Australian newsreel item. Go to her website! The ship was painted navy grey and became known as the “Grey Ghost.” She traveled in and out of Sydney, Australia, delivering troops to European fronts until the Japanese bombed the Pacific in 1941. List courtesy of Eswyn Lyster. While each bride tells a different story, many share common experiences such as language difficulties, homesickness and the long wait for passage to the USA. Once again, the desire for passage to Australia at the end of the war resulted in logistical problems and it was sometimes years before a berth on a ship became available. May 29th, 1945 . However marriage to a Japanese person was specifically forbidden, hence the popularity of commitment ceremonies as an alternative or interim solution. The ship was completed April 1932 and is shown in registers as a 1932 ship. SS Monterey was a luxury ocean liner launched on 10 October 1931. Subscribe and discover what’s happening at the museum, 2 Murray Street, Darling HarbourOpen: 10.30 am – 4 pm dailyLast boarding time for vessels: 3.10 pmClosed Christmas Day, The “Operation War Bride” Oral History recordings are held at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Vaughan Evans Library. Once the war was over, "Operation War Bride" was organised, with small flotillas of cruise ships packed with the new wives – and in some cases their new babies – for transport to the US. Re: war bride ship lists from Australia to USA 1945-1947. Australian WWII War Bride, Betty Kane, from Western Australia inspired The Waifs to compose their popular song 'Bridal Train' which was based on their grandmother's story. On occasion, wives and children were not met and some abandoned brides would return home on the next ship. The Sydney Morning Herald . Returned soldiers and their foreign-born wives and fiancées faced many challenges. Centred on bringing together true war bride stories from WWII, All the Way to the USA recounts stories of Australian women who fell in love with US servicemen during the urgency and chaos of WWII. Members of Sydney US Servicemen's Wives and Fiancées Association attended school to learn more about their own country in order to talk of Australia in American homes.P00561.018. They had two children and stayed in Amiens until the German occupation of France in 1940. During the early part of the war, a serviceman could only take his bride home to Australia if he paid for the journey. The British Government had offered much assistance to Joan, even arranging for two other wives from Midland towns to visit her at her mother's house in Birmingham where she was living, so that the young women would know someone on the voyage. Soldiers usually accompanied their wives and children, although men and women were housed separately on the ships. Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future. Australian War Brides married to US Servicemen Joan Newlin Lillian Bertram Harvey - married to Les Nell Charlwood - married to Don Margot E Bradley Sheila Stidson Smith Mary Nell Kathleen Kieran Jess Burrows - married to Walter Burrows Lorna Cooper - married to Hal Cooper Esther Kilpatrick - married to Raymond Irvin Evelyn Muirhead Hiro, Japan, 1950. Fiancées were disadvantaged as priority for travel was given to married women. From the Thuillier collection of glass plate negatives. Friendly invasion. Australian wives of British servicemen arrive at Plymouth in tender 'Sir Richard Grenville' (launch) bringing them to shore from the aircraft carrier 'Victorious'. The official BCOF policy of anti-fraternisation prohibited service personnel from entering Japanese homes or part! 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