The Bridal Train

Vikki Thorn of The Waifs wrote this wonderful song in celebration of her grandmother's experience in WWII as an Australian war bride. I ripped the story of Grandmother Betty's recollection of the time she was summoned to the bridal train from West Australian newspaper The Wagin Argus:

Betty lived in Perth with a lady who entertained many Americans.

"I walked down the corridor at 9pm one night and there was a party going on. There was this very good looking American man in uniform who said: 'Where did this flower come from?' I thought what a silly comment and put it out of my mind. Later he sat beside me and we talked all night. Bob was a chief petty officer; he had a lot of commendations. He had been stationed in Hawaii for two years. He watched Pearl Harbour being bombed. As the war effort moved closer to Australia his ship the Anthedin was transferred to Fremantle. He was 26 when we met and when we were married he applied for a shore job."

When Bob was transferred to the Philippines, Betty, expecting her first baby went home to Mum in Wagin.

A telegram was delivered in Wagin on a Thursday at 1pm. Betty and her 11-month-old daughter had to be at Dalgety's, the shipping agents, in Perth on the Friday, to be prepared to travel to the USA. There was no telephone and no taxis. Betty did not even have a suitcase. She and one of her two brothers, who had both returned from prison of war camps on the Burma railway, cycled into Wagin and brought two suitcases back on the handlebars of their bikes.

"I had half a day to pack. Time to see three friends, have a big cry and catch the midnight train to Fremantle."

She left Perth station one year to the day after her husband left Fremantle, with a daughter he had not seen.

"There were about 50 brides from Western Australia. Perth Station was awash with tears. I had Sue, but she was a good baby. We were joined by girls from all over Australia, more got on the train in South Australia and Melbourne."

They traveled on a large American luxury liner, the Monterey, which had been taken over by the army during the war as a troop ship.

"We were naval wives, but traveled under army regulations. Three of us and children had a first class cabin with big windows and a bath tub.It took three weeks to get to the States, we went as war brides."

She travelled to Colorado where Bob met her and there she met his family.

Another bridal train continued across the US dropping off brides.