War Brides
The Stories of the Women Who Left Everything Behind to Follow the Men They Loved
by Melynda Jarratt
For thousands of young British girls, the influx of Canadian soldiers conscripted to Britain during the Second World War meant throngs of handsome young men. The result was over 48,000 marriages to Canadian soldiers alone, and a mass emigration of British women to North America and around the world in the 1940's.
For many brides, the decision to leave their family and home to move to a country thousands of miles away with a man they hardly knew brought forth ensuing happiness. For others, the outcome was much different, and the darker side of the story reveals the infidelity, domestic violence, poverty, alcoholism and divorce that many lived through.
War Brides draws on original archival documents, personal correspondence, 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 of thousand of British women.
close this panelMelynda Jarratt has researched the War Brides since 1987. She has contributed her expertise to History Television, Pier 21, Veterans Affairs, and the Parliamentary Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. She runs the authoritative website www.canadianwarbrides.com. Jarratt lives in Fredericton.
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