Description
Object description
British civilian schoolchild and war bride in Peterborough, GB, 1939-1945; civilian in St Louis, United States of America, 1946-1994
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Peterborough, GB, 1927-1939: family; story of eight uncles who served during the Second World War; reaction to and opinion of media coverage of political events in Europe during 1930s. Aspects of period as schoolchild and war bride in GB, 1939-1946: blackout precautions; food and clothing rationing; attitude to queuing; description of gas mask and drill; billeting of evacuees in family home; birth of sister, 1942; reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; opinion of Prime Minister Winston Churchill; opinion of Royal Family during war; attitude towards Soviet Union; reaction to entry of United States of America into Second World War, 12/1941.
REEL 2 Continues: presence of of Italian prisoners of war in area; knitting items for troops and evacuees; potato picking; opinion of local farmers; increasing number of American troops arriving in country; uncle's conscription into Royal Navy; description of Baby Gas Mask; sound of German aircraft overhead; reaction to raid on Coventry, 14/11/1940-15/11/1940; description of air raid shelter; recreational activities; memories of first American troops arriving; reaction to sight of first Black servicemen; listening to United States Army Air Force taking off and returning; story of meeting future husband American serviceman Paul D Benson at local dance; reaction of family to relationship; receiving counselling from United States Army chaplain; story of husband receiving condolences on death of President Franklin D Roosevelt, 12/4/1945; description of wedding ceremony; procedure for arranging wedding; birth of daughter, 1945; story of pram being shipped by United States of America military; description of journey to Tidworth Camp, 3/1946.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of conditions at Tidworth Camp; intimate medical examination. Aspects of voyage aboard USS Bridgeport from GB to US, 1946: length of voyage; attitude to having single cabin; problem of seasickness; care of baby daughter by ship's crew. Aspects of period as civilian in United States of America, 1946-1995: arrival in New York; initial impressions of United States of America; train journey to St Louis; first meeting with mother-in-law and stepson; reaction to seeing husband in civilian clothes; treatment of war brides in United States of America; adjustment to American lifestyle; story of sending food and other goods to family in GB; importance of children in being accepted by local community; role of War Brides Support System; reaction to deaths of grandfather and mother in GB; story of taking baby sister into own home; birth of son; generosity of husband; visit to GB, 1953.
REEL 4 Continues: further visits to GB; illness and death of husband, 1994; story of returning to GB after husband's death, 1994; story of her uncle Roy receiving medal on VE Day, 8/5/1995; comparison of VE Day celebrations in GB and United States of America; further comments on War Brides Support System; attitude to reunions of war brides; reflections on adapting to new lifestyle in United States of America.