Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives
Following Remembrance Day, our thoughts are with our veterans who have served in many conflicts over the centuries. The 20th Century saw two world wars, plus many other conflicts around the world. Our village and town cenotaphs have the names engraved of those who made the supreme sacrifice. Veteran banners adorn main streets in our towns and villages. It is right that we honour and never forget what these brave heroes did for us. However, there is another group rarely mentioned on this day of honour. Those are the war brides who came to Canada to make this land their home.
Canadian service people serving abroad married women from countries in which they were serving. From the Second World War, over 48,000 war brides came to Canada. Those war brides also brought 22,000 children with them. They came from mostly the British Isles (about 95%), but also from Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany and other countries.
Wartime romances were short-term. Most brides were young - 17 to early 20s years in age. Often marriages happened in less than one year from time of meeting. It was war time. Who knew what tomorrow might bring? Many parents did not want their daughters leaving for Canada. When would they see them again? Into what kind of a life were these young women heading? There were all kinds of questions and parents feared for their daughter’s future.
Because there were so many war brides, the Canadian government expedited the process of moving the brides to their new Canadian homes. They were deemed Canadians. The Canadian government provided transportation to Canada. Pamphlets about Canadian life and what to expect were delivered to the brides. Specific instructions were given about documents, dates, transportation, etc. Former troop ships and converted luxury liners were commissioned for war brides and their children. But as the land slowly slipped out of sight, many may have wished they had not started the journey. Indeed, some brides got cold feet, and never did come to Canada. Others had lost their husbands in the war. Others were excited about their adventure and actually seeing their husbands again.
And so began their journey. Many were heart sick as they said good-bye to their families. Some had been given only days notice of their departure. Some enjoyed their time aboard ship. There was plenty of food. This seemed like heaven as food rationing and food shortages were the norm for most brides. The plentiful food caused sickness to some. Others were seasick for the entire journey. Childcare was provided aboard the ship, but many brides clung to their children or the children clung to their mothers in this crowd of strangers. It was a trying time filled with anxiety, hope, and excitement!
Once a ship had docked at Pier 21 in Halifax, the whole process of getting the bride to the correct connecting link for the next part of their journey was enacted. The Red Cross was there to guide the brides and help with luggage. Can you imagine the confusion, the inner panic about getting on the right train and on time? Then imagine travelling from Halifax to Saskatchewan or even farther west after being on the road for 9 or 10 days already, and some of these women had a couple of very young children with them. If they were not tired and cranky, the kids sure would be.
The brides were anxious to see their husbands after long separations. Many soldiers had stretched the truth a bit – some quite a bit. Some had large ranches that their Uncle Joe had left them in Alberta or Saskatchewan. It was a land of milk and honey! Some had great jobs in the cities. One bride related the story that she had travelled on the train to north of Saskatoon. It was late when she left the train. Her husband and his father met her, and then drove for a few hours to their farm. The father’s comment was “It was a good thing, she arrived in the dark because if she hadn’t, she probably would have turned around and gone back home.” Some returned soldiers refused to recognise or take responsibility for their family and simply took off. Some were already married with a family here.
For the war brides, once actually living here, a period of adjustment ensued. Most brides were from villages, towns or cities. Many were going to live on Canadian farms or ranches. Many lived with their in-laws. The war brides were newcomers, foreigners at that, coming to an established family that was often intergenerational. Some were accepted; some were not. It was an adjustment for everyone – language despite most speaking English, sweets were candies, a cooker was a stove. There was a huge garden with preserving to be done, different foods, a wood stove, no hydro, no running water and in many cases no indoor plumbing.
The loneliness and homesickness were overpowering. No close friends in which to confide. No skyping, Zoom, texting or phoning in those days. Letter writing only – but letters could be sent and answers received in a week or so. Think of those long distances on the Prairies without neighbours. Think about 1947 being the worst Winter on record with snowbanks higher than an elephant’s eye. Often, the brides were pregnant within months of their arrival. In other cases, the horrors of war resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder for the returned soldier, but that wasn’t recognised in those days. Consequently, some chose to drown their sorrows in alcohol or drugs. The families suffered gravely. Some returned soldiers never accepted their new family and deserted them. Some war brides left and went home. Even in successful marriages, there are times when things just don`t always go accordingly. Add those times, to the war bride experiences too. But most war brides stayed and made Canada their home.
As my mother, a war bride from England, explained, “I am happy I came. This country afforded my children opportunities they never would have had in England. It is a good life here.”
War brides and their descendants now number over one million. Many war brides called Middlesex County, Ontario home. Eswyn Lyster wrote about war brides in her book, Most Excellent Citizens. Indeed, they are! For those of us who are descendants of war brides, we are so very proud of our mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers. They gave us the heritage from their homelands to build upon our Canadian heritage. We are richer for it.
When observing Remembrance Day this year, think of the veterans, think of their families and think of the war brides. Their romance to reality experiences is really a testimony to their indomitable strength.
To learn more about war brides, visit the Middlesex Centre Archives.
