The other day I was reading a vintage magazine I had been gifted and there was a very interesting article about “What life was like for young war brides”. It was really fascinating to read the interviews and hear them talking about knowing that while life was so uncertain at that time, they knew that they were in love and would do anything to just marry their soldier and worry about the rest later.

Then later while browsing the internet to read a bit more on this subject I stumbled upon a very interesting site called “Canadian War Brides” and as I was reading the stories, looking thru pictures I thought that this was a great idea for a blog post, that I think you would all enjoy.

Here are some of the wonderful goodies…..

Vintage Images of 1940s Canadian War Brides

War Bride Definition:

The term “war bride” refers to the estimated 48,000 young women who met and married Canadian servicemen during the Second World War. These war brides were mostly from Britain, but a few thousand were also from other areas of Europe: the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany (Source).

Nearly 48,000 Canadian servicemen who married overseas during World War II. Between 1942 and 1947, the government brought 47 783 war brides and their 21 950 children to Canada. Relatively few came before the wars end (Source).

Meet Annie Barnes Anderson Coyle and George Alfred Brown who were married on February 10, 1945 at South Leith Parish Church, in Scotland. George was from Earlton, Ontario and Annie from Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. Annie was in the Womens Land Army during the Second World War and George was a tank gunner with the Canadian Grenadier Guards.

1940s vintage photo of a young couple who were married in scotland on Feb 10th, 1945. George was Canadian and Annie was a Scottish War Bride. — Source: Canadian War Bride

1940’s Wedding Dresses:

In many photos (like the one above) you will see that the bride is not wearing a wedding dress as clothes rationing and shortages of materials made this very difficult (as well as shortage on time in many bride and grooms cases). Many times you will see her in a best suit or in her service uniform.

I even read about the ultimate rationing….a wedding dress (pictured below) that was worn by 15 brides in Britain. Isn’t it stunning?!

1940s wedding gown - The floor-skimming gown was made from floral-patterned pre-war silk, originally intended for making petticoats.

It was first worn by Evelyn Higginson when she married sailor Charles Butterfield on 18 September 1943. Read all about the other 14 women who wore the dress by clicking the image of the dress. — Source: Express

Here is CSM Wm. Lyster and Wren Coral Eswyn Ellinor on August 21st 1943. St. Richard’s Church, Aldwick, Sussex. So young and so in love.

1940s Canadian War Bride -CSM Wm. Lyster and Wren Coral Eswyn Ellinor on August 21st 1943. St. Richard's Church, Aldwick, Sussex. What a stunning 1940s wedding dress, veil, crown and of course the flowers. And our young soldier in his kilt uniform. — Source: ESWYN LYSTER’S STORY & HER BOOK

Right before getting married, William sent a Telegraph to Canada requesting funds from his savings. I think this is really cool piece of history.

1940s Canadian Pacific Telegraph, telegram about fund needed for getting married during WW2. — Source: ESWYN LYSTER’S STORY & HER BOOK

This wedding below looks to be several weddings, but I believe the others ladies are bridesmaids, hence the shorter veils. The middle couple is War Bride Rose Boulay and her husband Horace Boulay of Belledune, New Brunswick.

1940s Canadian War Bride wedding -War Bride Rose Boulay and her husband Horace Boulay of Belledune, New Brunswick. Stunning 1940s wedding dress and 1940s bridesmaid dresses. — Source: Canadian War Brides-FB Page

Nothing thrills me more than seeing vintage images in colour like the wedding of war bride Cathie Elliot to her very handsome Canadian Solider-Glen. They were married on Christmas Eve, 1940, Aberdeen, Scotland. As you can see she is not wearing a traditional white dress.

The paper Horseshoe. In many photos I saw of Canadians and non Canadians the women were carrying a paper horseshoe. What exactly for? For good luck! What a fun idea.

1940s vintage photo of a War Bride and her Solider-Coloured photo. war bride Cathie Elliot to her very handsome Canadian Solider-Glen. They were married on Christmas Eve, 1940, Aberdeen, Scotland. As you can see she is not wearing a traditional white dress. — Source: Canadian War Brides-FB Page

Now for the wedding of all weddings…The Marriage of English War Bride Olive Cochrane to Saskatchewan Native Lloyd Cochrane. The Bouquets in all these photos are just stunning and must weigh a ton.

1940s vintage photo of a 1940s WW2 War Bride Wedding. The image features the 1940s bride and her groom and all the wedding guests and bridesmaids. — Source: Canadian War Brides-FB Page

A war bride and child arrive at Bonaventure Station in Montreal, Quebec, on 4 March 1946. The mother and child had travelled across the ocean on board the SS Aquitania (Source).

1940s Vintage Photo: A war bride and child arrive at Bonaventure Station in Montreal, Quebec, on 4 March 1946. The mother and child had travelled across the ocean on board the SS Aquitania.

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

Coming to Canada

After the wedding the brides eventually had to make the trip to Canada.

Here is an image of War Brides with their Children arriving in Halifax-Pier 21. Upon their arrival they were supplied with a cookbook and then sent on their way.

Most then boarded special trains that took them to their final destinations in communities located across the country. Many of the war brides were unprepared for the conditions they found in Canada, but most stayed and adjusted to a new way of life (Source).

1940s photo of War brides and their children arriving in Halifax, Canada from overseas. — Source: Public Archives of NS

I have a feeling that making this trip to an unknown country to a family you don’t know and maybe a husband you barely remember must bring these women together in a way that nobody thought possible.

1940s Canadian War Brides Coming to their new home. 1940s Fashions on display-Coats, hair scarfs and kids. — Source: Canadian Army

Canadian war brides on board the aircraft carrier Reaper as it enters the Sydney Harbour, NS. On a fashion side, I love the hair and the peep toe shoes.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian War Brides on a bunk bed in 1940s fashions waiting to get off the boat in Sydney Harbour, NS. — Source: CBC Radio

War brides and their children en route to Canada. Photo taken in England, 17 April 1944.

Source: Canadian Encyclopedia

For further reading please check out:

Vintage Photos 1920s – 1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts (Archived blog posts)
Vintage Wedding Blog Posts (Archived)

Liz 🙂

Recently I went and visited an antique show here in Toronto at a local mall called “Cloverdale“, there was lots and lots of items for sale but nothing mid-century for this gal until I saw a really cool hat box at one of the tables. Seen here…

1950s Vintage Hat Box for Morgans Departmant Store.

The box was not in great condition but after quickly searching the name on the box “Morgans” I discovered that it was a little bit of Canadian history, so I ran back and scooped it up for a steal and a history lesson from its owners.

Morgans Department Store

Brief History of the Store:

Apparently, Morgan’s (formally Henry Morgan & Company) was a Montreal-based Canadian department store chain. The first store was opened in Montreal in 1845 by Scottish immigrant Henry Morgan with a second store not appearing till the early 1950s in the Snowdon section of Montreal. Other stores subsequently opened on the island of Montreal, and several Ontario cities (Wikipedia).

After being open for over 100 years, in the 1960s the Hudson Bay Company purchased Morgans and quickly converted the Ontario stores to “Bay’s”. By the early 1970s the Quebec stores followed suit and that was the end of the brand Morgans….until I found my box! Now we can share in a moment of Canadian history together and bring to life the department store once more.

The Early Days:

Morgans in 1890.

1890s Vintage Photo of Morgan's Department Store in 1890

Morgan’s department store in Montreal decorated for the 1939 Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. So Elegant.

I wish we could see setups like this again when royalty comes to visit.

1930s Vintage photo of Morgan's department store decorated for the 1939 Royal Tour. Montreal, Canada

Here are some vintage images of other Morgans in the 1950’s

Hamilton’s Greater Shopping Center putting up the Morgans sign. Love the typography.

1950s vintage photo of Morgan's Department store sign going up at Hamilton's Greater Shopping Center — Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com

Interior shots of the Hamilton store being prepared for opening

A miniature milk bar for the kids. Oh my how cute!!

1950s Vintage Photo of a milk bar featuring a display of stuffed animals at Morgans Department store — Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com

Male Mannequins for the store. Kind of creepy I think. Actually really really creepy!

1950s vintage photo of male mannequins at Morgans Department Store — Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com

Group of sales women attending a class to be able to work at Morgan’s.

What marvelous 1940s & 1950s hair all these ladies have.

Learning how to use the cash register.

Morgans 1950’s ad for Schiaparelli Hats (1958). Love this! How do I get this hat?

1950s vintage ad for Schiapareli hats being sold at Morgan's Department store in 1958

1950s vintage ad for the Smorgasbord at Morgans.

Hungry anyone? I will have the Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding (my fav!).

Gosh could you imagine if a Buffet (then called a Smorgasbord) was $1.19 today? Yikes!

1950s Vintage Department Store ad for a Morgan's Department Store Smorgasbord (aka buffet). — Source: torontoist.com

“As new as tomorrow”….How exciting, I love things that are as new as tomorrow!

vintage department store ad for Morgan's Department store at Eglinton Square. — Source: torontoist.com

Logo Designs:

1950s Morgans logo.

Source: The Department Store Museum

1970s Morgans after the Hudson Bay took it over (this would be its last logo change).

Source: The Department Store Museum

Interesting Fact: It looks like Morgans was the first department store to move into family neighborhoods, as opposed to making a trip downtown to go shopping (as seen below). I’m sure this made many a family lives easier.

This ad makes me giggle. What is with the triangle people??

Vintage Department Store ad for Morgan's Department store at Lawrence Plaza, Toronto. — Source: torontoist.com

And that interesting fact ties in with the knowledge that where I bought the hat box was actually where a Morgans Department store once stood in the 1960s at Cloverdale Mall. It was under my nose the whole time and I never knew! How exciting!

There you have it friends, a little bit of Canadian History.

Do you have a department store where you live that has been around for years or maybe know of one like Morgans that has come and gone? I would love to hear about it.

Liz 🙂

Tag: Canadian History