The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 395 NELSON (SHORT), Barbara Ellen Barbara was born in Cobham, Surrey, England. She met Leonard Glen Nelson, a Sapper in the Royal Canadian Engineers and they were married in 1944 at St Andrew’s Church in Cobham. She departed to Canada from London on the Queen Mary in late May, early June 1946 while six months pregnant. She arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia and took the train to her final destination of Ruthilda, SK. She was taken aback by the very long journey to rural Saskatchewan, the endless flat landscape and by the lack of modern amenities, so different compared to home. Although Len, her father, tried to prepare her, reality was a bit of a shock. REED (KERR), Jean Jean was born in Crossford, Lankshire, Scotland. She married James Whitby Reed, a Lance Corporal in the Army, in 1945 in Crossford after a whirlwind courtship. She embarked on a journey on SS Letticia, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on March 24, 1946. She went to Springside, Saskatchewan and shortly after, she and Jim moved to Rose Valley, SK where they raised four children – a daughter and three sons. Jean was an active member of the Rose Valley Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She now resides in Tisdale, SK. SMITH (PRELOG), Maria Maria was born in a Villach, Austria in 1918. As Maria reached early adulthood, she and two friends decided they wanted to see the world. They headed to England where they obtained employment. When the Second World War broke out, Maria stayed in England to contribute to the war effort as a munitions factory worker. In 1943, while living in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, she met and married Wesley Smith, a Canadian soldier with the 49th Loyal Edmonton Regiment. Before the war was over, she and many other War Brides were shipped to Canada in April 1945. Upon arrival, she stayed with her husband’s relatives until his return to Canada. They eventually settled in Unity, SK and had three children. After Wes’ death, Maria moved to Battleford, SK where she passed away in 2003.
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