The BC Adventure 20

By jeand

Mon, 25 Apr 2016
  • 986 reads
4 comments
 

Vesuvius

November 20, 1921

 

Dear Mums and Daddy,

We had the Scotts, Springfords and Inglises over for lunch a few weeks ago. They were very taken by seeing our wedding photo. It was four years ago since we got married. What a lot has happened since then.

All the talk at the moment is the War Memorial which will be put up at Ganges Harbour soon. It will contain the names of all the locals who fought in the war, not just those who died. The Springfords are both on the list, as is Mr. Scott. It has the names of those who were serving and those killed inscribed on large white
boards, two places on each of the four sides of the memorial. Those who were killed are marked with a cross.
 

At the beginning of the war, the population of Salt Spring Island was approximately 1,000. From that number, 150 men  joined the armed services and 24 women; nine lost their lives - two in the RCN, three in the Army and four in the
RCAF or RAF.  Last weekend we went to a Thanksgiving Dance at Harbour
House. They had a posh orchestra from Fulford, and the decorations in
the hall were delightful. We had such a good time nobody wanted to go
home, but in the end we were kicked out at 4.30 a.m. Lucky we didn't
need to work the next day. Love, Gwenllian

Certificate U
Story
The BC Adventure
Historical Fiction

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jean,

so sad about those poor local men who died in the war, though it was nice to know they were remembered on the white boards and marked with a cross.

It makes me so glad I grew up in peace times, can't imagine what it was like to loose a loved one in such a way.

Another interesting letter. Gwenllian looks so beautiful in her wedding gown, bet it was a day to remember.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by jeand on

Thanks Jenny

Their wedding was in 1917, Earlier in February of that year,  Gwenllian's three brothers were all  killed in the war, so in the wedding picture, her mother is still wearing black. Mark's brother, Bobs, who died in 1919 is in the picture, probably as best man,  and in uniform, but I don't think he went overseas until late 1918. Harold and Jimmy, Mark's  brothers aren't in the picture, as they no doubt would not be allowed leave from the war for a wedding. HIs brother Duncan, is in his clerical garb, so probably officiated at the wedding.  Henry Church-Jones, the Vicar of Builth near Brecon also did part of the ceremony. He was Gwenllian's mother's cousin.

Dorothy, Gwenllian's only sister was maid of honour. Gwenllian had a fourth brother Walter, who is on the picture. I think he was exempt from the war due to some physical problem.  You can just about see Bammie's head behind Mark. I wrote more about the wedding in my book, Lansdowne Crescent, and I mentioned that the family dog was right in front of the bride and groom.

The reception was helds at the Bests home - Penbryne on the Hay Road, just outside Brecon. Gwenllian stayed with her parents for the rest of the war, although spent some time with Bammie, who she got along with very well.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

That's quite a large number to leave for war from a small community isn't it? They got married during wartime then? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Thanks Rhiannon

Mark met Gwenllian through her brother Hippo who was in his same unit in the war. So he would only have known her for a year and a bit at the most  - through letters, and the odd furlough from the war.

Jean

Jean Day