Canadian War Brides - 60 Years

The term "War Bride" refers to the thousands of 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. During the Second World War, there were an estimated 48,000 war brides and, when the war ended, most of these young women and their children (nearly 22,000) followed their husbands to a new life in Canada.

Mauretania being pulled by tug out of Liverpool berth, February 5, 1946, photo by Karen L. Hermiston, CWAC Photographer (Source: DND/LAC/PA-175804)

War brides also came to Canada after the First World War. The official Government of Canada history of the First World War reports that an estimated 54,000 relatives accompanied the returning troops during demobilization from Britain to Canada.

In 2006, 60 years will have passed since the vast majority of war brides first travelled to Canada. Some provincial governments and War Brides Associations have declared 2006 as the Year of the War Bride.

We salute this remarkable group of Canadian citizens who, for love, followed their husbands. Where their returning Veterans went, these young women followed – and made their new homes in their young and growing land. These women were welcomed to their new communities and new families. The contributions of these new Canadians would soon extend far beyond the walls of their homes as they entered into the life of their communities and enriched it with their many abilities and hard work. The years following the Second World War were ones of unprecedented change for Canada and our country's war brides have played an important part in the growth and development of the free and peaceful Canada that we enjoy today.

Billy Hitchon and his mother on board the Mauretania, February 5, 1946, photo by Karen L. Hermiston, CWAC Photographer (Source: Karen Hermiston)/canadianwarbrides.com/ DND/LAC

Many Canadian families and communities count themselves the richer for the contributions of the thousands of war brides, both of the First and the Second World War, who have made Canada their home.

Sharing Their Stories

War brides everywhere have been kind enough to share their stories. Here are a few taken from our website.

The Two of Us Crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary My Mother Married a Canadian Soldier It was just like the same recurring dream she had, only it was reality.

Newspaper article announcing "Operation Daddy" February 9, 1946 Source: canadianwarbrides.com