War Bride Story of Great Grandmother Ivy Allaby
Many stories of war brides have circulated around the 8th Hussars Museum as many of the veterans have war
brides or many of the visitors have family members who are war brides.
An interesting story by Miranda Morrison, one of our summer students.
"My great grandfather Lloyd Allaby enlisted illegally with the 8th Hussars at the age of 14 so when he arrived in Aldershot and married my great grandmother Ivy Allaby, he was only 16 at the time while she was 14. After they were married, my great grandfather sent her across the Atlantic, back to Canada and while she was on the boat, she heard the news of the war ending. However, it was months later before her husband returned."
"As many other war brides were, she was promised to come back to a big beautiful house with lots of land, money, plumbing, electricity, and many other exciting things, but this was not the case. Instead, she came back to her husbands parent's shack in the middle of the woods with an outhouse out back. She was young, alone and scared. Everything was new and strange to her, a far cry from her being a field hockey goalie in England. She herself told me of this just a few years ago. She said that my great grandfather's mother and sisters would say that she wasn't good enough and that she was just garbage so she would go behind the house everyday and cry," said Miranda.
brides or many of the visitors have family members who are war brides.
An interesting story by Miranda Morrison, one of our summer students.
"My great grandfather Lloyd Allaby enlisted illegally with the 8th Hussars at the age of 14 so when he arrived in Aldershot and married my great grandmother Ivy Allaby, he was only 16 at the time while she was 14. After they were married, my great grandfather sent her across the Atlantic, back to Canada and while she was on the boat, she heard the news of the war ending. However, it was months later before her husband returned."
"As many other war brides were, she was promised to come back to a big beautiful house with lots of land, money, plumbing, electricity, and many other exciting things, but this was not the case. Instead, she came back to her husbands parent's shack in the middle of the woods with an outhouse out back. She was young, alone and scared. Everything was new and strange to her, a far cry from her being a field hockey goalie in England. She herself told me of this just a few years ago. She said that my great grandfather's mother and sisters would say that she wasn't good enough and that she was just garbage so she would go behind the house everyday and cry," said Miranda.
"After my great grandfather returned to Canada, life changed for my Great Grammy in a positive way. He purchased their own home and they farmed. Happier days were ahead as the young couple grew their family of 5 kids and spent many hours on their farm. One of Great Grampy's daughters Suzanne married , Eddie Mercer, my grandfather, whom died at a young age.
Grampy Eddie was known as, "the Meat Man" in Hampton. Great Grammy spent many hours working in the gardens and raising her children. She did not travel much , nor return to England . She is currently living at the nursing home in Hampton and is turning 91 in October."
Grampy Eddie was known as, "the Meat Man" in Hampton. Great Grammy spent many hours working in the gardens and raising her children. She did not travel much , nor return to England . She is currently living at the nursing home in Hampton and is turning 91 in October."
