Wikipedia

Bride trains

In 1945 and 1946 several "bride trains" were run in Australia to transport war brides to or from ships.

Crowds seeing off a bride train departing from Central railway station, Sydney bound for Brisbane in September 1945

These trains included:

  • September 1945: A train from Perth to Brisbane, where the women and their children were to embark on a ship bound for the United States. The war brides endured cramped and uncomfortable conditions during the first leg of this trip.[1]
  • September 1945: A train travelling directly from Melbourne to Brisbane carrying 230 women and 70 children (including those who had embarked at Perth) bound for the United States.[2]
  • September 1945: A special train from Sydney to Brisbane carrying more than 254 women and 85 children bound for the United States.[3]
  • October 1945: A train carrying Canadian war brides departed Brisbane for the southern states.[4][5]
  • February 1946: A train carrying 495 women and children from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.[6]
  • April 1946: A train carrying British war brides from Melbourne to Sydney[7]
  • April: A train carrying 41 women and 17 children to Brisbane where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.[8]
  • May 1946: A train carrying women and children from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.[9]
  • June 1946: A train carrying 80 women and 46 children bound for the United States.[10]

The 2004 single Bridal Train by The Waifs is about the experiences of women who travelled on the Bride Trains.[11]

References

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Citations
  1. ^ "Hysteria as bride train leaves". The Sun. No. 2212. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "AMAZING SCENE AS BRIDE-TRAIN LEAVES". The Daily News. Vol. LXIII, no. 21, 972. Western Australia. 8 September 1945. p. 4 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Hysterical mothers chase U.S. bride train". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. VI, no. 43. New South Wales, Australia. 9 September 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "BRIDE TRAIN FOR SOUTH". Cairns Post. No. 13, 616. Queensland, Australia. 22 October 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Overland Was Bride Train". The News. Vol. 45, no. 6, 938. South Australia. 26 October 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ ""Strike" By Mothers Delays Bride Train". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. X, no. 284. New South Wales, Australia. 18 February 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Husband Travels On Bride Train". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XI, no. 26. New South Wales, Australia. 23 April 1946. p. 15. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Red Cross Service for Bride Train". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 21, 688. New South Wales, Australia. 9 April 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Mothers, Babies Ill On Bride Train". The Sun. No. 11, 335. New South Wales, Australia. 23 May 1946. p. 5 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "SPECIAL BRIDE TRAIN FOR W A". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 142. Victoria, Australia. 24 June 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Arrowsmith 2010, p. 104.
Works consulted
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