War Brides - Hardcover

Melynda-jarratt

3.7

82 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0752443097 ISBN 13: 9780752443096

Publisher: The History Press Ltd, 2007

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

"We sailed for Canada in April 1945 on a Greek ship, the Nea Hellis. The crossing took three weeks all the while avoiding the torpedoes. There were over 1,000 war brides and children aboard as well as wounded soldiers going home." - Iris Rickets. 'Overpaid, over-sexed and over here' was the verdict of many British civilians of American and Canadian soldiers conscripted to Britain in the Second World War. Yet for thousands of young girls, the influx of handsome young military men meant flirting, 'walking out' - and falling in love. The result was over 48,000 hasty marriages to Canadian soldiers alone, and a mass emigration of British young women to northern America and across the globe in the 1940s. Historian Melynda Jarratt has painstakingly captured the incredible stories of young women - some say brave, some say foolish - who left their families and homes to move to a country thousands of miles away with a man they barely knew. Yet the ensuing decades brought happiness to many, and surviving women share their tales of love, family and starting again. For some brides, the outcome was a very different story, and the darker side of the crossings reveals astonishing accounts of infidelity, domestic violence, venereal disease and even bigamy. This incredible new history draws on archives, rare documents, medical records and key first-hand accounts to tell the amazing story of the war brides in their own words - and shows the love, passion, tragedy and spirit of adventure that thousands of British women experienced in a turbulent time.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap:

For the over 48,000 British women who married Canadian soldiers conscripted to Britain during the Second World War, the ensuing decades brought happiness to some and a much darker future to others. War Brides draws on archival documents, personal correspondence, and key first-hand accounts to tell the story of the War Brides in their own words.

About the Author:

Melynda Jarratt has been researching the Canadian War Brides since 1987, when she began working on her thesis on War Brides for a Master of Arts in History at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Melynda speaks frequently in the print, radio and television media and has written extensively on War Brides for the Internet. She lives in New Brunswick, Canada.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.