ESCORTING ANZAC BRIDES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14702, 1 June 1920, Page 1

ESCORTING ANZAC BRIDES.

(By An English Girl.) In the dim distance I visioned Australia —and shipping companiesJn London damped my ardor and spirit of adventure by telling met here, would be no passages available or bookable for at least a year! When, a few weeks after, the opportunity arose for me to become a temporary stewardess to -take English brides to their new homes, I jumped at the opportunity. ' Three hundred soldiers of the Commonwealth, three hundred wives, and about one hundred little babies came on bcrtjrd at Plymouth, in addition" to a ship's staff of thirty-odd "single noncommissioned officers, about the same number of officers, a staff of Australian Army Medical. Corps men, three doctors," and eight Australian nursing sisters. Most of the babies were in my cabins, and during the voyage they grew and improved wonderfully, which, to a great extent, was attributable to the excellent provision made for' their feeding, which was in the capable hands of two Australian sisters. Every other day was a weighing-day for babies, and in* the baby show held the first, week, "out- it was 'really difficult to judge the best babies —they were all such beauties. For the most part the brides were very little trouble. They were up on deck in" the fresh air nearly all day long, and it was remarkable how few were seasick, though none of them had been to sea before. For the women who were really ill the Red Cross hospital, fully and properly equipped, was ready, and" under the efficient care of tfie A.I.F. sisters they, soon grew well again. Two large dining-rooms were used by the brides, the husbands feeding in the troops' quarters of the boat. In the saloon white-coated stewards waited on the brides with precision and speed. The food Was of first-class quality. well cooked and tastefully served. ; There were three meals a day—breakfast 7.30, dinner 12 noon, high tea 1 (with meat and pudding, etc.) at 5.30. At every Australian port was a welcoming hand to meet the boat and hosts of cheering, enthusiastic people, relatives and friends, and Australian ' V.A.D.s ready with refreshments and help for the mothers with infants, i Every 7 bride left the boat with a smile: more"than pleased with her first glimpse of Austttilia. If grit and spirit count for anything, J these girls should be an asset to their : new country.; for. during the long voyage I detected few -signs of homesickness or regret. • It takes grit' to go 14.000 miles "from home and people, J with but little prospect of returning, and, judging by the splendid reception our boatload -received, there is- every j reason' to suppose their lives will be j happy ones. r - 7 ! . ..■■"•■••■I