LEST WE FORGET 189 Walter Nelson “Nels” Julseth and Ethel May Wood A Canadian Veteran and His War Bride Nels was born in Loverna, Alberta, on December 3, 1919. He joined the RCAF in May 1941 and trained in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He left for Liverpool, England, in December 1941. After postings and training courses in Syerston, Balderton, Leeds and Leeming, he declined an offer to be an instructor for Air Frame Mechanics and was posted to the 408 Squadron at RAF Topcliffe, close to Thirsk. At one of his postings, because of the blackouts during the war, he remembered staying in a 40’ long stable with only two 60-watt light bulbs in it for the men to shave. He also remembered a thick Yorkshire accent telling him to “put wood inth ‘ole luv”, meaning to close the door. Life in England was very different for a prairie boy. Ethel was born in Sunderland, England, on January 13, 1924. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in the spring of 1942 after her father signed the paperwork. Originally from Newcastle, she was posted at RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk where she drove ambulances and Commanding Officers’ cars. It was at Topcliffe that she met Walter Nelson Julseth. Their first “date” was Ethel driving Nels around the base in a heavy fog looking for a Lancaster bomber that had not returned from a mission. After their first meeting, Nels convinced her to accompany him to a dance, even after warning her he had two left feet and calling her “Red” because of her auburn hair. She later admitted that he did indeed have two left feet, but he must have done something right, as they were married in July 1944 at Barmby Parish Church, Barmby on the River. Nels left England in late 1944, celebrating Christmas on the Queen Mary and arriving home on New Year’s Day 1945. Ethel followed in May 1945 on the Britannic with many other war brides. She almost returned immediately to England after coming all the way to Saskatchewan because Nels was late to meet her train. He had met up with some war buddies and got a little sidetracked. Fortunately, he convinced her to stay and they were married for over fifty years. They farmed in Plenty, Saskatchewan, and had six kids. They stayed in the Girvin/Craik, Saskatchewan area with Nels’ parents for a while before purchasing land in Plenty, Saskatchewan. Nels remained an active Legion Member after being discharged from the RCAF. Ethel travelled back to England to visit family numerous times but was able to return to the church where they were married in the fall of 1999. Also on that trip, she was given an escorted tour around RAF Topcliffe, which was, and is still, an active base. They were more than happy to show her around once they found out she was stationed there during the war. Ethel remained an active member of the War Bride Association throughout her life. In 2006, she was able to make the trip on The War Bride Train to Pier 21 in Halifax to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the war brides coming to Canada. Nels passed away on February 3, 1995 and Ethel passed away on January 9, 2015.
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