From Hamilton the Canadian regiments moved up to Galashiels in the
north of Scotland, to train for what was ahead of them. Hamilton was
like a morgue, it missed all the excitement of the Canadian
soldiers. Jimmy got a leave. I still have his train ticket from
Galashiels to Hamilton. When I went to the train station, and we
were kissing on the platform you should have heard the whistles.
Jimmy said he felt real proud as the guys thought I was pretty cute.
I did not know then, but that was the last I would see of him for
about two years.
ROMANCE BY LETTER We wrote. I still have all his love letters, in two boxes. You could
tell when he was having a bad time. There was one letter especially,
which said, "I saw some terrible things today." He never wrote
anything in any of his letters that would endanger security, just
how much he loved me and missed me. I started getting letters from
his family, and writing to them.
ATTEMPT
TO JOIN THE NAVY
Those were two long years. When I reached seventeen and a half I
decided I would join the Navy. I went to Glasgow to go through my
medical. They gave me a letter after my physical, asking me to see a
heart specialist the next day. When I got the letter home, I steamed
it open and it said I had damage to the left ventricle of my heart.
The specialist said I would not get into the Navy. I was devastated.
I wrote them a letter asking if they would reconsider as I was
holding down a job and why would they not accept me. They wrote back
and said they would accept me if my doctor would supply a letter
that I had heart damage, so I would not come back on them for a
pension. I never saw the letter: my mother burned it.
MARRIAGE PLANS
Time went by and the war was coming to a close. I waited on every
letter, then I got one stating that Jimmy had requested permission
to marry, and that I needed a blood test and character references,
and permission from my parents because I was under twenty-one years
old. I have the two permission documents still.
Jimmy had no way of letting me know when he was coming home, or
where he was. One morning I got up and said to all my family,
"Jimmy's coming home, let's get ready for him." Everyone laughed at
me, but what a surprise it was to all when a knock came at the door.
I looked down the stairs, and all I could see was a red patch
through the window and I knew it was Jimmy. I nearly fell down the
stairs, and when I opened the door, I saw a grown man. The last time
I had seen Jimmy he was still very young looking. We hugged and
kissed, and wedding plans started to happen.
A WARTIME WEDDING I started looking for a wedding dress, which in fact I still have.
You were only allotted a certain amount of coupons for cloths,
shoes, undergarments, and so on. I would never have had enough
coupons so my aunts, who had extra coupons because they had
children, helped me out. The dress was utility; little material was
available and I only had two choices. [A few of the girls in the
forces later borrowed my dress to get married in.] I bought a
nightgown with blue trimming, and used it as a slip, so it served
two purposes. My veil was borrowed. I wore my gold locket, which was
old. I had to go to another town, in Motherwell, before I found
shoes, which were white sandals. My wedding bouquet was Arum Lillies
with white heather.
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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![Protecting the soldiers](javascript:DynaPop('Protecting the soldiers','images/scanned/warbrideb3_det.jpg','Canada\'s wartime army was protective of its soldiers, and obtaining permission to marry required checks to be done. Note the Brigadier\'s politness, requesting and saying "please" to a Private.',17,17))
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