the USA’s segregation practices to British soil. Black GIs were largely assigned non-combat roles and housed separately from their white counterparts. Even leisure activities were segregated, with certain days designated for Black soldiers in towns and villages. This grated against many Britons who saw themselves as allies in the fight against fascism.
The white British often found the white Americans to be quite arrogant. Whereas they found that the Black soldiers were very friendly; they were very polite, they were very warm, they didn’t look down on people.
Chamion Caballero, cofounder of the Mixed Museum
Holnicote House: A Home for Britain’s “Brown Babies”
Holnicote House in Somerset, requisitioned by the local council in 1943, became the only children’s home specifically dedicated to mixed race GI babies. While most of the 2,000+ “brown babies” born during the war were given up for adoption, Holnicote House took in around 25 of these children. For some, like Carol Edwards who spent her first five years there, it was a loving and privileged experience.
They cared for us and they loved us all. We were all treated the same and never made to feel different.
Carol Edwards, former resident of Holnicote House
The Pressure to Give Up Mixed Race Children
For the British mothers of these “brown babies,” the pressure to give their children up for adoption was immense. With their American partners returning to a country where interracial marriage was still illegal in many states, and their own close-knit communities treating them with hostility, many felt they had little choice. Those who kept their children faced ostracization, difficulty finding work, and even violence.
Growing Up Mixed Race in Post-War Britain
For the “brown babies” who were adopted, life was often a struggle. Ann Evans, who was adopted from Holnicote House as a young child, recalls being the only mixed race person in her Welsh community and facing blatant racism, even from adults. The children rarely knew much about their backgrounds or why they were in orphanages and children’s homes.
I discovered who I was through music. I know it sounds silly, but I was into singers like Sarah Vaughan, Billy Eckstine, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey. And it wasn’t until I discovered they were Black that I realised: ‘I’m like them.’
Carol Edwards
Uncovering Lost Histories
As the “brown babies” grew up, many embarked on journeys to discover their heritage and find their long-lost American families. Advances in DNA testing and dedicated organizations like the GI Trace have helped in these quests. The Mixed Museum, a digital archive of Britain’s history of racial mixing, is another vital resource in piecing together this hidden chapter of history.
Today, the former residents of Holnicote House are sharing their stories, ensuring that this important piece of Britain’s mixed race history is not forgotten. Their experiences shed light on a little-known consequence of World War II and the challenges faced by a generation of mixed race children in post-war Britain.
