Bride trains

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

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.
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.
September 1945: A special train from Sydney to Brisbane carrying more than 254 women and 85 children bound for the United States.
October 1945: A train carrying Canadian war brides departed Brisbane for the southern states.
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.
April 1946: A train carrying British war brides from Melbourne to Sydney
April: A train carrying 41 women and 17 children to Brisbane where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.
May 1946: A train carrying women and children from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.
June 1946: A train carrying 80 women and 46 children bound for the United States.

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

References

Citations

↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ ""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.
↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ "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.
↑ Arrowsmith 2010, p. 104.

Works consulted

Arrowsmith, Robyn Anne (2010). "Australian WWII war brides in America: their memories and experiences". PhD Thesis. Macquarie University.

[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.

[FOOTNOTEArrowsmith2010104-11] Arrowsmith 2010, p. 104.